Villages and Summer Resorts of the Jezzin Area

Jezzin (22 km from Sidon) is the most famous summer and touristic resort of South Lebanon because of its beautiful landscape and its 40m high waterfalls. Vital public facilities contributed in making Jezzin the most important town in the area. To get there, follow the Sidon - Hlayliyye - Majdelyun - Salhiyye - Lebea - Rum - Homsiye road.
    The town is located on the slopes of Tumat Niha and is surrounded with pine forests, vineyards and orchards. From the top of the huge rocky promontory known as al Shir, the visitor enjoys a breathtaking view of the surrounding localities scattered in the midst of a fertile plain and protected by mountains.
    In the valley is a natural cave known as the Fakhreddine Cave because the Lebanese Emir took refuge there to escape Ottoman persecution. While his father Qurqumaz hid and died in this cave, Fakhreddine was caught and taken to Istanbul.

Inside Farid Serhal Palace



A Hotel in Jezzin

    Jezzin is a historical town, where ancient sarcophagi and Crusader remains were found. To this remote past also belongs a ruined old mosque.
The most famous historical monuments are, however, more recent:
-The Saint Antoine Convent, belonging to the Antoine order (1774)
-The Serail (1898)
-The Farid Serhal Palace, a monumental building in the oriental style where an impressive collection of valuable antiquities is found.
    Jezzin is the center of the Caza, where several public administrations, banks, hotels, restaurants and amusement centers are found. The town is famous for its traditional cutlery and daggers. The tourist can also visit the fish farming installations, which are important to Jezzin’s economy.

Most villages of the Jezzin area are summer resorts. Located at an average altitude of 950m, nature endowed them with beautiful pine forests and fruit tree orchards.Five kilometers from Jezzin lies Bkassin, a lovely quiet village. From there, continue to Banawati, 7 km from Jezzin, where two old domed Moslem shrines stand on a hill. The larger one, known as Nabi Misha is notable for its fine stone work. The smaller shrine is called “nabbiyye,” the female form of the word “nabi,” or prophet. In the village of Mashmushe, which was the first seat of the Maronite bishopric in the area, you can visit the beautiful 18^th century monastery.
   On the main Jezzin-Sidon road are the villages of Homsiye and Rum. The latter is surrounded by vineyards, pine forests and orchards. Three kilometers west of Rum lies Anan, an old Byzantine settlement, famous for its artificial lake, fed by the Litani river through a 16 km long tunnel. West of Anan is a small Crusader fort, known as Abi al Hasan Citadel located on an 80m high promontory.

   Continue in the direction of Sidon to the villages of Leba (22 km) and Kafr Jarra (23 km) where second millennium rock-cut tombs have been excavated. One of these is located near the rear wall of a small house near the village entrance. It is in the vicinity of the old church. Near Kafr Jarra is the Church of Saint John the Baptist, one of the oldest churches in the area. It was built in the 16^th century and restored for the first time in 1755 as seen by the inscription above its main entrance. This church was partly destroyed by the Israeli bombardment and the Lebanese Directorate of Antiquities is presently restoring it.

The area south of Jezzin enjoys beautiful scenery. In the midst of pine forests and orchards lie the village of Kfarhuna, Aramta, Rihan, Ayshie and al-Jarmak. West of Aramta are the villages of Mallikh, Lwayze and Jernaya.
   All these localities are important summer resorts because of their beautiful natural environment and their healthy climate.