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	'''Faraya Mzaar Kfardebian''' or '''Faraya-Mzaar''' (]: فاريا مزار), also known as '''Ouyoune el Simane''' or '''Aayoun Al Simane''', is a ] in ].
			]


			'''Mzaar Kfardebian''' ({{langx\|ar\| مزار كفردبيان}} — formerly ''Faraya Mzaar''<ref>{{ cite web\| url=http://www.skimzaar.com/ \| title=Ski Mzaar.com; September 27, 2015}}</ref>) is a ] in ] and the largest ] in the ]. It is located one hour away from ], the capital of Lebanon. It is also referred to as '''Ouyoune el Simane'''.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://adventures.bootsnall.com/articles/06-09/skiing-in-lebanon.html \| work=BootsnAll World Adventures \| title=Skiing in Lebanon \| date=January 7, 2012 \| access-date=June 29, 2012 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115200939/http://adventures.bootsnall.com/articles/06-09/skiing-in-lebanon.html \| archive-date=November 15, 2017 \| url-status=dead }}</ref>

	==History==		==History==
			In 1960, Sami Geammal, ] and a group of pioneers installed the first ski lift imported from Switzerland, on the "refuge" hill and built the first four chalets in the region. One year later, they bought {{convert\|160000\|m2\|acre}} of property from Prosper Gay-Para in order to expand the ] area.<ref>{{ cite web\| url=http://www.tourism-Lebanon.com/AyounElSiman.asp \| title=Tourism in Lebanon \| May 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.comite-lesplateaux.com/history.html \| title=History of Oyoune el Siman \| May 1, 2012 \| access-date=June 29, 2012 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116130535/http://www.comite-lesplateaux.com/history.html \| archive-date=January 16, 2014 \| url-status=dead }}</ref>
	'''Faraya-Mzaar''' was founded in the late 1950's by Cheikh Salim El Khazen who built the Mzaar hotel and the Jabal Dib chair lift initially known as "Le Telesiege".<ref>www.skimzaar.com/faraya-mzaar/skiing/lift-network.asp</ref> Simultaneously, a group of pioneers, including Sami Geammal, Robert Nassif, Dr Georges Zebouni and Pr Emile Riachi, started the development of the ski resort, building the very fist ski lifts,<ref>http://www.skimzaar.com/faraya-mzaar/ski-resort/mzaar-evolution.asp</ref>
	The group started building the first residential "Chalets" designed by architect Raoul Vernet kicking off a period of undiscontinued real estate development in the whole area of Kfardebiane.
	For over two decades, "Faraya Mzaar Tourisme et Sport d'Hiver S.A.L.", the company founded by Cheikh Salim, was chaired by banker Joseph Abdo Khoury. In the early 1980's, the Saudi-Lebanese al-Mabani Group leaded by Fouad Rizk and Nehme Tohme acquired the majority of its shares and took over the development of the resort.

			In 1963, the Faraya Mzaar - Tourism and Winter Sports Company acquired the concession to build and operate ski lifts on lands belonging to the Kesrouan district municipalities. In 1965, the Mzaar Hotel opened its doors, and the company installed the first chairlift on the Jabal Dib Hills. The junction between "Refuge" and "Jabal Dib" was achieved in 1968 through the installation of the resort's third lift which was named "Jonction".
⚫	==Skiing ~~Area~~==
	The ski resort has 42 slopes and 80 kilometres of groomed tracks{{fact\|date=July 2008}}. The skiing season in Lebanon is similar in length to that of the Alps stretching over a period of 4 months{{fact\|date=July 2008}}.

			In the 1980s, during the civil war, the Mzaar Company was taken over by the Saudi Group al Mabani. In 1993, after the ] ended, the new group started expansion of the resort. In 2012, the resort's number of lifts reached 20 with around {{convert\|80\|km}} of slopes.
	The peaks of the Faraya Mzaar mountain range vary between heights of 1913 and 2465 meters{{fact\|date=July 2008}}. The tallest peak, Mzaar, as well as the Nabil and Warde peaks, offer challenges for the experienced skier or snowboarder. Three other peaks are well suited for beginners, and even more are adapted to skier of intermediate level.
	Skiing ranges between heights of 1310m at Faraya, 1850m (Ouyoune el Simaan) to 2465m on the peak above Mzaar.

			==Name controversy==
	In addition, there are a number of ] trails.
			"Mzaar" is the Arabic word for shrine or sanctuary. The highest peak in Ouyoune el Simane was called "Jabal el Mzaar" (mountain of the shrine) after a small Roman temple built on its top. It is believed that the Romans were using fire as signals to communicate between the coastal area and ], or Heliopolis, through ] and the Mzaar peak.

