Niha Chouf

Coordinates: 33°35′41″N 35°37′49″E / 33.59472°N 35.63028°E / 33.59472; 35.63028

Niha City

Niha (Arabic: نيحا‎ [ˈniħa]) is a city in the Chouf (Arabic : قضاء الشوف) which belongs to Mount Lebanon (Arabic : محافظة جبل لبنان) of Lebanon. The city is 24 miles from Beirut and it has about 2,750 hectares; there are 3,500 inhabitants approximately. However, there are only two public schools in the city. It is famous because of its olive groves and its grapes, apples, plums and almonds production. Its tourist attractions are The church of Saint Joseph, El Qa'ah Spring, The prophet Job tomb and The Niha's Castle. Like all Lebanon's corners Niha owns whether cultural or historical richness that dwells in the heritage of this country. The Assyrian-Lebanese^[1] singer Wadih El Safi was born in Niha, and he's one of the most important mawwal performers of Lebanon and in the Middle East. The main population speaks Lebanese Arabic.

Etymology

The name Niha is used by four Lebanese cities: Niha, Zahlé; Niha, Batroun; Niha, Tyre and Niha, Chouf. The word neeha is Syriac and denotes to the place the character of calm, peaceful

History

According to a Druze legend there is a relatively modern structure located in a hill overlooking Niha town in the Chouf that is supposed to be the burial site of the prophet Job. Niha is one of the most known destinations. There are many caves, natural and man-made. One among them, a cave-fortress that was cut into a cliff during the Crusades between 1165–1260, is named Niha's Castle or Shakif Tiro. According to the popular tale prince Fakhreddine El Ma'ani II hid there when fleeing of the Ottomans in 1635. However, the accurate historic version links these events to prince's father: Korkomaz during 1584.

Tourist attractions

• Saint George church كنيسة مار جرجس
• Saint Joseph church كنيسة مار يوسف
• Niha's Castle قلعة نيحا
• Prophet Job tomb مقام النبي أيوب
• Mysterious sarcophagus نواويس
• El Qa'ah Spring عين القاعة

References

1. ^ "Wadih Al-Safi singing in Assyrian Iman Ya Zawna (1973)". UNESCO. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Wds47i_GxDc. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 

• Debenham, Frank (1972). "El Atlas de nuestro tiempo", The Reader's Digest Association Limited, London, 241

External links

• Page of Niha in Localiban (in English, French and Arabic)
• About Niha (in English)
• Some cities in the Chouf including Niha (in English)