Altitude:
Adonis 520 m. – Fatri 500 m.
Distance from district: Adonis 22 km – Fatri
23 km
Distance from capital: Adonis 46 km – Fatri
45 km
Population: Adonis 619 – Fatri 2230
How
to reach it?
Jbeil – Nahr Ibrahim – Beir Heit –
Adonis
Jbeil – Nahr Ibrahim – Beir Heit –
Fatri
Etymology,
Fatri
In the Semitic and Phoenician languages, the name
is derived from the word (Fatar) which means departure
and separation.
Historical
overview
Fatri separated the coast of Byblos from Afqa's mountain
back in the days of Adonis worship in the Phoenician
era. Many roads, still visible today, used to branch
out of Fatri, whether leading up to bill tops or to
the bottom of the Holy Valley. Many wells found in
the region point to its being a station for the convoys
from Afqa's temple. It also holds an old, historic
bridge.
Etymology,
Adonis
The origin of the name Adonis was Hamidi, pertaining
to the Hamada family. Later known as Hamiri, and was
recently replaced by Adonis, named after the Phoenician
god 'Adonis'.
Historical
overview
Adonis was one of the places where rituals for the
god Adonis were celebrated in the spring of every
year. The artifacts discovered in Adonis show that
it was part of the Roman road.
Sites
to visit:
In Fatri:
Our Lady's old church: It was constructed in year
1830 upon the ruins of a temple which foundation is
still visible.
Our Lady of the Well's parish church: Built in 1810,
the remains of a Byzantine church dating back to the
sixth generation AD were found when digging its foundation.
It was named Our Lady of the Well due to the old wells
nearby. In Adonis:
St. Joseph's church. St. Doumit church in the Burj
area in Sannour. It was built late nineteenth century.
Foyer of charity - Our Lady of Providence center:
It is one of 75 foyers spread worldwide, and a center
for spiritual retreats.
How to
spend your time:
In Fatri:
Take part in the Assumption day on August 15.
Go down to Adonis Valley and cross over to the other
side - to Ftouh Keserwan.
Go hunting, in accordance with the laws.
In Adonis:
Take part in the religious celebrations: St. Doumit's
day on August 7, St. Joesph's day on March 19, St.
Anthony's day on January 17, and the Assumption day
on August 15.
Walk along the paved Roman road.
Book a room in the Foyer of Charity to pray, meditate
and connect with your inner self.
Fatri
and Adonis are known for
Their abundant monuments.
Their factories and commercial and touristic establishments.
Encompassing the oldest schools in the area.
Institutions
In Fatri: Municipal Council and Mayor Council
- Telephone center - Dispensary. In Adonis: Mayor Council - nursery - convent
and primary school.
AFQA
– GHABAT
Altitude:
Afqa 1200 m. – Ghabat 1050 m.
Distance from district: Afqa 47 km – Ghabat
44 km
Distance from capital: Afqa 71 km – Ghabat 74
km
Population: Afqa 3516 – Ghabat 70
How to
reach it?
Nahr Ibrahim – Bir Al Heit – Mashnaqa
– Qartaba, Afka – Ghabat
Jbeil – Ehmej – Akoura – Afqa –
Ghabat
Etymology,
Ghabat
The name means forest in Syriac. It could also mean
imprisonment, pressure, strain. In Arabic it means
a dense forest.
Historical
overview
In Ghabatwe find remains of temples from the
Phoenician era where worshiping rituals for Adonis
were performed.
Etymology,
Afqa
Aphca in Latin means a famous historical site. Nfac
in Syriac means to exit or flow, since Nahr Ibrahim
flows from Afqa. In the Semitic language Afqa means
a fortified place, as the town was a stronghold for
the worship of the Phoenician god, Adonis.
Historical
overview
Within its land lie the remains of a temple once dedicated
to Astrate, where all sorts of obscenity were practiced,
before Emperor Constantine ordered the aforementioned
temple to be demolished in the year 523 AD. Eventually,
the temple of Venus in Afqa was converted-into a Christian
temple.
Sites
to visit:
In Ghabat:
St. John Maroon parish church: The ruins and remains
of old constructions situated in the Shawiya area.
In Afqa:
Afqa grotto: Made up of a cliff in the shape of a
wide, spacious crescent moon with an altitude of 600
to 700 meters. In its midst lies a cave where water
flows between the rocks like waterfalls. The remains
of Venus temple: All that is left are large remains
over the roof of a building that slopes toward the
south. The Imam Husseini mosque - Our Lady of
Afqa Church: This old church stands at the entrance
to Afqa facing Mnaitira.
