Ras el Matn
Encyclopedia
Ras el Matn or or (Ra's al Matn) : a Lebanese
town and municipality in Qadaa Baabda
(Baabda district) of Mount Lebanon Governorate
stretching over 1300 hectares (13 km² - 5.018 mi²) . The town has a population of nearly 10,000 inhabitants who are Druze
and Orthodox Christians.
. It is well known for the abundance of pine trees there.
located on the western steep slopes of Mount Lebanon
, in the upper Matn (Al Matn al A'la) section at varying elevation between 800 to 1000 m above sea level. it's known for its panoramic views and pine trees and its natural location giving a spectacular view to the western sections of el Matn and the Mediterranean sea
. From its heights one can look out across the valley to the towns of Dhour Chweir, Baabdat
, Broumana and Beit Mery
The town is 29 kilometers (18.0206 mi) away from the Lebanese capital city Beirut
. All roads leading to the town traverse unspoiled landscape of pine-clad hills and rivers, such as the Jaramani river along the Monteverdi road.
There are several possible routes to Ras el Matn:
Ras el Metn on GoogleMaps
and Orthodox Christians. This villages is notable for its sense of civic pride.
Baabda - Louayzeh counted 4846 residents (estimation). In the municipal Lebanese elections of 2004, it accounted 7149 registered voters of which 4279 actual voters.
Ras El Matn has 2 schools, 1 public school and 1 private school. 391 students are schooled in the public institution, and 68 are schooled in the private one.
and the scholar ‘Ajaj Nuwayhid.
Ras el Matn is home to many great athletes, and the schools participate in Basketball and Football leagues.
The most notable building inside the town is the historical Serail of the Lam'iyin princess built in 1775. The huge building later served as a high school. Although damaged and abandoned during the war, one can still appreciate the serail's elegant courtyard and bell tower. Restoration work is planned for the near future.
A natural water spring known as Nabaa Ein el Marj is located found in the lower part of the village. Remarkable for its arched façade
built in 1472, the plaque recording its construction is still in place.
Much older, are the ancient tombs carved into the rocky cliffs and headlands of Ras El Metn, while just below the village the refuge of a holy woman, Sitt Sarah can be found in a rock-
scattered field. According to the legend, a rock miraculously opened into a cave to shelter Sitt Sarah as she fled from danger. Finally carved from living stone, the site is an ancient tomb chamber.
Many grottos are located in the steep pine-clad slopes above the town, giving visitors and hikers superb views westwards. Hikers should also ask about the Grotto of Hiskan, which is about a two hours walk from the village.
The town is a major source of pine nuts due to stone pine
(Pinus pinea) woods covering the area. The beautiful umbrella pines that surround the village are a source of valuable pine nuts, while olives, grapes, figs, apricots and other fruits are cultivated here as well.
Ras El Matn is approximately 45 minutes away from Beirut
making it a famous touristic place due to its relatively close distance to the airport and Capital.
awarded the 2002-2003 UNESCO’s Cities for Peace Prize to 10 municipalities which became Laureate Cities, among which is Ras El Metn. The UNESCO’s Cities for Peace Prize recognizes municipalities that are strengthening social cohesion, improving living conditions in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and developing genuine urban harmony and diversity.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
town and municipality in Qadaa Baabda
Baabda District
Baabda District , sometimes spelled B'abda, is a district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, to the south and east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
(Baabda district) of Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon is one of the Governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Baabda. The overwhelming majority of its population is Maronites, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Christians...
stretching over 1300 hectares (13 km² - 5.018 mi²) . The town has a population of nearly 10,000 inhabitants who are Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
and Orthodox Christians.
Etymology
The name literally translates "top" (ras) of "the shoulder" (elmatn). It describes the town’s location as being perched on top of the shoulder of Mount LebanonMount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
. It is well known for the abundance of pine trees there.
Location
Ras El Matn is a town in LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
located on the western steep slopes of Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
, in the upper Matn (Al Matn al A'la) section at varying elevation between 800 to 1000 m above sea level. it's known for its panoramic views and pine trees and its natural location giving a spectacular view to the western sections of el Matn and the Mediterranean sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. From its heights one can look out across the valley to the towns of Dhour Chweir, Baabdat
Baabdat
Baabdat is a town located in the Matn District of Mount Lebanon, 22 km from Beirut at an altitude ranging between 800 to 1050 meters above sea level. The lush pine forests that surround the town make it a very popular summer resort for those escaping the busy coastal cities of Lebanon,...
