Chouf :)

Chouf is one of the districts of Mount Lebanon Governorate six, is a riverbed Damour its northern border, and the riverbed initial southern borders, and extends from the shores of the White Sea in the west upwards towards the peaks of Mount Baroque at an altitude of two thousand meters to form its eastern border with an area of ​​495 square kilometers, ie 4.7 % of the total area. 

Bounded on the north and on the east Aley in the western Bekaa and the south judicial Jezzine and Sidon - Al-Zahrani and the epicenter town of Beit Din capital of the Emirate of Mount Lebanon, the historic core of the Lebanese Republic existed in two forms of political and geographical

The population of the judiciary 174000 people living in it are distributed on 97 town where the 72 elected municipal council

Shouf District includes a number of cities that played a key role in Lebanese politics days of Ottoman rule, Kpaklan and Deir al-Qamar, which moved in our time

Baalbek :) 

Baalbek is the ancient Roman Heliopolis is now an archaeological site. This site is in Lebanon in the district of Baalbek. It consists of three temples: the Temple of Bacchus, the Temple of Jupiter and the Temple of Venus. The remains of these temples date back to the first three centuries AD in Roman times. The name comes from Baal Baalbek, the name of a Phoenician god. This site aimed mainly to show the power of the Roman Empire for. The temples show the Roman architecture while adding elements of the architecture of the East, such as the altar greater than in the Roman sanctuaries or stairs that there was not any.

The Temple of Jupiter 

The Temple of Jupiter is the oldest of the three but also the largest in the Roman world (88m X 48m). Today all that remains of this temple six columns with a height of 22 meters. It is estimated that construction was done in several stages, it was well advanced during the reign of Nero, but it ended in the third century. Even if much left to testify, it is estimated that the temple was peripteros (building surrounded by columns around the outside), it had in fact 10 columns on the front and 19 on the sides. He also had a monumental staircase.

Taanayel :) 

Photo By Ali Badawi

Southeast of Chtaura, a few kilometers from Zahle, Beirut 48km and 900m above sea level, is a beautiful part of the Bekaa Tana he (Tana, dragon, chaos, disorder, a cauldron, bowl, cauldron of God El), which was ceded to Tannayel reverend Jesuit fathers in 1860 by the Turkish government to compensate the killing of five RP Jesuits, was a marshy and unhealthy region, full of mosquitoes and discomfort, many fathers died there malaria, but with a nice tenacity, PR drainèrent soil, they planted trees, made ​​a farm fresh produce, orchards, a farm of cows, goats, sheep etc ... a great and modern cheese and others ... their premium products, great demand. The Jesuits, on adjacent slopes Ksara, installed a telescope, cultivated vineyards in the famous wines. Their university U.S.J. it has installed its Faculty of Agriculture.


Tannayel became an agricultural region of great wealth where the vines and all kinds of fruit trees are maintained: peaches, apples, pears etc. cherries ...

Photo By Ali Badawi

It even created a 'pond' of great beauty adding to the spectacle of a plain water mark fraîcheure charm which reflect sky, clouds, trees ...

Long driveways or paths lined with trees with their prospects to take us far horizons dreams of escape to a house suitable for meditation and retreat, where the shadows with their blue language relax us ...

This house became the retirement home of the old fathers who are still engaged in work or intellectual or pastoral or gardening ...

A small chapel of the convent, very sober receives villagers around to offices. Many flee to space walks in the four directions; far from any pollution.

The environment in Tana it is healthier, it is a 'field' or 'Una Finca a farm in Spanish. Fathers, have arranged to Ksara an observatory and a seismograph, the first in the region and better equipped. Ksara cellars, already famous in Roman times which we always see and underground shade and freshness are shown have been multiplied. Their visit is part of the program any good tourist agent.


Tourists warned head every day he Tana to visit and sourcing quality products, and allow children who have the passion to observe the animals for breeding or frolicking in the shade of large trees .

To begin we can start with afqa :) 

Afqa “The Return Of Adonis & Ishtar”

Photo By Ali Badawi

The Legend of Adonis and Ishtar has never 
escaped my memories, and visiting the place where Adonis was born and died is truly magical. Adonis was born and died at the foot of the falls in Afqa Village and the ruins of the celebrated Temple of Ishatr “Ashtaroth” or “Aphrodite in Greek” or Venus in Roman” is located there honoring her legend.

Photo By Ali Badawi

In accordance with the Greek Mythology Legends, Afqa is associated with the cult of Aphrodite and Adonis. According to the myth, Cinyras, the King of Cyprus seduced his daughter Myrrha who was transformed into a tree that bears her name. After several months, the tree split open and the child Adonis emerged. He was reared by Aphrodite, who became enamored of him, causing her lover Ares to grow jealous. Ares sent a vicious boar to kill Adonis. At the pool at the foot of the falls of Afqa, Adonis bled to death from a deep wound in the groin. Aphrodite despaired at his death and out of pity for her the gods allowed Adonis to ascend from Hades for a short period each year. Each spring at Afqa, the melting snows flood the river, bringing a reddish mud into the stream from the steep mountain slopes. The red stain can be seen feeding into the river and far out to the Mediterranean Sea. Legend held this to be the blood of Adonis, renewed each year, at the time of his death. Also in the fertile valley surrounding the river, millions of scarlet anemones bloom, known as Adonis' flowers according to legend, they spring from his blood, spilled as he lay dying beneath the trees at Afqa, and return each year in remembrance.

Photo By Ali Badawi

The Temple to Ishtar or Aphrodite or Venus was built at the river falls where all sorts of obscenity were practiced and it remained there till Emperor Constantine ordered the aforementioned Temple to be demolished in the year 523, before AD. Eventually was converted into a Christian Church and all believers used to come there. The Lebanese Muslims and Christians used to believe that this place is miraculous and used to bring their sick people so to be cured there where vows are addressed to el Sayidah al-Kabirah "the Great Lady” or Saydet Afqa. The remains of Venus Temple now are some large remains over the roof of a building that slopes toward the south which is The Imam Husseini Mosque while Our Lady of Afqa Church is on the other side and it is an old church standing at the entrance to Afqa facing Mnaitira Village.

Afqa or 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. The Persian translation could give the best meaning since it means the Awakening or The Return and that’s connected to the return of Adonis every year. Also Afqa was known in ancient times as Apheca or Afeka and the word can be interpreted as "the source".

Afqa Village is located in Jbeil Casa and it’s standing with an altitude of 1,200 meters and its Grotto is 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. I’ve visited the Grotto and the ruins of the surrounding pagan temples and had to jump over the ruins stones so to get inside the waterfall and enjoy that magical scenery. Off course, that was not enough and I’ve checked the cave and was surprised by the beauty there. 

Lebanon a really good place :)

Lebanon is one of the best touristic destinations in the Middle East. Because it is rich in monuments and natural places. And hospitable people. 

I'd like to announce in this list the most important touristics places that anyone can had: 

*Archaeological sites:
- Baalbek, Jbeil, Saida, Sour, Bayt El Dine, Niha, Anjar, Trablous, Achmoun, Afqa, Batroun, Wadi Kadicha, Balamand.

*Natural places:
-Jeita, Kfarhim, Arz L Chouf, Ehden, Arz Tannourin, Sour. 

And much more places in my blog..