Villages and landmarks

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The Dannieh Region

The Dannieh region is located in the upper part of the Minieh-Dannieh Caza in the Mohafazat of North Lebanon. Before the establishment of this Caza in 1993, the area was administratively attached to Tripoli. Dannieh is surrounded by the Caza of Hermel to the east, the city of Tripoli to the west, the Cazas of Zgharta and Bcharreh to the south, and the Mohafazat of Aakkar to the north.
Dannieh comprises 49 villages and covers around 90% of the Caza's total area. The remaining 10% is covered by Minieh. Access to the Hermel region is via the Sir-Jbab El Homr-Hermel road which traverses Lebanon's western mountain range. The Union of Dannieh Municipalities, established in 2004, regroups 23 municipalities from 28 exiting municipalities in Dannieh.
Dannieh has a rural character, with just a few large villages such as Bakhaoun and Sir. Agriculture is the preeminent economic activity, representing around 70% of the area's economy. Around 50% of Dannieh's lands are cultivated.
Dannieh is known for its beautiful natural resources, breathtaking landscapes, excellent climate and rich cultural heritage. The mountains are lush green during the summer time and snowcapped in winter. They embrace Kornet el Sawda to the south, the highest peak in the Near East rising at 3,088 m, and Wadi Jouhannam to the north, the deepest valley in Lebanon with 1,150 m depth. The inhabited parts of Dannieh are covered mostly with fruit orchards.
Dannieh contains one of the largest underground water reservoirs in Lebanon and the Middle East. More than 200 springs have been identified in the mountains of Dannieh, including Nabaa Al Sukkar in Nemrine, one of the highest springs in Lebanon located at 1,713 m above sea level.
The multiple archeological ruins found in Dannieh demonstrate the passage of several cultures through the region, from the Phoenicians to the Ottomans. Several of the Dannieh villages' names have Semitic roots, which demonstrate their ancient origins.

The most important villages and landmarks of Dannieh are :

Sfireh and its Roman Temple (Altitude: 1050 m, Distance from Beirut: 118 km) The Sfireh temple was built in the time of the Emperor Septimius Severus in the 2nd century AD.
which explains the name of the village of Sfireh, adapted from Severus. The temple was built on a hilltop 1,100m above sea level, overlooking the Dannieh middle mountains and the Sfireh pine and oak forest. The temple was built on a hilltop on 110o m above sea level, overlooking the Dannieh middle mountains, and the Sfireh pine and oak forest. The temple is well preserved, lacking only the pediment and the cornice. It is rectangular, thirty meters by fifteen, made of huge blocks of stone hewn with great precision. The façade has three doors. The largest door, in the middle, is surrounded by molding. The other two doors are smaller and narrower and without ornamentation. The one on the left leads to an inner flight of stairs hewn in the thickness of the wall and leading to the temple terrace, much like a labyrinth and a real feat of construction. On the right side a small door gives access to a crypt which is as long as the temple is wide. To the right there are two rooms of the same dimensions as the temple but now in a state of complete ruin. Two columns still stand but their capitals lay on the ground. On the same site you can see two other small monuments left from ancient times. The Sfireh village contains also an old church, an old mosque and cemetery, and some traditional Lebanese houses.
Bakhaoun (Altitude: 700 m, Distance from Beirut: 105 km) The village of Bakhaoun serves as a summer resort for the residents of Tripoli and neighboring areas. The name of Bakhaoun originates from the Semitic root word Bakhah (the English meaning is "stating what is right" or "exaggerating in blame").
The village of Bakhaoun served as a hiding place for Emir Fakhr el Din Ibn Maan in the 17th century and was the seat of the Administration Office of Dannieh's region in the late days of the Ottoman Empire rule.
Sir (Altitude: 900 to 1200 m, Distance from Beirut: 110 km) Sir, also known as Sir el Dannieh, is considered as the central village of the Dannieh region
The village comprises many typical houses in addition to an ancient mill and the Al Zahlan cave in the Qattine area. Sir is famous for being a summer resort and is well provided with restaurants, hotels and tourist facilities. It is also reputed for its abundance of water provided by the springs of Sir and Al Koussam, and for its fruitful orchards.
Bekaa-Sefrine (Altitude: 1100 m, Distance from Beirut: 114 km) Many persons believe that the village's name is a composite word, meaning "bird's plain" in English, which originates from the Syriac language
Others believe it has a different meaning, referring to "the piece of land beside the mountain."The town has several restaurants and coffee shops that operate during the summer season. Bekaa-Sefrine features many typical houses, and an ancient mosque. There are more than 15 springs in the village, including: Ain el Arbaain, Ain el Karkashiyeh, and Ain el Jarnif. Beka-Sefrine�s landscape is very unique with many distinctive landmarks such as the Shafk el Noussour Mountain, the Jord el Njas, the Al Atat peak, the Al Arbaain Mountain, the Al Abrbaain cave, the Al Bahsa cave, and the Zoud el Zawarib cave.
Qmammine (Altitude: 1000 m, Distance from Beirut: 132 km) The village's name is the plural for "Qmine", meaning trap in English.
It is characterized by water abundance, pine and fir trees, and spacious woods. The castle of Wadi Kattara, the Al Sanabel ancient citadel, and the Cave of Saifa, which constituted the fortress and residence of the Saifa family, are considered among its most prominent historical sites.
Btourmaz (Altitude: 650 m, Distance from Beirut: 119 km) Some researchers trace the name of Btourmaz back to the old Semitic language, meaning "leather making", while others argue that it means "mountain of mining".
Btourmaz hosted many Phoenician and Crusader civilizations andsome of its most recognized ruins are the Hamkoun Namroud Castle and the ruins of Deir Mar Maz.
Kfarhabou (Altitude: 300 m, Distance from Beirut: 100 km) The name originates from the Syriac language, meaning "the creditor's village."
Kfarhabou is known for its rock caves, its church dating back to the Crusaders, and its bridge of arcades. It also contains Phoenician sarcophagus.

Other important natural sites

Zahlan Grotto The Zahlan Grottowas was discovered by the Spéléo Club du Liban (SCL) in 1964
This cave is located on private land in the village of Qattine , next to Sir el Dannieh. An expedition by the General Department of Archeology of the Ministry of Culture discovered a skeleton here that is believed to date back to the Neolithic Age or even the New Stone Age (the period between 9,500 and 6,000 B.C.). The grotto is open to the public.
Ouyoun El Samak Ouyoun el Samak is a 50,000 m2 lake located west of Dannieh on the border with the Akkar Mohafazat.
The lake is surrounded by cafes and restaurants. The area is rich in freshwater streams, waterfalls and beautiful scenery.
Jabal el Makmel and Kornet el Sawda The Dannieh region offers a scenic overview to Jabal el Makmel, one of the most significant mountain ranges in Lebanon and the Near East.
From the Dannieh mountains hikers can access Kornet el Sawda (called the Black Peak in English) located on the intersection between Dannieh, Bcharreh, and Hermel. Kornet el Sawda and its surrounding high mountain plateaus are considered to be the largest water reservoir in the Middle East. This mountain range nourishes rivers to the east, such as the Orontes, and to the west, such as the Qadisha. The summit, rising at 3,088 m is a very high plateau which is swept by strong winds most of the year.

Other important archeological sites in Dannieh:

Roman columns. Sarcophagus, and Phoenician wells in Aymar
Ruins of Aicha fortress in Karm el Mohr (2,240 m above sea level)
Castle of Aicha in Bchennata
Ancient convent and wells in Debael


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