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Zahle

History

Foundation

Zahle was founded during the end of the seventeenth century. Many Lebanese Catholics fled from the Muslims and the schismatics. Those who fled were therefore able to be under the protection of the emirs of Lebanon. At first Zahle was a small town, it was separated separated in three quarters each with its own governor. Gradually Zahle became a bigger to the city it is today.

Zahle in the 1800s

In the 1800s Zahle was the only town in the Beqaa region. They did not have any significant allies in the region who would be able to help them out in case of conflict. Therefore, the people of Zahle had a frontier mentality, which means they were always ready to defend themselves. This frontier attitude affected the people's mentality. They had an aggressive attitude, hardened and all took the job of town's protector seriously. Also, Zahle was too far from where the emirs were, hence they had to count on themselves. During the 1800s Zahle was influenced by Lebanon (Beirut) and Damascus

Civil war of 1800s

The war took place between the people of Zahle, in particular the Christians, against the Druze in the neighboring areas. The Druse maltreated the Christians in the region, the Christians of Zahle decided to retaliate and attack the Druse on the 31st of May 1860. The victory was for the Druse who were able to push the Zahalni (people of Zahle) back into Zahle. However, this was not the end of the civil war. The Druse wanted revenge, they assaulted Zahle on the 18th of June 1860. The Druse were able to wreak havoc on Zahle and take control of it. It was a total defeat of the Christians and Zahle. However, the Zahalni were good fighter and were able to bring down the number of fatalities to one hundred. The Druse burnt Zahle, and left it in ruins.

Civil war in the 1900s

During the 1900s Lebanon was plagued by wars, in particular in the 1970s and 1980s. Zahle was touched by the war, but not as much as other regions on Lebanon. Many Lebanese too refuge in Zahle because it was considered to be safer than places like Beirut. However, Zahle was touched by the war. There was particularly one incident that devastated Zahle and its inhabitants. The conflict occurred on the 21st of December 1980. Syria wanted to deploy its troops to Zahle but were intercepted by Bashit Gemeyel's Armed Forces. The Armed Forces killed five Syrian soldiers. The Syrian responded by continuously bomb Zahle. The attacks during this Christmas period produced a great reaction in the West, especially in France who described the Syrians as barbaric. However, the western threats were not enough to stop Syria. It was only when the Israeli threatened Syria, that they stopped. Syria's attack on Zahle and the world's reaction. There was a second incident where Zahle was in the middle of the civil war the year later. The Zahle crisis lasted for six month till it finally.Zahle suffered heavy bombardment.

Geography

Climate

Zahle is located in the East of Lebanon. Its weather is known for its dryness. It rarely rains in Zahle especially in the summer, there is indeed a lack of humidity. Zahle summer are very warm, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees celsius. Zahle winters are characterized by heavy snows they are also rather cold.

Population

Zahle's population has steadily grown since its foundation. At the end of the eighteenth century Zahle was home to a thousand inhabitants and two hundred houses. By the late 1850s the population jumped to between seven thousand and ten thousand people. The population grew throughout the twentieth century, and today Zahle is home to a hundred forty thousand Lebanese. Zahle is mostly if not entirely populated by Christians. There were Druzes and Muslims living in Zahle, however the Christians population overtook all the other religious population. Most of the population originated from immigrants who came form the countryside. In particular peasants, and semi nomads came to Zahle from Baalbeck Biqa and Hawran. Most of these immigrants were Christian Greek Orthodox and Christian Greek Catholic. Most of Zahle's inhabitants were merchants and entrepreneurs who traded with other districts because Zahle's economy depended on agriculture.

Agriculture and Commerce

Zahle is built on a steep ascent in an inlet of the mountain Sanine. The town is surrounded by kerums (vineyards).Zahle is the biggest town in the Bekaa, which is characterized by its vast plains. Therefore,cultivation is a big part of Zahle. In Lebanon, the capitol of the Bekaa is known for its vineyards, truck gardens orchards and olive groves. Industries that depended on a high use of water: tanning, milling wheat, cloth dyeing and arrack distilleries. Moreover, the people of Zahle gained there sustenance primarily through agriculture, in particular through the vineyards and mulberry plantations. Many Zahliotes owned shops and were able to earn a living through these shops. In the past Zahle was Lebanon's largest commercial center. Zahle's location is one of the reasons for its commercial success. The town is situated both near Syria and Beirut, therefor Zahle is to this day a passageway between Damascus and Beirut. Merchants from all around the Middle East went through Zahle.

