CAZA:

Jezzine
950m

Etymology:

Aramaic-Syriac origin, "Beit Kassin", meaning "the village of the disappeared, the hidden"

Nestled in one of the most beautiful pine forests of the Middle-East, the village of Bkassine offers a breathtaking view of the lush nature of Wadi Jezzine. The village is characterized by the charm of its central square, small souk, red-tiled houses and charming streets. Olive trees represent the most widespread agriculture in the village and ensure one of the best oil productions in the region. Every year in September, Bkassine is a festive village where visitors come to celebrate Saint Takla, in a church considered as one of the most beautiful churches in Lebanon. Bkassine is a village with an undeniable traditional character.

Must-do things
Architectural Heritage
  • Saydet el-Najat church, built in 1855
  • Saint Takla church with its atypical architecture
  • Old stone bridges, water mills and oil presses
  • The houses with traditional architecture
  • The rainwater collecting system with 14 catchment tunnels installed in Bkassine pine forest
Natural Heritage
  • Bkassine’s impressive pine forest
  • The beautiful panorama of the mountain of Niha and the valley of Wadi Jezzine
Cultural Heritage
  • Mar Taqla summer festival held in September
  • Olive oil production
  • Local culinary specialties: myrtle liqueur; Moudardara (lentils with rice and caramelized onions); Kebbet laqtine (pumpkin mixed with cracked wheat)
Hiking
  • Several hiking trails in the pine forest
  • The hiking sections of Bkassine-Jezzine and Bkassine-Niha (the LMT association)
Where To Eat
  • La maison de la forêt: a good Lebanese cuisine in the amazing Bkassine pine forest.
Nearby sites and villages
  • The waterfalls and hamlets of Wadi Jezzine
  • The cave and the fortress of Niha (Shouf)
  • The Maronite convent of Saydet Machmoucheh, one of the most famous convents of southern Lebanon, dating from 1732
  • The labelled villages of Jezzine and Qaytouleh
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