Ehden - Zgharta

Hassoun · June 21st, 2006, 09:45 AM

Zgharta, or Zghorta (زغرتا Arabic) is a large town in North Lebanon, with an estimated population of around 70,000. It is the seat of Zgharta District (Qadaa' Zgharta). Zgharta is closely related to the mountain town of Ehden, essentially sharing the same population. Each summer, most Zghartawis move to their summer dwelling in Ehden; this is reversed in winter when Ehden is practically deserted. Zghartawis speak the Lebanese dialect with a distinctive accent, the original Syriac accent applied on Arabic language. Syriac was taught in local schools till the mid 1900s.

Zgharta's political influence in Lebanon has been disproportionatly larger than its size. It produced two Presidents of Lebanon: Suleiman Frangieh and Rene Moawad, and many prominent politicians: Hamid Frangieh, Suleiman Frangieh, Jr, Simon El Douaihy, Nayla Moawad, Estephan El Douaihy, Tony Frangieh, Samir Frangieh and many others. Ehden also produced at least two patriarchs of the Maronite church (Estefan El Douaihy and Hanna (John) Makhlouf El Douaihy), and an Ottoman era nationalist leader (Youssef Karam) who led a rebellion against Turkish rule. Political power in Zgharta district is dominated by a few rival families from the town: the Karam, El Douaihy, Frangieh,Mekari and Mouawad. The highest respected family is the Karam Family due to the fact that they are the children of Youssef Bek Karam, a national leader that is always remembered through Lebanon as the Prince Of Lebanon. Most of the Karam family live in Zgharta but have also found homes in Edmonton and other places in America and Europe. The surrounding villages and towns, though populous and prosperous, have little political power. The population is predominantly Christian, with Maronites being a clear majority.

Many historians agree that the name Zgharta has been derived from the Aramaic term "zaghar" meaning fortress and in Syriac, the term "Zegharteh" means barricades.

Traditionally, agriculture was a large portion of the local economy, with olives grown for olive-oil around Zgharta and apple orchards around Ehden. Recently, the service sector has seen significant growth.

Many people from the Zgharta District have emmigrated all over the world and many have been success stories in business, science and politics etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZGHARTA pics.

EHDEN PICS.

***Beiruti*** · June 21st, 2006, 04:55 PM

wow nice thread!

I love these villages, especially at night.

Zgarta is a very important city (as the description says) and I'm glad it finally has a thread.... more pics please!

lebgurl · June 21st, 2006, 11:38 PM

WOW!!! i've only heard of zgharta .. never been there!!! its amazing... i didnt think it would b this urbanized (in the sense of buildings) ... AND it has a .com!

***Beiruti*** · June 21st, 2006, 11:44 PM

Question: So do the Moawad and Franjieh family members all like really hate each other... like do they attend different churches, schools, etc.? Is it common to find groups of friends that are mixed Moawad/Franjieh?

Pardon my ignorance I never really visited the town and I just wonder how it actually is there.

lebgurl · June 21st, 2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beirut!

Question: So do the Moawad and Franjieh family members all like really hate each other... like do they attend different churches, schools, etc.? Is it common to find groups of friends that are mixed Moawad/Franjieh?

Pardon my ignorance I never really visited the town and I just wonder how it actually is there.

my encyclopedia mom says yes .. different schools and churches beacuse of a blood tar (i dont know how to translate that word) stemming from when Sleiman Franjiyeh Sr. went into a church and killed a bunch of ppl the majority of whom were members of the moawad family. she doesnt know if they intermix socially (friendships, etc)

khayam · June 23rd, 2006, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lebgurl

my encyclopedia mom says yes .. different schools and churches beacuse of a blood tar (i dont know how to translate that word) stemming from when Sleiman Franjiyeh Sr. went into a church and killed a bunch of ppl the majority of whom were members of the moawad family. she doesnt know if they intermix socially (friendships, etc)

The old rivalry was between the Franjiyyehs and the Dwaihis, the mo`awwads are too small a family to be a threat to the franjiyyehs. The "massacre" in the church in the fifties was committed against the dwaihis, the political rivalry with the mou`awwads is quite recent and more political than social.
And yes, these large families end up intermarrying, they're quite large, and the conflict is often elite-based. It is not like in "Asterix in Corsica" where whenever a Franjiyeh sees a Dwaihi or a Mou`awwad he spits on the ground.

