CAZA:
Jbeil
850 to 1600m Etymology:
Syriac origin, "Mo'od", meaning "the meeting place"Maad is a village of Jbeil region, scattered along a plateau and surrounded by green hills where one can guess the sea below. Old stone houses, impressive ruins ripped open and ancient churches are scattered along agricultural lands, small oak forests and olive groves. In this somewhat enigmatic setting, stands the astonishing church of Saint Charbel, built in the 12th century on a Roman temple, surprising with its gothic air, its ancient frescoes and its museum. A beautiful walk in the valley will take you down to the river.
Must-do things
- Saint Charbel church, built in the 12th century on a Roman temple
- Mar Abda convent
- The many plots of agricultural land and orchards inside the village
- The museum as part of Saint Charbel church
- The walk in the valley towards the river
- The village of Mayfouk which constitutes a major religious site and includes the monastery of Saydet Mayfouq, known since the year 850 and one of the oldest in Lebanon, and the church of Saint Ellige, built in the 12th century and famous for its remarkable icon of the Virgin and Child
- The Crusader citadel of Smar Jbeil built in the 12th century, with its cistern and tombs carved into the rock
- The village of Gharzouz with its steep sea view and its church of Saydet el-Niyah church of about 500 years old, built with the remains of a temple
- The village of Bekhaz with its bird’s eye view of the sea
- The charming village of Toula with its large triple nave Crusader church, dedicated to Mar Doumit, and its beautiful stone houses
- The labelled villages of Ain Kfaa and Mounsef
