Bsharri
|
Bsharri بْشَرِّيْ |
|
|---|---|
| City | |
 Bsharri
|
|
| Coordinates: 34°15′4″N 36°0′40″E / 34.25111°N 36.01111°ECoordinates: 34°15′4″N 36°0′40″E / 34.25111°N 36.01111°E | |
| Country |
 Lebanon
|
| Governorate | North Governorate |
| District | Bsharri District |
| Elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 24,000 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Dialing code | +961 |
| Website | www.bcharri.gov.lb |
Bsharri (Arabic: بْشَرِّيْ Bšarrī; also Romanized Becharre, Bcharre, Bsharre) is a town at an altitude of about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in the Kadisha Valley in northern Lebanon. It is located in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate.
Bsharri is the town of the only remaining (preserved) Original Cedars of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), and is the birthplace of the famous poet, painter and sculptor Khalil Gibran who now has a museum in the town to honor him.
The name Bsharri (بشرّي) can be found in the Phoenician language Bet Ishtar meaning "The House Of Ishtar",Ishtar being a goddess worshipped by the Phoenicians (and King Sulaymān) before Christianity was adopted in the area.
Bsharri was the site of a Phoenician settlement in ancient times. 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.
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. There are seven main families in Bsharri: Chidiac, Fakhri, Geagea, Kairouz, Rahme, Succar, and Tawk. Other families are Arida, Choueiri, Shebaya and Boutros.
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Wikipedia