Jezzine

Jezzine
جزين
Jezzine

Location in Lebanon

Coordinates: 33°32′N 35°35′E / 33.533°N 35.583°E / 33.533; 35.583
Country  Lebanon
Governorate South Governorate
District Jezzine District
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) +3 (UTC)

Jezzine (Arabic: جزين‎ Jizzīn) is a town in Lebanon, located 22 km (14 mi) from Sidon and 40 km (25 mi) south of Beirut.[1] Surrounded by mountain peaks, pine forests, and at an average altitude of 950 m (3,117 ft), it is the main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon. The town is also famous in Lebanon for its production of handmade, traditional cutlery and daggers with decorative inlays as well as the shrine of Our Lady of the Waterfall.

Demography

The inhabitants of Jezzine are mainly Maronites or Melkites. The town is located on the slopes of Tumat Niha and is surrounded with pine forests, vineyards and orchards. From the top of the huge rocky promontory known as al Shir, the visitor enjoys a panoramic view of the surrounding localities scattered in the midst of a fertile plain and protected by mountains.

Culture

Festivals

Libraries

Theatres

Economy

Agriculture

Handcrafts

Tourism

Major Attractions

At the entrance of Jezzine, there is "Saydet Jezzine" or "Saydet el-Maabour" (Our Lady of Jezzine) shrine; inside it lies the statue of the Virgin. In 1898, an important passageway connecting Jezzine with the coastal cities and Sidon was built. In 1955, the Virgin Statue was ascended during religions celebrations that occur on August 15, the day of the Virgin's Ascension. On this occasion, the celebrators go around the town till they reach the Virgin's Statue amidst prayers and lit candles.

The town overlooks a cliff of 40 meters high. At its sides, there are café houses and restaurants overlooking a wonderful landscape of Wadi Jezzine, which in turn overlooks green fields. In the center of the town there is the Municipal Palace, which was built according to the Ottoman style in 1898 during the reign of Sultan Abd el Hamid and the "Qaim Maqam" of the district, Saleem Bey Aammoun, at the expense of the municipality.

In Jezzine, there are churches that were built more than 200 years ago. They are famous for their huge stony vaults.

On the outskirts of the town you can see St. Maroun Church, which dates back to the 18th century. It was partially destroyed in 1759, and then repaired several times. It is distinguished for its vastness and elevated vaults. Believers reach the church via an old flight of stairs from the Old Section of the town.

The churches in Jezzine are:

South of Jezzine lays Sirhal Palace, a huge building whose architecture is nontraditional. It was built by Dr. Farid Sirhal. The Palace includes spacious rooms topped with perforated glass colored vaults, as well as shapes of engraved water-springs. It looks imposing to the onlookers passing through the Ain Majdalein road. It is not open for visitors.[3]

History

The name, Jezzine, derives from the Aramaic (Syriac) word, meaning "depot" or "store". Many historians believe that Jezzine served as a storing location for traders because of its strategic location on the caravan route that connected the ancient port city of Sidon to the Chouf, the Beqaa Valley, and to Syria.[2]

The Australian 7th Division, with British and Free French forces, supported by the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, fought for Jezzine against Vichy French forces in 1941.

Julián Slim Haddad, born in 1887 in Jezzine, emigrated to Mexico when he was 14 years old. In Mexico-City Julián would establish his enterprise Estrella de Oriente. One of his sons, Carlos Slim Helú, born on 28 January 1940 in Mexico-City, inherited his fathers business talent and ultimately became the richest man in the world in 2007, according to Forbes magazine.

Landmarks

Famous People

References

  1. ↑ Profile of Jezzine - Jezzine - Lebanon - jizzine.com
  2. 1 2 3 Jezzine Lebanon
  3. 1 2 http://destinationlebanon.gov.lb/en/TourismRegion/details/16/84

Coordinates: 33°32′N 35°35′E / 33.533°N 35.583°E / 33.533; 35.583

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