Hassoun · June 23rd, 2006, 08:46 PM

Saydet Zgharta Hospital .

The René Mouawad Surgery , Zgharta .

Ehden Hospital .

***Beiruti*** · June 22nd, 2006, 12:09 AM

Thanks, I kinda had a feeling that was the case but I didnt know about the church shooting - was that during the war because of political differences or personal?

lebaneseangel · June 23rd, 2006, 02:50 AM

i visit zgharta like at least once a month. my husband has family there. but really ..its kind of boring. there is nice scenry...but the town has little offer aside from scenery...
--------------now the photos of ehden...are to amazing!!!! so beautifull!!! i could fall asleep there and never want to wake up..

arzliban · June 23rd, 2006, 04:50 AM

When I was in Zgharta, I went to a newly built lake/resort area... it was soo awesome with the restaurants, cafes, and a breathaking lake!

Ramazzotti · June 24th, 2006, 09:24 PM

Ehden has a thriving nightlife on weekends in the summer but the 2 villages don't have a beautiful architecture

Hassoun · June 29th, 2006, 04:59 AM

EHDEN IN WINTER.

EHDEN IN SUMMER.

grzes · June 29th, 2006, 05:33 AM

Very beautiful! Thank you!

***Nadini*** · June 29th, 2006, 07:06 AM

this is just beautiful tnxs hassoun

Hassoun · July 9th, 2006, 05:35 PM

Al Midan Le Parisien
The last stage of the Al Midan pavement programme undertaken by the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council has now been completed, in readiness for the weekend of Saturday 8th/Sunday 9th July 2006.The photo was taken on 9 July 2006.

maayan · July 11th, 2006, 12:24 AM

very nice

Jayme · July 11th, 2006, 07:40 AM

That Town is AWSOME

DG · July 22nd, 2006, 02:35 PM

i was planning to visit this place this summer, but

hope i can do it in winter.

mahdial_x5 · January 27th, 2007, 08:36 AM

WOW this place is BEAUTIFUL!!

lol, i know, 6 mothns of zero activity, but, hey im browsingg through all the cities/villages threadds

any more???

Lirtain · January 30th, 2007, 07:31 AM

Very beautiful towns.

Nadini/Beirut! shouldn't this thread either be split or renamed Zgharta and Ehden as they're two different places?

June 21st, 2006, 09:45 AM	#1
Hassoun Son of the cedars Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,133	Ehden - Zgharta Zgharta, or Zghorta (زغرتا Arabic) is a large town in North Lebanon, with an estimated population of around 70,000. It is the seat of Zgharta District (Qadaa' Zgharta). Zgharta is closely related to the mountain town of Ehden, essentially sharing the same population. Each summer, most Zghartawis move to their summer dwelling in Ehden; this is reversed in winter when Ehden is practically deserted. Zghartawis speak the Lebanese dialect with a distinctive accent, the original Syriac accent applied on Arabic language. Syriac was taught in local schools till the mid 1900s. Zgharta's political influence in Lebanon has been disproportionatly larger than its size. It produced two Presidents of Lebanon: Suleiman Frangieh and Rene Moawad, and many prominent politicians: Hamid Frangieh, Suleiman Frangieh, Jr, Simon El Douaihy, Nayla Moawad, Estephan El Douaihy, Tony Frangieh, Samir Frangieh and many others. Ehden also produced at least two patriarchs of the Maronite church (Estefan El Douaihy and Hanna (John) Makhlouf El Douaihy), and an Ottoman era nationalist leader (Youssef Karam) who led a rebellion against Turkish rule. Political power in Zgharta district is dominated by a few rival families from the town: the Karam, El Douaihy, Frangieh,Mekari and Mouawad. The highest respected family is the Karam Family due to the fact that they are the children of Youssef Bek Karam, a national leader that is always remembered through Lebanon as the Prince Of Lebanon. Most of the Karam family live in Zgharta but have also found homes in Edmonton and other places in America and Europe. The surrounding villages and towns, though populous and prosperous, have little political power. The population is predominantly Christian, with Maronites being a clear majority. Many historians agree that the name Zgharta has been derived from the Aramaic term "zaghar" meaning fortress and in Syriac, the term "Zegharteh" means barricades. Traditionally, agriculture was a large portion of the local economy, with olives grown for olive-oil around Zgharta and apple orchards around Ehden. Recently, the service sector has seen significant growth. Many people from the Zgharta District have emmigrated all over the world and many have been success stories in business, science and politics etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZGHARTA pics. EHDEN PICS.

