Beautifully located on the majestic Bay Of Jounieh on the sea coast of the Mediterranean . This is the city of ancient civilizations and a modern business center for the today visionary entrepreneur.  Come and experience the excitement, you will delighted to visit Jounieh the hub of cultures and civilization.  

Casino Du Liban

The Casino Du Liban is  2 km away, Beirut Airport is 20 Km, the Cedars of Lebanon at 100km, Byblos at 10 km, Jeita Grotto at 8 km, Harissa at 7 km and Tripoli at 50km.

Jounieh,  only 15 km north of Beirut the Capital of Lebanon, lies the port town of JOUNIEH, in the Keserwan region, this city still retains some of the charm of yesterday in the old stone souk area near ferry terminal. The area-known as "Old Jounieh"- has recently undergone an overhaul and there are outdoor cafes and restaurants mixed among boutiques, artisan shops, banks, supermarkets, hotels of all categories. But as soon as the sun sets, the daytime charm turns into night-time glitz. Scores of restaurants, pubs and night clubs line the old bay side road from Jounieh northward to Mameltein. Whatever your fancy-from Lebanese cuisine replete with Arabic singers and belly dancers to fine French fair and European shows.   Jounieh can satisfy your palette and sense of adventure. The area is crowded with fun seekers every night of the week and packed on weekends. The jewel of the area is perched atop a cliff overlooking the bay: the Casino Du Liban. The famed Casino, once on the itinerary of the international jet-set in the 60's and 70's reopened last year after a complete post-war rehabilitation. Greeting sea fares to the Port of Jounieh is Our Lady of Harissa, a white-washed statue towering above the area from its 600 meter high mountain perch. The Basilica and statue are accessible from Jounieh via the Telepherique (suspended cable car), which is open all year round a. During the summer season, a night time ascent and descent gives you a remarkable sparkling view of the Jounieh and bay area. During the spring and early summer months, you can leave a balmy sunny day along the cost and arrive at a fog enshrouded terminal building on the top.

Jouneih Old Souk
The mountain terminal features a gift shop and restaurant.  

At the bottom of this wild steep-sided gorge runs the Qadisha River whose source is in the Qadisha Grotto at the foot of the Cedars. And above the famous Cedar grove stands Qornet el Sawda, Lebanon's highest peak.
The word Qadisha comes from a Semitic root meaning "holy" and Wadi Qadisha is the "Holy Valley." Filled with caves and rock shelters inhabited from the third millennium B.C. to the Roman period, the valley is scattered with cave chapels, hermitages and monasteries cut from rock. Since the Early Middle Ages generations of monks , hermits, ascetics and anchorites found asylum here. Even Moslem Soufis were found in this valley.

At the town of Tourza the valley divides into two branches, each named for a monastery there: Wadi Qannoubin leading to the Cedars. A path goes along the bottom of the valley through an area called "Bain an-Nahrain" (Between the Two Rivers) where Wadi Qannoubin meets Wadi Qadisha. From here trails lead to the various sites.

The Qadisha Valley area is surrounded by many important sites and villages like:
Bqaa Kafra highest village of Lebanon (1750 m), Qornet Es Sawda; the highest peak in Lebanon (3088 m), Hasroun; one of the last villages in Lebanon to preserve its traditional red-roofed houses; Qadisha grotto located between Bsharreh and the Cedars.

Deir Mar Elishaa (Monastery of St. Elieus); Deir Qannoubin built into the rock, Deir Mar Antonios Qozhaya (Monastery of St. Anthony Qozhaya), Our Lady of Hawqa's chapel, etc... and the nice village of EhdenMagharet Qadisha was discovered by the priest John Jacob, a monk of Monastry of St. Joseph, in 1923. He was looking for the sources of Qadisha river. He followed the river up to the spring and entered the cave, but he soon ended his first cave exploration because of the low temperature in the cave. He repeated his exploration tour soon after with warmer clothes and discovered the cave.  Monastry of Mar Elisha – Qadisha Valley

But although he told about his discovery and the inhabitants of Bsharre knew about the cave, it took until after his death to make another exploration. Later the cave was well developed and has now easy paths and electric light.
The cave is the spring of Qadisha river, which means it is a river cave.
Qadisha cave is beautiful, but small. Unlike Jeita it is rarely mentioned in guidebooks and so there are very little visitors. But it is not the only cave in Ouadi Qadisha, there are numerous caves which were used over centuries for cave churches and monasteries. The cave churches of Mar Sarkis, Mar Bohana and Mart Shmouna show 13th century paintings. The whole valley with its cave churches is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Saint Antonios Qozhaya  Monastry

Situated at an elevation of 1550m,faqra is  good for skiing. The site is dominated by a huge tower 15 meters square, which originally had a third story and a pyramid-shaped roof. An interior staircase leads up to the top. A Greek inscription on the northeast corner of the tower and another above the door indicate that the building was restored by the Roman Emperor Claudius in 43 AD. The temple site is also the venue of a summer cultural festival.

