Ehden

Location

Distance from Beirut	Altitude (meters)	Surface (ha)

Municipality address

Sources : Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR)

Phone Number	Fax Number	E-Mail	Web sites

Données électorales

Sources : Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (Republic of Lebanon)

Données électorales 2010

Registered voters	Effectifs du conseil municipal	Effectifs moukhtar

Données électorales 2016

Registered voters	Effectifs du conseil municipal	Effectifs moukhtar

Revenue of Independent Municipal Fund

Sources : Official Journal (Lebanese Republic)

Year	Revenues (Thousands Lebanese Pound)

Education

Sources : Central Administration of Statistics (Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers) - Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR)

Educational establishments (2006)	Public	Private	Students schooled in the public schools	Students schooled in the private schools
-	-	-	-	-

Higher Educational Institute	Public	Private
-	-	-

The historic village of Ehden is 1450 meters in altitude and 30 km from Tripoli (some half hour by car). It has been in existence since 1000 BCE. The village and its peoples feature throughout the history of Lebanon. It was up to the 16th century where Ehdenians lived all year round until the establishment of Zgharta, lower down the mountain towards Tripoli. In fact, Ehden is both a winter and summer resort for people from Zgharta and elsewhere in Lebanon. During the summer, festivals and concerts are held in the city center. Surrounding Ehden are places of interest and natural beauty. Ehden is famous for its restaurants and cafés, hotels, holiday apartments, villas, and churches. The Natives of Ehden have a reputation of good hospitality and personal courage and are still faithful to their secular traditions.

There are many famous churches including Mar Mema [Saint Mamas] which is the oldest Maronite church in Lebanon, built in 749 CE on the remains of a pagan temple. At the highest point in Ehden stands the church of Saydet alHosn where from the whole area can be viewed down to the coast and Tripoli. The village contains may fine examples of architecture such as alKubra and alMidan.

Ehden is the birthplace of illustrious Lebanese thinkers and patriots. These include Patriarchs Jean Makhlouf, George Omaira [referred to as the “Light of the Oriental Church”] and Stephan Doueihi [a great philosopher and an archbishop of the Maronite Church who translated the Holy Scriptures to several languages. He is referred to as “the father of Maronite history”]. The statue of the later stands in the city center. Gibrael alSahyouni [1577 - 1648] was the private tutor of Louis XIV of France. Youssef Bey Karam [1823 - 1889], who many consider as a Lebanese patriot, fought for an independent Lebanon. His tomb and statue are found at Saint George’s Church, which is in itself an outstanding example of old architecture. Ehden was also the birthplace of two Lebanese presidents: Suleiman Franjieh and René Mou`awwad.

Water sources are found everywhere jetting from the earth. The most famous of these sources being Mar (St.) Sarkis, which is a “must visit” for all tourists who can sample there the famous Lebanese national food (Kebbeh, i.e., crushed wheat paste stuffed with minced meat and nuts).

The culminating point of Ehden’s altitude is one formed by the church of Saydet alHosn from where one could have a splendid view of the Zgharta plain and the town of Tripoli. Recommended tour for the tourist must include a visit to the convent of Mar (St.) Kozhaya. From there, the caves of hermits can be seen as well as Monasteries and churches built in the side of the valley, in particular the Monastery of St Anthony and the first printing press in the Middle East that printed “The Book of Psalms” in 1610.

Horsh Ehden, a nature reserve 4 km east of Ehden, was established in 1992. This is a protected zone for hundreds of unique indigenous botanical specimens including rare trees and flowering plants. It also shelters some of the few surviving animal wildlife species in the country.

(from http://www.tripoli-city.org/)