Page 2 - 1679-GHALBOUN FESTIVALS BOOK (SPREADS)

[ GHALBOUN BRIEF HISTORY ] [ GHALBOUN BRIEF HISTORY ]

halboun is situated in Jbeil district at Ghalboun’s population accounts for 1500 with
an average altitude of 500 meters, 155 residences. The majority of its people are
surrounded by Ain Kefaa, Ghbalin, employed in the public and private sector, while
GBejjeh and Hakel, Aabaidat, Shamat, the minority works in the agricultural sector.
Hsarat and Maad. Ghalboun’s crops include almonds, olives, vine,
The etymology of the word Ghalboun is Syriac- figs and all types of fruits and vegetables that
Aramaic, meaning “Albona” or strong and grow in middle areas of Lebanon.
tough. It was mentioned in the Holy Bible Touristic sites in village:
under Albona’s name; meaning sword in Syriac • Historical grotto: 5000 B.C. Flint stones
according to the historian Anis Freiha. in the land of “Al Watyeh” (preserved at the
Another theory says that “Ghalboun” is derived “musée de la prehistoire USJ”).
from “Gaulebon” which means the New France, • Maqaad al Mir (prince’s chair), a rock where
after the establishment of French people (Duke) Prince Bachir the second used to rest during his
at the end of the 13th century after the invasion hunting trips.
of Tripoli by the Mamlouks. • St. Phocas Monastery, Byzantine period, a
Ghalboun includes numerous archeologicalsites, ruins, most importantly the small church in ruins remains left from the big
cemeteries that are located in the area of “Al Hosh”, that go back to five fortified convent.
thousand years BC. Also Ghalboun has many grottoes from the stone age in • St. Georges church, built on ruins of an Old Persian temple and hosts
which human bones, pots, urns and tombs made from red sand were found, old and valuable manuscripts.
emphasizing the Phoenician traditions and their presence in that area. • The old school, the first school to teach the French language in Jbeil
The people of Ghalboun built a church on “Al Hosh” hill site and named it district.
Saint Fawka. It goes back to the Byzantine era and it’s all what’s left from the • The old mill, ruins remaining from the mill on a riverside.
big fortified monastery that was built back then. On its ruins the people of • Al Ain, the old water spring.
Ghalboun built a church that was rebuilt several times, “Saydet Al Hoch”. • Walking Trails across the village (Hiking)
Whereas the current Cross church was relocated in 1882. It goes back to the • Domaine St. Gabriel, winery.
fourth Byzantine generation and was destroyed by the Mamluks. Back then the • Workshop of the sculptor Khairallah Khairallah.
church’s location was 10 meters away from the current one and thanks to the • Yawmiyat Ghalboun, Festivals.
help of the region’s people, this church was rebuilt and the Cross street was
named accordingly.

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