About 50m northwest of the tower is a large altar, probably associated with the tower itself. Not far away is a colonnaded altar. The main temple, dedicated to a "very great god," is a rewarding place to explore, with its restored columns and the remains of an altar. It had a square courtyard, which was surrounded by a colonnade on three sides. Continuing down the slope you reach the small temple, dedicated to "the Syrian goddess," a local form of the goddess Atargatis. Also note the basin in the floor and the benches along the side wall. This temple was made into a church in the 4th century AD.

The most famous remains in Deir Al Qamar is the mosque of Emir Fakhr Eddine and the castle of Emir Melhem Shehab.
On the way to it, you will notice the Musa Castle. It was built by a man with a strange fetish for things medieval.

A scenic town with many well-preserved historical buildings. Famous for its palaces which display the ancient Lebanese style in architecture. It played a very important role in the history of Lebanon.
The most famous remains in Deir Al Qamar is the mosque of Emir Fakhr Eddine and the castle of Emir Melhem Shehab.  On the way to it, you will notice the Musa Castle. It was built by a man with a strange fetish for things medieval.
 
Moussa Castle
Considered as a well-preserved traditional village, Deir Al Qamar's sites include the palace of a former Ottoman governor, a restored silk souk where rows of arched alcoves once sheltered merchants, a wax museum featuring historic figures in realistic settings, a late 16th century emir's palace, and many homes with two arched windows typical of the region. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where it does  not only preserves its grand feudal architecture, but its old stepped streets walled gardens and picturesque corners as well.
Deir Al Qamar in History
Shortly after Emir Fakhreddine II came to power in 1590, a chronic water shortage in Baaqline forced him to move his capital to Deir Al-Qamar. There he ruled until his death in 1635. The town remained the residence of the governors of Lebanon until the 18th century, when Emir Bechir II Chehab moved the capital to Beiteddine.
The huge public square or midan, which was originally used for jousts and other equestrian contests, is surrounded by historic buildings. The large water fountain was added in the 19th century.

In the square itself is Fakhreddine's Mosque, constructed in 1493 and restored in the 16th century by Emir Fakhreddine I Maan for his Muslim mercenary soldiers. Behind the mosque is a 19th century leather-worker's Souk or market, which today houses modern shops.
         
Beyond the souk is the Palace of Emir Younes Maan. Emir Younes, the brother of Emir Fakhreddine II, was army commander during Fakhreddine's voluntary exile to Italy in 1613. Later, Emir Yousef Chehab (1770 - 1789) demolished the third story and used the stones to build his own residence, now the Serail or Municipal Palace.
The Silk Khan or Qaissariyyeh, located north of the Emir Yousef Chehab Serail, was built in 1595 during the reign of Fakhreddine II.  

It was designed in the classical Khan or caravansary style, and originally used as a public market place for jewellery and for silk. Today the khan makes a unique setting for cultural activities.
Nearby is the synagogue, which was built in the 17th century to serve the local Jewish population, some of whom were part of the immediate entourage of Emir Fakhreddine II.

In the area of Deir A-Qamar not far from Kfarhim, a sign marks the right turn to Jahiliyeh. Once in the village, a path leads to the riverside, where water flows down the mountain in a series of cold pools and waterfalls, specially refreshing in the hot summer months.

