Kafarakab

Infobox City Lebanon
official_name = Kafarakab
governorate = Mount Lebanon Governorate
district = Matn District

Kafarakab ( _ar. كفرعقاب) (also spelled Kfarakab or Kfar Akab and prounounced "Kfara-ab" in Arabic) is the francophone spelling of the name of a scenic village in the mountains of Lebanon. The village, which is located in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, is of particular significance because it is one of the various historic points of origin (nb: The town of Zahle in the Beqaa Valley was also founded by Maalouf members) of the well known Maalouf family. This family history is traced back to the very beginnings of Christianity in the Middle East beginning with the Ghassani tribe, which converted to Christianity nearly 2000 years ago. The family name is now widespread worldwide. Family lineages are detailed and well preserved, and conferences and a sense of family pride still preserve traditions, reunions, and culture. The preservation effort has the intent of documenting every known person bearing the Maalouf name.

Aside from this notoriety, the village is quaint and picturesque. It is of no great size, consisting of only a handful of old homes built on terraced mountainsides lined with grape vineyards and many varieties of fruit trees. The breathtaking view is perhaps the most impressive aspect of this red terra cotta rooftop cluster - including a view of the snow capped Lebanon mountains to the east, and the Mediterranean sea and the city of Beirut to the west. The village sits at about 4,000 ft., and is truly one of the small places from which a great diaspora has influenced the world.

Notable residents

*The classical trumpeter Nassim Maalouf was born in Kafarakab.

External links

* [http://www.kfar-akab.com/ Kfarakab site]