Bikfaya

Infobox City Lebanon
State Party = LBN
official_name = Bikfaya
native_name = بكفيا
governorate = Mount Lebanon Governorate
district = Matn District
elevation_m_lo =900 |elevation_m_hi=1000
mapx = 33.93
mapy = 35.64

Bikfaya (also spelled Bickfaya, Beckfayya, or Bekfaya) is a town in the Matn District region of Mount Lebanon. Its stone houses with red-tiled roofs resting amidst pine and oak forests make Bikfaya one of the most sought-after suburbs of Beirut and one of Lebanon's most popular summer resorts.

Culture

"La Fête des Fleurs à Beckfayya" or the Festival of Flowers has attrated tourists since 1934 when Maurice Gemayel started the festival to attract attention to the mountainous town. Each year, a variety of vehicles decorated with thousands of colorful flowers and fruits parade through Bikfaya's tree-lined main street. Live music bands, bazaars, and the election of three beauty queens: the Queen of Flowers, the Queen of Fruits and the Queen of Sports, are held in the public squares and gardens. [ [http://www.bickfaya.com/ The Beautiful town of Bickfaya,Bikfaya,Bickfayya,Bikfayya,bikfaiya ] ]

Demography

Bikfaya is home to 20,000 Lebanese who are followers of the Baptist, Maronite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and other Christian churches. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5200628.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | The divided loyalties of Lebanon ] ]

Etymology

It is believed that the name Bikfaya is a corruption of the Aramaic (Syriac) words for "Beit Kefaya, "meaning the "house made of stone" or "the rock house." [ [http://groups.msn.com/bikfaya/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us Bikfaya ] ]

Geography

Bikfaya is nestled in the mountains overlooking the Mediterranean with an elevation ranging from 900 to 1000 meters above sea level. It lies 25 km from Beirut and only a short drive to the Faraya-Mzaar ski resort. [ [http://groups.msn.com/bikfaya/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us Bikfaya ] ] Summers in Bikfaya are cool and characterized by periods of fog in the afternoon. [ [http://www.ikamalebanon.com/accommodations/region/mount_acc/city_village/bikfaya.htm Bikfaya ] ]

History

Historians believe that Bikfaya was the consecrated shrine of the Phoenician Baal. [ [http://www.ikamalebanon.com/resorts/summer/mount/villages/bikfaya.htm Bikfaya ] ]

Monuments

*Armenian Genocide MonumentBikfaya is home to a commemorative plaque and monumental sculpture, honoring the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Designed by Zaven Khedeshian and renovated by Hovsep Khacherian in 1993, the outdoor, freestanding sculpture rests on top of a hill that is located on the grounds of the summer retreat of the Catholicate of Cilicia. The sculpture is a bronze abstract figure of a woman standing with hands open toward the sky. A plaque with Arabic and Armenian inscriptions reads, "This monument, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, was erected with the cooperation of the whole Armenian Community in Lebanon, to celebrate the rebirth of the Armenian nation and to express gratitude to our country, Lebanon - April 24 1969." The Armenian community of Lebanon visit the monument on April 24 every other year. The pilgrimages are alternated with the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias. [ [http://www.armenian-genocide.org/Memorial.102/current_category.70/memorials_detail.html Monument in Bikfaya, Lebanon ] ]

*Pierre Gemayel Memorial SquareThe memorial honors Pierre Gemayel, the founder of the Phalange party of Lebanon.

Religious Structures

*Mar Abda Church, built in 1587 [ [http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/bikfaya.htm Tourism @ Lebanon.com ] ]
*Jesuit Convent, built in 1833 [ [http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/bikfaya.htm Tourism @ Lebanon.com ] ]
*Saint Elias Chwayya Monastery, a Maronite and Greek Orthodox complex with a church, built in 1590 [ [http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/bikfaya.htm Tourism @ Lebanon.com ] ]
*Armenian Monastery, the summer retreat of the Catholicate of Cilicia [ [http://www.armenian-genocide.org/Memorial.102/current_category.70/memorials_detail.html Monument in Bikfaya, Lebanon ] ]
*Our Lady of Deliverance
*Mar Mkheyel (Saint Michael) Church

Tourism

Many restaurants, especially ones specializing in Lebanese Cuisine, can be found in Bikfaya. Bikfaya offers tourists rest and leisure in its numerous hotels, amusement centers, and public gardens, such as the Grand Hotel Naas [ [http://www.ikamalebanon.com/accommodations/region/mount_acc/city_village/bikfaya.htm Bikfaya ] ] and such as Locanda Corsini guest villa. [ [http://www.locandacorsini.com/ Locanda corsini ] ] The Naas is a natural spring and one of Bikfaya's most popular destinations. [ [http://www.bickfaya.com/ The Beautiful town of Bickfaya,Bikfaya,Bickfayya,Bikfayya,bikfaiya ] ] The Naas has been known for its curative powers attracting hundreds of health-seeking tourists each year. [ [http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/bikfaya.htm Tourism @ Lebanon.com ] ]

References