How to
spend your time:
In Ghabat:
Visit the old ruins in Shawiya.
Practice your hunting hobby in accordance with the
laws.
Participate in St. John Maroon celebration on the
2nd of March.
In Afqa: Visit the grotto and the ruins of the surrounding
pagan temples. Have a cup of coffee in the café situated
under the bridge facing the grotto in Afqa.
Have a walk among the many juniper trees that have
been used to build railroads during World War ll.
Go horseback riding, camping and practicing the Tiro…
Ghabat
is known for
Its abundant water (potable and for irrigation).
The towering mountains surrounding it (in the Shawiya).
Its location at the mouth of Nahr Ibrahim steep
valley.
Afqa
is known for
Cattle breeding and vegetable, apple, pear, apricot
and almond crops.
Institutions
In Ghabat: Mayor Council - Agricultural Cooperative.
In Afqa: Mayor council - Public elementary
school.
AKOURA
Altitude:
1350 meters
Distance from district: 30 km
Distance from capital: 68 km
Population: Around 14.000
How to
reach it?
Jbeil – Annaya – Ehmej – Laklouk
– Akoura
Etymology
In Syriac, Akoura is derived from Ein Koura, which
means cold spring. In the Semitic language, it means
sterile or barren, meaning the barren land.
Historical
overview
Akoura was inhabited at different historic periods,
starting with Arameans, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Greeks
and Romans. Among its major monuments are the Hkoul
El chabab (Youth Fields) Rock, St. Peter's church
– which is carved into the rocks – sarcophagi
also carved into the rocks on the eastern mountain,
temples and bridges in St. Edna, Mokbel el Lawz, Wady
Dbour valley, and a road that connects Keserwan, through
Majdel – Afqa-Oyoun El Siman, with the Bekaa,
across a natural, narrow pass. There is also the Ruwais
grotto in Akoura, which was inhabited by the prehistoric
human being, considering that a natural bridge lies
20 meters above the winter river flowing from the
grotto. This bridge connects Akoura with Mnaitra.
Sites
to visit:
Our Lady's parish church: It used to be a pagan temple;
recurring earthquakes weakened its foundation, and
it was agreed in the sixties of the past century that
it should be demolished and a church built in its
place.
Saydet El Qarn church-Laklouk: It was a temple dedicated
to Venus, and turned later on into a church. It was
located at the top of the mountain, but it moved down
as a result of an earthquake. Saydet El Habes convent:
An old convent where many bishops used to reside.
Only a sanctuary remains of the building.
St. George parish church: It stands on the foundations
of a temple dedicated to the Sun God Apollo.
Sts. Peter and Paul church: It contains sarcophagi,
gold and silver coins that may be Roman in origin,
and Syriac inscriptions.
St. Simon the Stylite church: It is situated to the
west of the Roman road, with a column beside it.
St. Adnaos convent: Built in the year 509 in Harbata.
The bishops of Akoura used it as a headquarters for
a long time.
How to
spend your time in Akoura:
Visit the Ruwais grotto, considered one of the biggest
in Lebanon.
Cross the Roman road etched into the mountain.
Climb up to Ras Al Khadam, the Roman fortress standing
at the top of the mountain, facing the north side
of Akoura.
Participate in the celebrations and festivities held
on Sts. Peter and Paul's day on June 29, and the Assumption
Day on August 15.
Akoura
is known for
Its abundant springs: Ruwais spring, the Village spring,
Massoud's spring, and the Monk's spring…
Its abundant churches and convents.
Its abundant agricultural products.
Institutions
Mayor Council and Municipal Council – Police
quarters – Post office – Lebanese army
barrack -Complementary school – Cultural, sports
and social club.
ALMAT
– AIN AL DELBEH
Altitude:
Almat 950 m. – Ain Al Delbeh 1020 m.
Distance from district: Almat 16 km – Ain Al
Delbeh 20 km
Distance from capital: Almat 51 km – Ain Al
Delbeh 50 km Population: Almat 8650 – Ain
Al Delbeh 600
How to
reach it?
Jbeil – Hboub – Kfarbaal – Torzaya
– Almat - Ain Al Delbeh
Jbeil – Blat – Bshelleh – Hsoun
– Bazyoun - Ain Al Delbeh
Etymology,
Almat
In Phoenician the name means girl or young woman;
the town being one of the stations for grieving over
Adonis. In the Semitic language, 'Alm' means darkness,
disappearance, concealment, sexual maturation, and
adolescence. In Syriac, however, it means world, age,
generation, and eternity.
