Bšarrī - Gheos Worldguide

Bšarrī (بشرّي)

If you travel from Tarabulus (Tripoli) to Bcharré and The Cedars inland, you will come through some of Lebanon's most beautiful areas. The area is mountainous and there are numerous gorges. Numerous small villages sit on the mountainsides and on top of the gorges. The views over the olive groves and vineyards are spectacular.

There are about 40 churches in Bšarrī and it is sometimes called the city of churches.

Points of interest

The Gibran Museum houses a collection of oil paintings and drawings from poet, painter and sculptor Khalil Gibrant. He was buried in the old monastery overlooking the town.
Not far from Bšarrī is one of Lebanon's last remaining Biblical cedar forests. The place is called Arz Ar-rab (God's Cedars) and it is not very large. The trees used to cover all of Lebanon, but centuries of cutting trees have left their toll. The small forest at Arz Ar-rab is a national monument and some of the trees there are 1,500 years old. The forest is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Kadisha Gorge on the other side of Bšarrī holds some rock-cut monasteries as well as the tombs of the early Maronite patriarchs. The gorge is excellent for hiking.
The Cedars Ski Resort opened in 1953, making it the oldest ski resort in Lebanon. The ski resort is located 130 km (81 mi) from Beirut. It is centered on Qurnat as Sawdā, which is the highest mountsin in the Levsnt. It is 3,088 m high.
The Saint Saba Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the Levant.

Bšarrī is also transliterated as Bsharri, Bcharré, Becharre, Bcharre, Bsharre and Bcharre Al Arz.

Accommodation and restaurants are available in Bšarrī, but most people prefer to stay in nearby Tarabulus (Tripoli) as there is more choice.

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