			The official name of the area is Ouyoune el Simane, which means "Spring of the ]", and it is administratively under the jurisdiction of the municipality of ], which is also the case for the ] ski resort.
	From the top of Mzaar, there is a view over the Bekaa valley, Mount Hermon of the Anti-Lebanon and other peaks like Laqlouq and the Cedars. Coastal towns and the capital Beirut can be seen on a very clear day.

		⚫	==Skiing area==
⚫	==Natural and ~~Historical~~ ~~Sites~~==
			Ski season usually stretches from early December to early April.<ref name="Carter">carter, T., dunston, L., & thomas, A. (2004). Syria and lebanon. (p. 424). Lonely Planet.</ref>
	Situated at an elevation of 1550m at the feet of Faraya-Mzaar, Faqra has monuments which included: temples, columns, altars and rock cut tombs. The temple of Faqra is partly cut out of the living rock.

			The peaks of the Mzaar-Kfardebian mountain range vary between heights of {{convert\|1913\|and\|2465\|m\|ft}}. The highest peak is Mzaar, followed by Wardeh and Jabal Dib (mountain of the wolf) Peak. Three other peaks are well suited for beginners, and even more are adapted to skier of intermediate level. In addition, there are a number of ] trails.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.skileb.com/ski-resort/Mzaar/map/ \|title=Mzaar Ski Resort Interactive Map \|publisher=skileb.com}}</ref>
			Usually, opening hours during the week is from 8am to 3:30pm but it extends until 4pm during the weekend.<ref name="Carter" /> A variety of other activities and excursions are also available.<ref name="skiliban">Ski liban. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.skiliban.com/</ref>

			Along with traditional alpine skiing, people can practice ski-doo, night skiing, snow boarding. Entertainment such as ski shows and fashion shows are organized to promote the resort.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=20012 \| work=Middle East Online \| title=G-string models promote Lebanon ski resorts \| date=March 16, 2007 \| access-date=November 9, 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316205345/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=20012 \| archive-date=March 16, 2017 \| url-status=dead }}</ref>
⚫	On the way to the ruins of Faqra, one can see a bridge called "Jisr al-Hajar" or the "Stone Bridge" with an arch measuring ~~thirty eight meters~~.

		⚫	==Natural and historical sites==
⚫	==Ski ~~Clubs~~==
			]
	Faraya-Mzaar is home to some of the Lebanese Ski Clubs, affiliated to the "Federation Libanaise de Ski (FLS)" (note:ski clubs are non profit organization):
		⚫	On the way to the ruins of ], one can see a natural water-crafted bridge called "Jisr al-Hajar" or the "Stone Bridge" with an arch measuring {{convert\|38\|m}}.
			<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-Lebanon-jisrelhajar.htm\|title=Gallery - Jisr el Hajar, Lebanon\|website=www.naturalarches.org\|accessdate=Jun 12, 2020}}</ref>

		⚫	==Ski clubs==
			Mzaar-Kfardebian is home to different ski clubs.{{cn\|date=March 2017}}

	* Faraya Mzaar Ski Club (Club des Sports), President: Christian Rizk
	* Chabab Faraya Ski Club , President: Youssef Khalil
	* Faraya Sporting Club, President: Jean Riachi
	* Al Oussoud, President: Mahboub Salameh
	==See also==		==See also==
	*]		*]
			*]-2000, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2022.
	*]

			== References ==
⚫	]
			Mema, J. P. (Photographer). (2008). Faraya from the sky. . Retrieved from
⚫	]
			<references/>
⚫	]

	==~~Sources~~==		==External links==
		⚫	*, official website
	{{nofootnotes}}
			*
	*http://www.faraya-mzaar.co
			{{Keserwan District}}
	*http://www.ikamalebanon.com/resorts/winter/mount/cities/faraya.htmm
	*http://www.skimzaar.com/
	*http://www.skileb.com/
	*http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196601/ski.lebanon..htm
⚫	*http://www.skimzaar.com/~~faraya-mzaar/~~ski-resort~~/history-skiing.asp~~
	*http://www.skimzaar.com/faraya-mzaar/ski-resort/mzaar-evolution.asp
	*http://www.skileb.com/lebanese-ski-federation/lebanese-ski-clubs/lebskifed.com/profile.asp?ttl=Profile&ttl2=History
	*http://www.skimzaar.com
	*http://www.ikamalebanon.com/national_heritage/mount_nh/mt_cities_nh/faqra.htm

			{{coord\|34\|00\|39.90\|N\|35\|49\|29.38\|E\|type:city_source:frwiki\|display=title}}
	]

		⚫	]
		⚫	]
		⚫	]

Latest revision as of 23:32, 27 October 2024

Mzaar Kfardebian (Arabic: مزار كفردبيان — formerly Faraya Mzaar) is a ski area in Lebanon and the largest ski resort in the Middle East. It is located one hour away from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. It is also referred to as Ouyoune el Simane.

