Bikfaya: Churches, Culture and History

Churches, monasteries and the Grand Serail give Bikfaya its cultural and historical character. Most of the numerous monasteries and churches are several centuries old; dated buildings and cultural sites represent different periods in the town’s history. If religious architecture and local culture are among your travel interests, you can include Bikfaya in your holiday apartment search as a destination to consider.

Churches with different historical dates

Bikfaya has numerous monasteries and churches, most of which are several centuries old. Mar Mikhael Church is dated to 1592, Saint Georges to 1750, and Saydet al Najat to 1833. Together, these three dates span more than two centuries. Their chronological sequence offers a thread through the town’s religious heritage: it extends from the 16th to the 19th century and shows that Bikfaya’s churches are connected to more than one historical period.

The Serail, cultural sites and festival history

The Grand Serail of Bikfaya was restored in 1982. During the term of President Amine Gemayel, it was converted into a presidential palace and classified as cultural heritage. It is considered an important part of the town’s historical and architectural heritage. The history of the Serail thus complements its religious heritage with another perspective on Bikfaya’s past.

Other cultural sites also represent different aspects of the town’s history. The Municipality of Bikfaya modernized and developed Beit El Sakhra, restoring its cultural role in the region. The CLAC reading and cultural centre opened in November 2001. These two examples combine a renewed cultural role with the opening date of a centre.

The Flower Festival is also part of Bikfaya’s event history. Its former programme included games and performances in the municipal garden; people of all ages came to take part or watch. As a historical example, the festival complements the history of buildings and institutions with community activities.

These themes can help you decide what to focus on when choosing a holiday apartment. If historical buildings and local culture are among your travel interests, you can specifically consider Bikfaya when choosing a destination. This way, your search can reflect what you want your trip to be about.

Setting within the wider destination of Mount Lebanon

Within the wider destination of Mount Lebanon, Beiteddine Palace is considered an outstanding example of the architectural revival of the 19th century. The forests of El-Werhaniyeh offer a different focus: they cover 35% of the village’s area and include hundreds of centuries-old oaks, some more than 200 years old, as well as mulberry trees, hawthorns, pines and other tree species. The Werhaniyeh-Freidis-Barouk Forest Trail starts in El-Werhaniyeh and is used by hikers and people interested in nature.

These regional examples represent different travel interests: architectural heritage in Beiteddine, and forests and hiking in El-Werhaniyeh. When weighing Bikfaya’s local cultural history against other themes in Mount Lebanon, it helps to consider these focuses separately when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Jbeil, Fatqa, Zouk Mikael, Deir Chamra, Zouk Mosbeh, Nakkashe, Dbaiye, Harissa.

See the wider travel overview: Mount Lebanon.