Culture

Landmarks

Government Serail

The Serail, or the government house is aged several hundred years old from back too 1850. this building is located in the West of Zahle. Like many Lebanese styled buildings, the Serail is designed with arcades and walled gardens. The Government Serail houses many offices of the municipality. In the past, several rooms of the Serail were prisin cells, where many criminals have used. However, during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, The Syrian president Assad ordered the contruction of a new prison.

Hotel Kadri

Situated in the heart of Zahle, Hotel Kadri is a five star hotel where many Lebanese officials and dignitaries have stayed. The hotel is also located on the Berdawni river. Hotel Kadri has a traditional Lebanese architecture, characterized by arcade windows. The hotel has a health club, tennis courts, a pool and a restaurant. In the past the hotel used to be used as a hospital by the Ottomans during World War One.

Souk Al-Blatt

The Souk Al-Blatt or "Tiled Market" is an old market situated in the time of Zahle. It is in this very same market that travelers from Syria Baghdad and Palestine soled there goods. Although this market used to be tiled and had traditional Lebanese shops, today it is market with no traditional shops or traditional shops.

Churches in Zahle

Zahle is home to numerous churches that date all the way back to the eighteenth century. Each church is named after a saint and has its own loyal parish. The Greek Orthodox church Sayedit Zalzali is Zahle's oldest church, dating back to 1700. Other notable churches for their eighteenth century desigh are Church of Saint Elias (1720), Mar Gerges Church (Saint Georges Church 1767), Monastery of our Kady of Najat (1720) and Monastery of Saint Elias El-Tuwak (1744).

Lady of Tal Shiha

This fifty four meter high tower is located in the East of Zahle. An elevator is available to take people to the top, where a view of Zahle and the Bekaa awaits them. The structure is topped by a ten meter high bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, the work of the Italian artist Perrioti. At the base of this structure is a chapel that seats a little over a hundred people.

Bardawni Restaurants

The Bardawni is a river that issues from a narrow valley in the plain and waters Zahle and the plains of Zahle. The Bardawni has forever been a place where people and socialized. Its banks are lined with outdoor restaurants and cafes shaded by vines and trees. The restaurants are closed during the winter, but are open during the spring, summer and early fall. The restaurants are Mhanna, a popular restaurant chain in Lebanon, Arabi, Koreitim, Casino Wadi and Nmeir. All these restaurants specialize in traditional Lebanese mezze. Lebanese come from all over the country to eat at the Berdawni. It is one of Zahle's most popular attractions.

Religion

Religion is important in Zahle. The town is predominantly christian, however there are some Muslims who do live on the outskirts of the town. Zahle is home to more than fifty churches. Most of the holidays are Christian holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and numerous saint days. The day of the Virgin Mary is an important day in Lebanon, there is a festival that takes place everyday. The inhabitants of Zahle visit the town's oldest church and go to various festivities. Most people in Zahle go to church every Sundays and it is also customary in Zahle to visit other people's houses during these different holidays. Therefore religion is always a mechanism to socialize with the different families of the town.

Politics

Government

The municipality of Zahle is located in the district of Zahle, one of the eight districts in Lebanon. Zahle is divided in six sectors,

Zahle is one of the districts of the Beqaa, it is also[the capitol of the Beqaa. Zahle is governed by a mayor who is elected every six years.

Zahle in Lebanese Politics

Zahle has seven representatives in the Lebanese parliament who are elected every four years. Of these seven representatives, one must be Christian Maronite, one Christian Greek Orthodox, one Muslim Shia, one Muslim Sunni, one Armenian Lebanese and two must be Greek Catholic. Zahle is important in Lebanese Politics. Zahle is the bigest Christian town in Lebanon, and in the Middle East, therefore how the town votes is important. Zahle parliamentary election are often watched closely because many believe that Zahle's vote represents the general Christian opinion, this was particularly true for the past two elections. Zahle is what determined who held the majority.

External Links

Books Used

Hage Chahine (2008). C'etait Zahle. {{cite book}}: Text "publisher= Imprime au Liban" ignored (help)