Simply known as "The Cedars", this resort settlement in Lebanon's highest range is one of the most dramatically beautiful spots in the country.
Just below The Cedars is the town of Bsharre, birthplace of Gibran Khalil Gibran.
The most exciting way to get to The Cedars is from Deir al Ahmar in the Beqaa valley. The road snakes up the bare eastern slopes of Mount Lebanon presenting marvelous views at every turn. As you get higher, at the crest you look down the other side into a gigantic bowl where the ski resort, the cedar grove and the Qadisha gorge lie before you in a wide-angle panorama. Plan this route for summer or fall because snow closes the pass in winter.
A more direct way to The Cedars is from Chekka (south of Tripoli) to Bsharre.
Two roads lead from Bsharre village to the cedars, about seven kilometers up the mountain. The older road, known for its hairpin curves, leads past the entrance path of the Qadisha grotto. The new road, with more gentle engineering, is kept clear in winter for painfree ascent. Whichever way you take, the vistas are beautiful, especially when fog rises from the valley.
You first arrive at a large assortment of hotels, chalets, night clubs and restaurants, which thought not a village, does form a local community of residents, visitors and local proprietors. About a kilometer further on is the famous Cedar grove where the road is lined with the inevitable souvenir stands and small restaurants. the same road continues to the ski area at 2,066 meters and goes over the mountain and down into the Beqaa valley.
The Cedars is a resort for all seasons. In summer the high elevation makes it a wonderful escape from the humid coast while in winter skiing is the favorite activity.

The Cedars in History

As remote as they are, the cedars are not untouched by history. The grove we see today descends from an immense primeval forest of cedars and other trees such as cypress, pine and oak that once covered most of Mount Lebanon including part of its east facing slopes.
The Cedar is an historical entity mentioned often in the Bible and other ancient texts and it played an important part in the culture, trade and religious observances of the ancient Middle East. Serious exploitation of these forests began in the third millennium B.C., coastal towns such as Byblos.
Over the centuries, Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians made expedition to Mount Lebanon for timber or extracted tributes of wood from the coastal cities of Canaan-Phoenicia. The Phoenicians themselves made use of the cedar, especially for their merchant fleets. Solomon requested large supplies of cedar wood, along with architects and builders from King Hiram of Tyre to build his temple. Nebuchadnezzar boasted on a cuneiform, inscription: "I brought for building, mighty cedars, which I cut down with my pure hands on Mount Lebanon". Prized for its fragrance and durability, the length of the great logs made cedar wood especially desirable. Cedar was important for shipbuilding and was used for the roofs of the temples, to construct tombs and other major buildings.
The Egyptians used cedar resin for mummification, and pitch was extracted from these trees for waterproofing and caulking.
In the second century A.D., the Roman Emperor Hadrian attempted to protect the forest with boundary markers, most carved into living rock, others in the form of separate engraved stones. Today over 200 such markers have been recorded, allowing scholars to make an approximate reconstruction of the ancient forest boundaries. Two of these markers, carved in abbreviated Latin, can be seen at the American University of Beirut Museum. In the centuries after Hadrian, Lebanon's trees were used extensively as fuel, especially for lime burning kilns. In the Middle Ages mountain villagers cleared forests for farmland, using the wood for fuel and construction. The Ottomans in the 19th century destroyed much of the forest cover and during World War II British troops used the wood to build railroad between Tripoli and Haifa.

The Cedar Tree Itself

Of the immense forests of history only isolated patches of cedars are found in Lebanon today. Growing at high elevations, often in craggy difficult-to-reach locations, these majestic trees still stir the imagination.
In the north of the country, stands of cedars grow in the Horsh Ehden Nature Preserve. More inaccessible are the trees near Hadeth al-Jubbeh, whose shape has been changed by trimming, and the cedars near Tannourine.
In Jaj near Laqlouq isolated specimens of cedars are still scattered on the rocky peaks above the town. Deep in the Shouf district on top of Mount Barouk, cedars some 350 years old grow in an enclosed grove. These trees, which are in pristine condition, can be easily admired from outside the protective wall. Above the town of Maaser esh-Shouf, there is another cedar forest, which has an extended view of the Beqaa valley.
Cedar trees also grow in nearby Ain Zhalta.

The most famous cedars, known as
Arz el Rab or Cedars of the Lord, are those of Bsharre. Only in this grove, the oldest in Lebanon, gives an accurate idea of the stature and magnificence these trees attained in antiquity. About 375 cedars of great age stand in a sheltered glacial pocket of Mount Makmel.
Four of them, many hundreds of years old, have reached a height of 35 meters and their trunks are between 12 and 14 meters around. They have straight trunks and strong branches that spread their regular horizontal boughs like fans. Also among the inhabitants of the forests are some thousand young trees, planted in recent decades to ensure the future of this national resource. The slow-growing cedar, with its long life span, requires at least 40 years before it can even produce fertile seeds. Like any other treasure of great antiquity, the Bsharre cedar grove requires special care and protection. Concern for this modern remnant of historic cedars goes back to 1876 when the 102-hectare grove was surrounded by a high stone wall.
Financed by Great Britain's Queen Victoria, the wall protects against one of the cedar's natural enemies, the goats who enjoy feasting on young saplings.
More recently, a "Committee of the Friends of the Cedar Forest", organized in 1985, is attempting to deal with the damage and disease - brought by both man and nature - that afflicts the trees. To improve the general health and appearance of the forest, the Committee has removed tons of dead wood and fertilized the soil. Various pests and diseases are being treated and lightning rods have been installed for further protection. Three thousand meters of attractive pathways have been built so visitors can enjoy the grove without causing damage.
Also due for attention is a Maronite chapel in the center of the forest. Built in 1843 when these cedars were under the protection of the Patriarchate, the chapel is the scene of a special annual celebration on the 6th of August.

