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| Hasbaya |
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The town of Hasbaya
is the center of the Caza and can be reached from Marjeyun across
the Hasbani bridge. It is one of the most important and oldest towns
of the Mount Hermon area. This mountain peak, also called Jabal
al Sheikh, rises east of Hasbaya. The town is watered by a small
tributary of the Hasbani River.
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Hasbaya is an important historical
site, but little of its ancient monuments survive. The oldest
standing ruins date to the Crusader period. After the conquest
of the area by the Shehabs in 1173, they fortified the square
tower of the Crusader fort and transformed it into a big palace
similar to Italian palaces and citadels of the Renaissance. On
both sides of its main entrance is the lion, the emblem of the
Shehab family. The upper floor has 65 rooms, and the largest is
decorated with beautiful wall paintings. The mosque was built
in the 13th century and has a beautiful hexagonal minaret.
Hasbaya keeps its traditions
alive and its workshops are still producing traditional clothing
such as abayas, caftans and turbans.
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Leave Hasbaya and drive in the
direction of Marjeyun. After 3 km, you reach Souk al Khan, which
is located inside a pine forest at the crossing of Hasbaya, Rashaya,
Kawkaba and Marjeyun roads. There lies the ruins of an old khan
where Ali, son of Fakhreddin Maan, is said to have been killed.
In this khan, a popular weekly market held very Tuesday is visited
by traders and visitors from all over the area. Near this site
flows the Hasbani, a tributary of the Jordan River, which is presently
under Israeli Control. On the banks of this river are scattered
outdoor restaurants serving delicious Lebanese food and trout.
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From Souk al Khan drive 6 km to
the south-east and come to Rashaya a Fukkhar, a village famous
for its pottery production. From there continue on the road to
Habbariye, in the midst of vineyards and orchards. Near the village,
on the slopes of Mount Hermon lie the ruins of a Roman temple.
A rectangular building 17 x 9 m, some of its walls are preserved
to a height of 8 meters. Continue to the village of Shebaa famous
for its caves, springs and breathtaking scenery.
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Eight kilometers north-east of
Hasbaya is the village of Mimes. From there the visitor goes to
the most famous religious center of the Druze community: the al
Bayyada praying halls, where thousands of Druze believers come
each Thursday night to pray and to meditate. The compound is made
up of 40 halls or khalwat which have deliberately been left unrestored.
From al Bayyada, go north to the
villages of al Kfayr and Nabi Shit where lie the ruins of an old
temple, oil presses, stone basins and a rock-cut tomb believed
to be that of the founder of the Druze faith, Muhammad ben Ismail
al Darazi.
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