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| Jezzin |
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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.
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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 Jezzins economy.
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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
18th 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.
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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 16th 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.
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