Section 9: Hasroun – Tannourine El Faouqa

Al Assi Cave
St. Daniel Church
Mar Challita Church
 
Al Assi Cave

Residents of Hadath El Jebbe took refuge in this very difficult to access cave during the Mameluke invasion in the 14th century. In 1991, more than 13 mummified bodies were discovered inside the cave. They are now at Beirut National Museum.

 

St. Daniel Church

Around the year 1100, three sisters from Becharre (Taqla, Saloumé and Mariam) financed the building of several churches within the surrounding of the Qadisha valley. One of these churches was St. Daniel. It's a massive building with 14 external columns engaged inside the walls for reinforcement. A tunnel going beneath the main aisle of the church was discovered, and under it are the vestiges of an older church.

 

Mar Challita Church

The church dates back to the medieval period and was built from the remnants of a previous Roman temple. Its entrance is surrounded by two big stones taken probably from the temple. Two altars still stand inside of the church, which proves that is was dedicated to two saints, and this is a local tradition seen in other villages of Lebanon.