June 21st, 2006, 04:55 PM	#2
*Beiruti* Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lebanon & USA Posts: 3,579	wow nice thread! I love these villages, especially at night. Zgarta is a very important city (as the description says) and I'm glad it finally has a thread.... more pics please! __________________ Lebanon Forums Last edited by Beiruti; June 21st, 2006 at 05:00 PM.

June 21st, 2006, 11:44 PM	#4
*Beiruti* Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lebanon & USA Posts: 3,579	Question: So do the Moawad and Franjieh family members all like really hate each other... like do they attend different churches, schools, etc.? Is it common to find groups of friends that are mixed Moawad/Franjieh? Pardon my ignorance I never really visited the town and I just wonder how it actually is there. __________________ Lebanon Forums

June 22nd, 2006, 12:09 AM	#8
*Beiruti* Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lebanon & USA Posts: 3,579	Thanks, I kinda had a feeling that was the case but I didnt know about the church shooting - was that during the war because of political differences or personal? __________________ Lebanon Forums

June 29th, 2006, 07:06 AM	#14
*Nadini* Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beirut Posts: 4,521	this is just beautiful tnxs hassoun __________________ Lebanon, Motherland of Phoenicia and the Land of the Cedars

June 21st, 2006, 11:38 PM	#3
lebgurl Beirut, ya 'om el donia! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Beirut/DC Posts: 624	WOW!!! i've only heard of zgharta .. never been there!!! its amazing... i didnt think it would b this urbanized (in the sense of buildings) ... AND it has a .com!

June 23rd, 2006, 08:46 PM	#7
Hassoun Son of the cedars Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,133	Saydet Zgharta Hospital . The René Mouawad Surgery , Zgharta . Ehden Hospital .

June 23rd, 2006, 02:50 AM	#9
lebaneseangel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beirut,Lebanon Posts: 287	i visit zgharta like at least once a month. my husband has family there. but really ..its kind of boring. there is nice scenry...but the town has little offer aside from scenery... --------------now the photos of ehden...are to amazing!!!! so beautifull!!! i could fall asleep there and never want to wake up..

June 23rd, 2006, 04:50 AM	#10
arzliban Raje' Yet'amar LIBNAN! Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 49	When I was in Zgharta, I went to a newly built lake/resort area... it was soo awesome with the restaurants, cafes, and a breathaking lake!

June 24th, 2006, 09:24 PM	#11
Ramazzotti Eros Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 489	Ehden has a thriving nightlife on weekends in the summer but the 2 villages don't have a beautiful architecture

June 29th, 2006, 04:59 AM	#12
Hassoun Son of the cedars Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,133	EHDEN IN WINTER. EHDEN IN SUMMER.

June 29th, 2006, 05:33 AM	#13
grzes BANNED Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: on ur ice, scaring ur netminders Posts: 274	Very beautiful! Thank you!

July 9th, 2006, 05:35 PM	#15
Hassoun Son of the cedars Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,133	Al Midan Le Parisien The last stage of the Al Midan pavement programme undertaken by the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council has now been completed, in readiness for the weekend of Saturday 8th/Sunday 9th July 2006.The photo was taken on 9 July 2006.

July 11th, 2006, 12:24 AM	#16
maayan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 867	very nice

July 11th, 2006, 07:40 AM	#17
Jayme Melburnian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne/Batroun Posts: 2,387	That Town is AWSOME __________________ MELBOURNE-CITY OF ART, CULTURE, FASHION, SPORT AND SHOPPING\|BATROUN- WHERE NIGHTLIFE LIVES

July 22nd, 2006, 02:35 PM	#18
DG Emirian Lady Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Jumeira, Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,182	i was planning to visit this place this summer, but hope i can do it in winter.

January 27th, 2007, 08:36 AM	#19
mahdial_x5 (¯`·._.•MaHdI•._.·´¯) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: TEHRANTO Posts: 1,270	WOW this place is BEAUTIFUL!! lol, i know, 6 mothns of zero activity, but, hey im browsingg through all the cities/villages threadds any more??? __________________ IRAN, JAHANI DAR YEK MARZ

January 30th, 2007, 07:31 AM	#20
Lirtain Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 764	Very beautiful towns. Nadini/Beirut! shouldn't this thread either be split or renamed Zgharta and Ehden as they're two different places?

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