Kadisha Valley
Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab) *

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ref 850

  

The Kadisha Valley (also known as Qadisha Valley, Wadi Qadisha, Ouadi Qadisha, or ???? ?????? in Arabic) is located in Northern Lebanon.

The valley is a deep gorge created by the river, Kadisha, that is also known with the name of Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches Tripoli, Lebanon.

The most scenic section of the valley is stretched for approximately twenty kilometers between Bsharri (????), the hometown of Kahlil Gibran, and Tourza (?????).


The Qadisha valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world. Its monasteries, many of which are of a great age, stand in dramatic positions in a rugged landscape. Nearby are the remains of the great forest of cedars of Lebanon, highly prized in antiquity for the construction of great religious buildings.



Criterion iii: The Qadisha Valley has been the site of monastic communities continuously since the earliest years of Christianity. The trees in the Cedar Forest are survivors of a sacred forest and of one of the most highly prized building materials of the ancient world.

Criterion iv: The monasteries of the Qadisha Valley are the most significant surviving examples of this fundamental demonstration of Christian faith.

Holy Christian Site a
b
Kadisha literally means "Holy" in Aramaic, and the valley hosts some of the most ancient Christian monastic communities of the Middle East, including Deir Qannubin (??? ??????), which used to be the See of the Maronite Patriarch, Deir Mar Elisha (??? ??? ?????) and Deir Mar Antonios Qozhaya (??? ??????????? ?????) which can be accessed from the town of Arbet Qozhaya



Maronite communities found a shelter in the Kadisha Valley, when they fled their original areas of settlement in the Orontes Valley. At that time, they feared persecutions from the Byzantines, who accused the Maronites of supporting the Monothelite doctrine.

The Kadisha Valley is nearby the Forest of the Cedars of God, survivors of the ancient Cedars of Lebanon, the most highly prized building materials of the ancient world.[1]

World Heritage Site b

In 1998, the UNESCO added the valley to the list of World Heritage Sites because it is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world.[2]
Historians believe that the Kadisha Valley has had monastic communities continuously since the earliest years of Christianity. UNESCO considers the monasteries of the Kadisha Valley as the most significant surviving examples of early Christian faith. [3]

Towns, villages and monasteries c

In Bsharri District
Bsharri, Dimane, Bane, Tourza, Hasroun, Bazaoun, Bqarqasha, Bqaa Kafra, Brissate, Hadshit, Blaouza, Hadath, Monastery of Qannoubine, Monastery of Hawqa, Monastery of Mar Elisha

In Zgharta District
Arbet Qozhaya, Ehden, Kfarsghab, Hawqa, Aintourine, Sereel, El Fradiss, Mazraat Al Nahr, Beit Balais, Monastery of Qozhaya, Monastery of Mar Sarkis Ras Al Nahr

Map d

Referencese

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/850

External linksf

Destination Lebanon: Qadisha (includes a brochure with photo gallery and map)
Mar Antonios Qozhaya Maronite Monastery
Horsh Ehden Natural Reserve
Zgharta-Ehden Municipality
Unofficial site about Zgharta and Ehden
Unofficial site about Bsharri