Chouf District

The Chouf ( other spellings Shouf, Shuf, Shuf or chuf, in Arabic جبل الشوف Jebel al- Shuf, DMG Ǧabal aš -SUF ) of the southern foothills of Mount Lebanon is called. This is a historically significant region and also an administrative district in the governorate ( Mohafazat ) Mount Lebanon. It lies south-east of Beirut and in addition to the mountainous regions comprises a narrow coastal strip with the City of Damour.

History

The Chouf is the heartland of the Lebanese Druze. The Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has its headquarters in Moukhtara. The Emirs of Lebanon had their residence in Chouf. Best known is the palace of Bashir Shihab II in Beit ed- Din from the first half of the 19th century. Another historic town near Beiteddine is Deir el- Qamar.

The Chouf was repeatedly the scene of violent clashes between Druze and Christians (mostly Maronites ) - among other things, in the years 1848 and 1860, but also in more recent times during the Lebanese Civil War 1983-1984 ( Harb El Jabal - War of the mountain ). Many Christian residents are then fled, and only a few have returned to rebuild the numerous villages which were destroyed by the partisans of the Druze PSP.

In spite of its bloody history of the Chouf is one of the most pristine regions in Lebanon. The nature of the construction boom have been spared, which concerned the neighboring districts of al - Mitn and Kesrwan. Vast forests of Lebanon cedars are found on the flanks of Jebel Barouk - but the trees is not as old as the cedars of the Lord with Bsharre in northern Lebanon.