Al Arz Things to Do

The Cedar Grove of les Cèdres is one of its major attractions. It contains one of the few remaining clusters of cedar trees, some of which as old as 1000 years. These slow growing trees have been cut down since antiquity and exported around the region and beyond, resulting in a gradual deforestation. The degradation of the soil after the trees were removed meant that it was difficult for the trees to cover the mountains once again. This grove is thus highly protected and is fenced off, but hikes through it are possible at certain times.

Keep looking at this pic and you'll start to see religious figures carved in to the tree such as Jesus, among others. We stood there for 30 minutes looking for all the figures around the tree (cannot all be captured by the shot shown here).

Bcharré is a small town in the Qadisha Valley with red roofed houses and three churches. This is the town you pass through when you are going to The Cedars. There is a nice museum of the Lebanese poet, novelist and painter Khalil Gibran (1883 - 1931). It is absolutly worth visiting. Entrance fee is 3000 LL (June 2002).

Al Arz means "The Cedar" in Arabic and is the symbol on the national flag as well as one of great pride to the Lebanese. I love these trees and Lebanon so much, I have a flag hanging in my room.