Bsharri

Snow in Bsharri

The name Bsharri (بشرّي), Beth Shareer, can be found in the Aramaic language. Bsharri means House of Truth in Aramaic. Maronite Christians fleeing persecution sought refuge in its mountainous terrain in the 7th Century AD. The Kadisha Valley, below the town, became the spiritual center of the Maronite Church. The town was known as Buissera by the Crusades.

Saint Saba street in Bsharri

In Lebanon, Bsharri natives are characterized as very courageous and tribal. They are known across the northern region for their hospitality and patriotism. They are especially known for their distinct accent when they speak Lebanese Arabic. Unlike other parts of Lebanon, Aramaic was spoken in Bsharri well into the 19th century. As a result, Bsharri natives developed an unmistakably strong accent which lasts to this day.

During the Lebanese civil war (1975–1990), Bsharri was a bastion of Christian resistance against the Palestinians and the Syrians. Many of its youth joined the Lebanese Phalanges at the start of the civil war. In 1986 Samir Geagea, a Bsharri native, became head of the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia (now a political party). Many LF militants were drawn from the town during the civil war. Bsharri natives are often referred to as defenders of the Maronite Christianity in Lebanon.

Unlike most of the other villages around, Bsharri is continuously inhabited during all the months of the year. That is why, even in the coldest days of winter, one can still find open shops to purchase their everyday needs.

Today, the town is located in a highly touristic zone including many attractions such as the Khalil Gibran Museum, the Kadisha Valley, the Kadisha Grotto, the Cedars of God forest and several ski resorts.

Cedars International festival, 2017

Bsharri is home to a Lebanese Red Cross First Aid Center,[2] also to "The Maronite Scouts" that started their activities in early 2000.

Bsharri, Lebanon, and Val d’Isère, France inked an agreement

On July 13, 2018, International Colombian singer of Lebanese heritage, Shakira, performed in Bsharri during the Cedars International Festival in the presence of 13,000 people. The visit was a part of her 2018 world tour, the El Dorado World Tour.

On March 22, 2019 The municipalities of Bsharri, Lebanon, and Val d’Isère, France inked an agreement to promote cultural exchange between the two towns. The cultural exchange program aims to build bridges for French and Lebanese youth that want to experience the unique cultural relationship and similarities the two countries possess. The mayor of Val d’Isère, Marc Bauer, led a French delegation to Lebanon to inaugurate a program aimed at promoting cultural and athletic exchange between the two famous ski locations.

Andrea Bocelli performed at the opening ceremony of The Cedars International Festival-Bsharri (CIF) in the presence of 8,000 people. Before the festival, Mr. Bocelli visited the Cedars of God Forest Bsharri where he was received by the head of the Lebanese Forces Party Dr Samir Geagea.

Bsharri natives are also known for their strong Christian faith. Throughout the year, many religious festivities and commemorations take place in the town attracting thousands from neighbouring villages.

Cedars Ski Resort

The Cedars resort is located in the North of Lebanon. Skiers came to the resort as early as 1920, and have been returning there ever since. The first lift was installed by the government in 1953.

Cedars piste map

The Cedars resort has a slightly longer season than the others, sometimes beginning early November and often lasting until late April. Pisted and off-piste skiing is possible, as well as nordic skiing and skidoo rides.

Cedars Ski Resort

Bsharri, is the village of the Cedars, is the birthplace and resting place of Gibran Khalil Gibran. The Gibran Museum houses his paintings, drawings and personal effects. There is a number of Maronite churches and monasteries scattered throughout the Kadisha valley.

Skiing in the mountains of Bsharri

In summer 2005, The Cedars resort installed 3 new chairlifts to replace the old T-bars and extend the ski runs. 15 million US Dollars have lately been invested to upgrade the facilities and expand the resort to higher standard of in terms of accommodation, equipment, safety, and services.

A Gondola for 6 persons will carry skiers and visitors from the parking level at 2,095 metres (6,873 ft) to the highest accessible summit of 2,870 metres (9,420 ft), however, there is no indication yet of when will this be completed. To comply with international regulations, a Refuge with a capacity of 400 persons will also be built at the top of the Gondola. Its terrace will be equipped with telescopes capable of seeing sights as far away as the island of Cyprus.

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  Bsharri under the snow 2008
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  Kadicha valley
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  Bsharri under the night
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  Bsharri - Apple Trees (Autumn)
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  Bsharri - Alcohol Extraction ('Arak).
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  Gibranshome
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  Bsharri
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  Forest of The cedars of God
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  Cedars International Festival
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  Bsharri-Lebanon

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  Gibran Museum

Antoine Arida

• Gibran Khalil Gibran, writer, poet and visual artist born in Bsharri
• Anthony Peter Arida Maronite patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, born in Bsharri
• Antoine Choueiri (August 3, 1939 – March 9, 2010) was a Lebanese media executive. He was the founder of Choueiri Group, the Middle East's largest media broker.
• Samir Geagea (Arabic: سمير جعجع Lebanese pron.: [saˈmiːɾ faˈɾiːd ˈʒaʕʒaʕ], also spelled Samir Ja'ja'; born on 25 October 1952 in Ain al-Remaneh), from the town of Bsharri in northern Lebanon, is a Lebanese leader and politician. He is the executive chairman of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party in Lebanon.
• Danny Thomas

One of 10 children, Danny Thomas was born as Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz on January 6, 1912, in Deerfield, Michigan, to Charles Yaqoob Kairouz and his wife Margaret Taouk. His parents were Maronite Christian immigrants from Bsharri Lebanon

• Bsharri District
• Dimane
• Lebanon
• Kadisha Valley
• Khalil Gibran
• Samir Geagea
• MOREP
• traditions

• Lebanese Embassy (US) Section on Bsharri
• World66