Spotlight On
Bcharré, land of Gibran and the Cedars
A red-roofed town perched at the crest of the Qadisha Valley, Bcharré is the quintessential image of a traditional Lebanese mountain village. The town itself is most famous as the birthplace of Gibran Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), author of The Prophet and many other famous works. No trip to Bcharré is complete without a visit to the Monastery of Mar Sarkis, which now serves as the Gibran Museum. Although Gibran did not spend his final days in the town, he was buried in the monastery, and many of his paintings, drawings, and manuscripts are on display.

Just a few kilometers from Bcharré is the small but very famous grove of Cedars known as Arz Ar-Rab (“Cedars of the Lord”). The grove contains around 300 trees, some over 1,000 years old. These majestic Cedars stand as tall as 35 meters high, and their branches form a green canopy that is especially striking against a backdrop of winter snow.

Many old and notable monasteries and churches are located in the surrounding region. Bcharré is an excellent base for exploring the magnificent Qadisha Valley, a World Heritage Site that is home to some of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world. Rock-cut chapels, grottoes, and hermitages, many painted with frescoes dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, are tucked into its steep walls. Outdoor enthusiasts will find abundant hiking trails leading into the valley, and the region is perfect for easy scenic day hikes, as well as longer guided treks.

In the wintertime, the nearby Cedars Ski Resort is one of Lebanon’s most popular destination for skiing and other winter sports. Northwest of Bcharré, near the town of Ehden, is the Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve. The Reserve contains another grove of ancient Cedars and a mixed forest of juniper and fir trees, providing more excellent opportunities for hiking and spotting unique flora and fauna.

  Qadisha Valley Archaeological Sites

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• Scenic Mountain Pass: Cedars to Baalbek

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