Saghbine town is located on the eastern slope of Western Lebanese Mountains, at the foot of Mount Niha, by the Litani River in the heart of West Bekaa.

[caption id="attachment_751" align="alignnone" width="900"]Saghbine_litani Saghbine overlooking the Litani river[/caption]

It is sure that Saghbine is an ancient village that was, in bygone time, a central point of communication between the Chouf and the Bekaa. The mountain trails still link Saghbine with the villages of Mrosti, Jbaa, Baadaran, Aamatour and Bater. The Hanouti area (Hanoto in Syriac which means “stores”), on the eastern side Niha mountain, proves the convoys transit between the Shouf and the Bekaa through Saghbine. Old people confirm the presence of significant vestiges in the mountainous surroundings of the village and in its plain, such as Byzantine tombs and Roman vestiges.

[caption id="attachment_753" align="alignnone" width="900"]Byzantine tombs Visit with your guide the Byzantine tombs in the mountains[/caption]

Saghbine is limited by the village of Bab Mareh from the South and Ein Zebde from the North. Its agricultural lands expand to the other side of the Litani River to the villages of Qaraoun, Lala, Baaboul and Jeb Jannine.

 Origin of the name

The origin of the name “Saghbine” is commonly related to the hardness and stubbornness of its men. However, Moufarrej, in the Lebanese Encyclopedia, states that origin of the name Saghbine is Aramaic and refers to the “rugged mountain trails”.

 Agriculture and Environment 

Saghbine is known for its orchards of apple, grape, fig and almonds as well as for its crop production such as wheat, pulses and onions. The village surrounding landscape consists of small forests of varieties of pine trees, cypress, cedar and oak hosting local birds like owls, partridges, Goldfinch, turtledove etc. and mammals like boars and wild rabbits coming from the Shouf Cedar Reserve, foxes and hyenas.

[caption id="attachment_752" align="alignnone" width="900"]Saghbine_wheat Harvested wheat, collected in bags under the summer sun[/caption]

Visiting Saghbine

73 km from the capital, and on an altitude ranging from 700 to 1200 m above sea level, Saghbine is characterized by a mild weather and green landscapes. When staying at the village, don’t forget to visit its beautiful old and new churches and chapels.

[caption id="attachment_675" align="alignnone" width="900"]Cold Potato Kebbeh Don't forget to taste "kebbit el joz" or the cold potato kebbeh with walnut[/caption]

Make sure you taste its various traditional recipes like zenkoul, potato and walnut kebbe, winter tabboule, fwerigh, its famous lemonade and its ice-cream made with milk goat! 

[caption id="attachment_754" align="alignnone" width="900"]Saghbine_icecream Visit Joseph Masrouaa and taste the authentic Arabic ice-cream in different natural flavors[/caption]

 [button_link size="large" src="https://www.google.com.lb/maps/dir//Saghbine/@33.6118228,35.6244973,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x151ed85fe01b1e9b:0x1a681aa9bae988b8!2m2!1d35.6983149!2d33.6117018"]How to get there[/button_link]

[caption id="attachment_1965" align="alignnone" width="600"]Take a guided tour in the village narrow streets © Kirill Dimitriev and Bilal Orfali Take a guided tour in the village narrow streets © Kirill Dimitriev and Bilal Orfali[/caption]