Historical
overview
Almat was one of the places where women used to grieve
over Adonis on the road from Jbeil up to the temple
of Venus in Afqa where rituals for the worship of
Adonis were carried out.
Etymology,
Ain Al Delbeh
The name refers to a Platanus tree (Delbeh) that grew
beside a water spring (Ain).
Historical
overview
Monuments found in Ain Al Delbeh indicate that the
town was a summer retreat for Adonis.
Sites
to visit:
In Almat:
There are three mosques and three Husseiniyas that
are worth visiting.
In Ain
Al Delbeh: Saydet El Midane new parish church
– Saydet El Midane archeological church: Its
name refers to the spacious field beside it, and the
remains of Mashnaka's old bend where was constructed
a pagan temple. Inside and around it are found archeological
rocks – The town's Husseiniya.
How to
spend your time:
In Almat
Go hunting, in accordance with the laws.
Go for a walk or climb the mountain.
In Ain
Al Delbeh
Climb the hills and hunt, in accordance with the laws.
Stock up on vegetables and fruits and some traditional
Lebanese provisions.
Pick wild thyme and sage.
Almat
is known for
A grotto where the Mebaaj spring flow. It is a touristic
site.
The Freezer, a grotto at the top of the mountain that
retains its snow throughout the year.
Its agricultural products from apples to grains to
different vegetables, grown according to traditional
and modern methods.
Ain Al
Delbeh is known for
Being a meeting point for the surrounding villages
(Karkraya – Janna – Forat – Torzaya
– Almat – Ain Jrein).
Overlooking the steep Nahr Ibrahim valley.
Institutions
In Almat: Mayor and Municipal Council –
Public school – sports club – agricultural
cooperative – Dispensary – Jaafari Islamic
court. In Ain Al Delbeh: Mayor Council - Adonis Sports
association.
KFARMASHOUN
– EDDE
Altitude:
Edde 210 m. – Kfarmashoun 300 m.
Distance from district: Edde 4 km – Kfarmashoun
5 km
Distance from capital: Edde 35 km – Kfarmashoun
36 km
Population: Edde 300 – Kfarmashoun 840
How to
reach it?
Jbeil – the old Djej bridge – Edde - Kfarmashoun
Etymology,
Kfarmashoun
In Syriac “Kfar” means village, the second
part of the name meaning to wash.
Etymology,
Edde
ED in Hebrew means fog. The word might be derived
from the noun Iddo mentioned in the Torah, which means
the strong, mighty and firm. It can also be derived
from Ide, meaning power and control, or direction
and side.
Historical overview Edde used to be an extension of
Byblos city (Jbeil) in old times. This is what the
uncovered artifacts show, as Edde was one of the pagan
worship centers in Jbeil, which temples were converted
later on into churches.
Sites
to visit
In Kfarmashoun:
St. Abda old church. St. Charbel the Martyr's church:
It dates back to the end of the nineteenth century.
The hostel of the young Girl of Lebanon which receives
camps and apostolic, cultural and social movements.
In Edde:
Saint George Church: A historical church, dating back
to the Phoenician era. Its outer courtyard contains
pillars and stones dating back to the pagan era. Saint
Lishaa Church: Situated north of Edde, its architecture
is a proof of its ancient origins. St John the Baptist
Church and Saint Tedros church: are two side-to-side
churches that appear as one building. The remains
surrounding the building link it to pagan worship.
St Michael and Gabriel Church: A double church. Our
Lady of Doka: was a pagan structure later converted
to a church consecrated to Our Lady, since the first
Christian generations.
How to
spend your time:
In Kfarmashoun:
Take part in the camps organized by the nuns and learn
hand-crafts. Enjoy a spiritual retreat, meditation
and prayer and participate in local celebrations.
In Edde:
Take part in Saint Lishaa religious celebrations.
Take part in the various activities the club holds
year-round.
Kfarmashoun
and Edde are known for
Their agricultural crops of almonds, fruits and vegetables,
and their mild weather.
Institutions: In Kfarmashoun: Mayor Council – Public
school – Convent for the Sacred Sacrament Sisters
– Public library – Sports club.
In Edde: Municipal and Mayor Council – Sports,
educational and social club – Public technical
school.