, Broumana and Beit Mery
Beit Mery
Beit Mery is a Lebanese town overlooking the capital Beirut. The town has been a summer mountain resort since the times of the Phoenicians and later the Romans Romans The name derives from Aramaic and it means "The house of my Lord or Master"...
The town is 29 kilometers (18.0206 mi) away from the Lebanese capital city Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. All roads leading to the town traverse unspoiled landscape of pine-clad hills and rivers, such as the Jaramani river along the Monteverdi road.
There are several possible routes to Ras el Matn:
- Beirut - Mkalles - Mansouriyeh - Monteverdi - Qortada - Ras el Matn
- Beirut - Joumhour - Araya - Abadieh - Rouweiset Ballout - Mzaira - Deir Khona - Ras el Matn
- Beirut - Aley - Bhamdoun - Baalishmeih - Chbeniyeh - Hamana - Deir el Harf - Ras el Matn
Ras el Metn on GoogleMaps
Population
The town has a population of nearly 10,000 inhabitants who are DruzeDruze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
and Orthodox Christians. This villages is notable for its sense of civic pride.
Baabda - Louayzeh counted 4846 residents (estimation). In the municipal Lebanese elections of 2004, it accounted 7149 registered voters of which 4279 actual voters.
Ras El Matn has 2 schools, 1 public school and 1 private school. 391 students are schooled in the public institution, and 68 are schooled in the private one.
Families
Alphabetically listed, well known families in Ras el Matn include but are not limited to:- Aboureslan
- Al Atrash
- Freiha
- Gharzeddine
- Hariz
- Ghazal
- Halabi
- Makarem
- Nuwayhid or Noueihed
- Saad
- Salha
- Shmeit
- Almashtoub
Heritage
Ras el Matn is the birthplace of Lebanese writer Anis FreihaAnis Freiha
Anis Freiha was a Lebanese author who has written extensively about Lebanese traditional village life.-Life:He was born in the town of Ras el Matn , Mount Lebanon...
and the scholar ‘Ajaj Nuwayhid.
Ras el Matn is home to many great athletes, and the schools participate in Basketball and Football leagues.
The most notable building inside the town is the historical Serail of the Lam'iyin princess built in 1775. The huge building later served as a high school. Although damaged and abandoned during the war, one can still appreciate the serail's elegant courtyard and bell tower. Restoration work is planned for the near future.
A natural water spring known as Nabaa Ein el Marj is located found in the lower part of the village. Remarkable for its arched façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
built in 1472, the plaque recording its construction is still in place.
Much older, are the ancient tombs carved into the rocky cliffs and headlands of Ras El Metn, while just below the village the refuge of a holy woman, Sitt Sarah can be found in a rock-
scattered field. According to the legend, a rock miraculously opened into a cave to shelter Sitt Sarah as she fled from danger. Finally carved from living stone, the site is an ancient tomb chamber.
Many grottos are located in the steep pine-clad slopes above the town, giving visitors and hikers superb views westwards. Hikers should also ask about the Grotto of Hiskan, which is about a two hours walk from the village.
The town is a major source of pine nuts due to stone pine
Stone Pine
The Stone Pine , is also called Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine , and Parasol Pine. It is in the pine family Pinaceae and occasionally listed under the invalid name Pinus sativa. The tree is native to the Mediterranean region...
(Pinus pinea) woods covering the area. The beautiful umbrella pines that surround the village are a source of valuable pine nuts, while olives, grapes, figs, apricots and other fruits are cultivated here as well.
Ras El Matn is approximately 45 minutes away from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
making it a famous touristic place due to its relatively close distance to the airport and Capital.
Awards
In September 2004, The Director-General of UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
awarded the 2002-2003 UNESCO’s Cities for Peace Prize to 10 municipalities which became Laureate Cities, among which is Ras El Metn. The UNESCO’s Cities for Peace Prize recognizes municipalities that are strengthening social cohesion, improving living conditions in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and developing genuine urban harmony and diversity.
External links
- Arabic page on Wikipedia
- Ras al Matn women society
- Karim Salha Photographs