History

In 1960, Sami Geammal, Emile Riachi and a group of pioneers installed the first ski lift imported from Switzerland, on the "refuge" hill and built the first four chalets in the region. One year later, they bought 160,000 square metres (40 acres) of property from Prosper Gay-Para in order to expand the resort area.

In 1963, the Faraya Mzaar - Tourism and Winter Sports Company acquired the concession to build and operate ski lifts on lands belonging to the Kesrouan district municipalities. In 1965, the Mzaar Hotel opened its doors, and the company installed the first chairlift on the Jabal Dib Hills. The junction between "Refuge" and "Jabal Dib" was achieved in 1968 through the installation of the resort's third lift which was named "Jonction".

In the 1980s, during the civil war, the Mzaar Company was taken over by the Saudi Group al Mabani. In 1993, after the Lebanese civil war ended, the new group started expansion of the resort. In 2012, the resort's number of lifts reached 20 with around 80 kilometres (50 mi) of slopes.

Name controversy

"Mzaar" is the Arabic word for shrine or sanctuary. The highest peak in Ouyoune el Simane was called "Jabal el Mzaar" (mountain of the shrine) after a small Roman temple built on its top. It is believed that the Romans were using fire as signals to communicate between the coastal area and Baalbeck, or Heliopolis, through Faqra and the Mzaar peak.

The official name of the area is Ouyoune el Simane, which means "Spring of the Common Quail", and it is administratively under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kfardebian, which is also the case for the Faqra ski resort.

Skiing area

Ski season usually stretches from early December to early April.

The peaks of the Mzaar-Kfardebian mountain range vary between heights of 1,913 and 2,465 metres (6,276 and 8,087 ft). The highest peak is Mzaar, followed by Wardeh and Jabal Dib (mountain of the wolf) Peak. Three other peaks are well suited for beginners, and even more are adapted to skier of intermediate level. In addition, there are a number of cross-country trails. Usually, opening hours during the week is from 8am to 3:30pm but it extends until 4pm during the weekend. A variety of other activities and excursions are also available.

Along with traditional alpine skiing, people can practice ski-doo, night skiing, snow boarding. Entertainment such as ski shows and fashion shows are organized to promote the resort.

Natural and historical sites

On the way to the ruins of Qalaat Faqra, one can see a natural water-crafted bridge called "Jisr al-Hajar" or the "Stone Bridge" with an arch measuring 38 metres (125 ft).

Ski clubs

Mzaar-Kfardebian is home to different ski clubs.

References

Mema, J. P. (Photographer). (2008). Faraya from the sky. . Retrieved from Snow Forecast, Snow Reports & Snow Conditions

"Ski Mzaar.com; September 27, 2015".
"Skiing in Lebanon". BootsnAll World Adventures. January 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
"Tourism in Lebanon | May 1, 2012".
"History of Oyoune el Siman | May 1, 2012". Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
^ carter, T., dunston, L., & thomas, A. (2004). Syria and lebanon. (p. 424). Lonely Planet.
"Mzaar Ski Resort Interactive Map". skileb.com.
Ski liban. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.skiliban.com/
"G-string models promote Lebanon ski resorts". Middle East Online. March 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
"Gallery - Jisr el Hajar, Lebanon". www.naturalarches.org. Retrieved Jun 12, 2020.

External links

Mzaar ski resort, official website
Mzaar ski resort and hotels in Faraya and Mzaar Lebanon

v t e Keserwan District, Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate
Capital: Jounieh
Towns and villages	Adma wa Dafneh Ain el-Rihaneh Aintoura Ajaltoun Aramoun Ashqout Azra Ballouneh Batha Bkerké Bqaatouta Bzoummar Chahtoul-Jouret Mhad Chnaniir Daraoun Daraya Dlebta Faitroun Faraya Fatqa Ghazir Ghbaleh Ghidras Ghineh Ghosta Harissa-Daraoun Herharaya Hrajel Jdaidet Ghazir Jeita Jouret Bedran Jouret el-Termos Kaslik Kfar Dibiane Kfar Yassine Okaibe Qattine Qleiat Maarab Mayrouba Rayfoun Safra Sahel Alma Sarba Sehaileh Tabarja Yahchouch Zouk Mikael Zouk Mosbeh
Notable landmarks	Our Lady of Lebanon Commemorative stelae of Nahr el-Kalb Jeita Grotto Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve Mzaar Kfardebian

34°00′39.90″N 35°49′29.38″E / 34.0110833°N 35.8248278°E / 34.0110833; 35.8248278

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