Bcharii Caza :)

Photo By Ali Badawi

It means in the Phoenician language "The House Of Ishtar" who’s a goddess worshipped by the Phoenicians. Bcharri was the site of a Phoenician settlement in ancient times and The Christians fleeing persecution sought refuge in its mountainous terrain in the 7th Century AD in the Qadisha Valley or the Holy Valley below the town that has become the spiritual center of the Maronite Church. Also, the Crusaders knew the town as Buissera. 

Bcharri is the town of the place of one of the Cedars’ Reserves of Lebanon and is the birthplace of the famous poet, painter, and sculptor Khalil Gibran who now has a museum in the town to honor him. 

Bcahrri District is very beautiful and all of its villages are amazing with wonderful panoramic views. One of these is Dimane Village that’s well known as the summer residence of the Maronite Patriarch currently. The foundation stone for the current Patriarchal residence was laid on 1899. Dimane is also known for the "Garden of the Patriarchs", located in the west end of the village, and for the ancient footpath which starts behind the village's parish church, St John Maroun and leads to the bottom of the Qadisha Valley where the Maronites headed by their Patriarch took refuge for centuries since the seventh century.

 Another village is Hadath el Jobe that is full of old beautiful houses and wonderful historical churches. From this Village you can head to Tannourine Cedars’ Reserve and then down to Jbeil or Batroun. Hasroun with its red roof tiled houses is amazing while Qnat is a magical village inside the valley. 

Bcharri District is really a beautiful place with mountains and valleys that have always been parts of the Lebanese history and tourism.