Jump to content

Mzaar Kfardebian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Nabuchodonozor (talk | contribs) at 21:53, 4 July 2008 (warning about editor). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Faraya Mzaar Kfardebian or Faraya-Mzaar (Arabic: فاريا مزار), also known as Ouyoune el Simane or Aayoun Al Simane, is a ski area in Lebanon.


History

Faraya-Mzaar was founded in the late 1950's by Cheikh Salim El Khazen who built the Mzaar hotel and the Jabal Dib chair lift initially known as "Le Telesiege" (Source For Damien.rf :www.skimzaar.com/faraya-mzaar/skiing/lift-network.asp) Simultaneously, a group of pioneers, including Sami Geammal, Robert Nassif, Dr Georges Zebouni and Pr Emile Riachi, started the development of the ski resort, building the very fist ski lifts,(Source For Damiens.rf:"In 1960, Sami and Nicolas Jammal gained approval from Sheikh Salim El-Khazen to install the first chairlift imported from Switzerland, on the ski hill. At the same time, they build the first four chalets in the region, within the old town, neat what is now the InterContinental Mountain Resort and Spa Mzaar Hotel. Later they joined Dr. Riachi in buying 160,000 square meters of property from Prosper Gay-Para for further expansion of the chalet area" in http://www.skimzaar.com/faraya-mzaar/ski-resort/mzaar-evolution.asp) The group started building the first residential "Chalets" designed by architect Raoul Vernet (For editor Damiens.rf : Sorry I could not find anything about R. VERNET but EVERYBODY KNOWS IT, AND i AM SURE YOU KNOW IT TOO, BEING SO MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TOPIC) kicking off a period of undiscontinued real estate development in the whole area of Kfardebiane (For Damiens.rf : You must be joking asking for a source about Kfardebiane) For over two decades, "Faraya Mzaar Tourisme et Sport d'Hiver S.A.L.", the company founded by Cheikh Salim, was chaired by banker Joseph Abdo Khoury (For Damiens.rf: I am tired of copy/paste, this fact is in the webpages listed) In the early 1980's, the Saudi-Lebanese al-Mabani Group leaded by Fouad Rizk and Nehme Tohme acquired the majority of its shares and took over the development of the resort (For Damiens.rf : Rizk and Tohme Families are very respected and they now own the resort. I like your humor :))


Skiing Area

The ski resort has 42 slopes and 80 kilometers of groomed tracks[citation needed]. The skiing season in Lebanon is similar in length to that of the Alps stretching over a period of 4 months[citation needed].

The peaks of the Faraya Mzaar mountain range vary between heights of 1913 and 2465 meters[citation needed]. The tallest peak, Mzaar, as well as the Nabil and Warde peaks, offer challenges for the experienced skier or snowboarder. Three other peaks are well suited for beginners, and even more are adapted to skier of intermediate level. Skiing ranges between heights of 1310m at Faraya, 1850m (Ouyoune el Simaan) to 2465m on the peak above Mzaar.

In addition, there are a number of cross-country trails.

From the top of Mzaar, there is a view over the Bekaa valley, Mount Hermon of the Anti-Lebanon and other peaks like Laqlouq and the Cedars. Coastal towns and the capital Beirut can be seen on a very clear day.

Natural and Historical Sites

Situated at an elevation of 1550m at the feet of Faraya-Mzaar, Faqra has monuments which included: temples, columns, altars and rock cut tombs. The temple of Faqra is partly cut out of the living rock.


On the way to the ruins of Faqra, one can see a bridge called "Jisr al-Hajar" or the "Stone Bridge" with an arch measuring thirty eight meters.

Ski Clubs

Faraya-Mzaar is home to some of the Lebanese Ski Clubs, affiliated to the "Federation Libanaise de Ski (FLS)" (note:ski clubs are non profit organization):

  • Faraya Mzaar Ski Club (Club des Sports), President: Christian Rizk
  • Chabab Faraya Ski Club , President: Youssef Khalil
  • Faraya Sporting Club, President: Jean Riachi
  • Al Oussoud, President: Mahboub Salameh

See also

Sources

Warning

An editor under usename Damiens.rf is asking for sources, about the height of Mzaar, is questionning the existence of jisr el hajar, le Refuge, who are the Rizk, Geammal, Tohme, Joseph Khoury and other people, hee wants u to prove that there are 4 months of skiing etc.. Please help bring sources otherwise he will tag this article for deletion. He does not seem to like the idea of skiing in Lebanon or alternatively he does not like Lebanon or its people and thinks nothing in Lebanon is notable or reliable.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mzaar_Kfardebian&oldid=223612860"