Skiing in The Cedars

The scenery and the quality of the snow make
The Cedars an exceptional skiing venue. The pistes form a natural amphitheater, and the high elevation means the season usually lasts from December through April.
A French army ski school opened here in the 1930's and the handsome building, which now belongs to the Lebanese army, can still be seen near the cedar grove. The chair lift, installed in 1953, is no longer in use but the main runs are equipped with five T-bar lifts. There are also four baby slopes with lifts. Ski rentals are available from local shops, which also arrange ski lessons with qualified instructors. Snack bars, hotels and restaurants service the ski  area. More facilities are available at The Cedars "village" and in Bsharre, 15 minutes down the mountain.

In The Cedars Area

The Cedars resort is set in an area of unusual natural and historical interest. In only 30 minutes you can drive from the crest of the mountain which soars nearly 3,000 meters above the resort, down to the bottom of the steep-sided Qadisha gorge at less than 1,000 meters. Within this area are rivers, springs, waterfalls, caves and other natural formations as well as rock-cut churches, monasteries and interesting villages to visit. There is always the promise of a friendly welcome from the hospitable people who live there.

If you have time

An interesting tour can be made of the villages around the horseshoe-shaped rim of the Qadisha valley. if you are driving to The Cedars via the village of Qnat, the first village you come to on the south side of the gorge is Hadeth al-Jubbeh, a town which goes back to at least the early 6th century A.D. A stop here is recommended for the wonderful view of Qadisha.
Next comes Diman, the summer residence of the Maronite Patriarch since the 19th century. The sites overlooks the Monastery of Qannoubin, an early seat of the Patriarchy. From Diman a steep path takes you down to the gorge.

Not far from Diman is Hasroun, a red-roofed town that hugs the edge of the Qadisha valley. This village is known for its picturesque dwellings, old churches and gardens.
A pleasant pathway descends from here past several ancient churches into Qadisha valley. Bqaa Kafra, reached via a turnoff from Bqorqacha, is the highest village in the country at 1,600 meters.
This picturesque town is also the birthplace of Lebanon's Saint Charbel, born in 1828.
At the head of the gorge is Bsharre the hometown of Gibran Khalil Gibran.

Leaving Bsharre you go around the horseshoe to Hadchit, dramatically perched on a ledge over the gorge. If you get off the main road and into the older part of town you'll find traditional houses and streets, the typical town square and some old churches. A path starting from the lower town level, goes to bottom of the valley. Anyone looking for souvenirs of cedar wood would do well to stop at the workshops of Blawza before heading up to The Cedars resort. This small town not far from Hadchit, is also the starting point for walks to Diman or the Qannoubin Monastery in the valley.

On the old road between The Cedars and Bsharre a long path on the side of the cliff leads to the small Qadisha Grotto. Below the cave gushes out a powerful waterfall, especially full in the spring months. It is possible to visit the limestone formations.
 

Climb Lebanon's Highest Peak

You can ascend the 3088-meter high
Qornet es-Sawda (or Black Horn), by foot or take advantage of a rough track suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles.
Allow a whole day if you want to make the entire ascent and return by foot. The initial climb, following the path of the chair lift, takes you about two hours and brings you to a small hut at the end of the lift. From here you hike north along the top for another hour. Look for patches of last's winter snow and porcupine quills along the way.

An easier way to the top is to take a road suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles that starts at Dahr el-Qadib on the highest point on the road between the Cedars and Yammouneh in the Beqaa. From the summit, which is marked by a large metallic tripod, you have a panoramic view of the coast of Lebanon towards the west. It is said that on a clear day the island of Cyprus can be seen.

Unusual Dining

From the Cedars, a summer excursion takes you east over the mountain towards the Beqaa valley to Ouyoun Orghoch. Here tented restaurants cluster around a large spring fed wetland where trout are farmed. Cold waters keep drinks chilled on the warmest days.