Report by Elham Shbaro

 

Translated by Aline Aoun

 

 

 

Bkasin town located in the district of Jezzine dates back to the era before the "Alzeran", the first stone used by ancient man, where the remains of the Stone Age were found. Rising 850 meters above sea level, 80 km away from Beirut, with a population of 2900 people, the route leading to Bsakin is: Beirut - Sidon - Jezzine road, where transportation is always available to get there.

 

 

 

The Awali River surrounds Bkasine town from the east, Prophet Micha from the west, Mashmusha from the north, Benwati, Kabatiya and Wadi Jezzine from the south.

 

 

 

Official departments belong to the court and the gendarmerie station of Jezzine. One can also find in Bkasin a mail office, phone distributor, social club and a complementary official school.

 

Its abundant water is sufficient enough to satisfy the needs of all the houses in the area.

 

 

 

Bkasin’s major agricultural production is pine, olive trees and grapes. While at the industrial level, the town is rich with olive presses with up-to-date oil distillation techniques.  Fishermen are also known to flood to Bkasin in the winter season seeking its fish-rich rivers.

 

 

 

What distinguishes Bkasin is its magnificent pine clad; this is one of the most breathtaking views in Jezzine area, where one can town parks and roads.

 

 

 Bkasin’s most important Holidays: Feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary on August 15, the Feast of Saint Takla, patron saint of the town on September 24, (Festivals on this occasion last for three days before the Eid including plays, concerts, Zajal, Lebanese folk dancing and lottery profits going to charity to improve the church.)

 

Families of Bkasin: Harfoush, Ghanem, Abu Eid, Abu Shahin, Matar, Nasr, Atiyeh, Nassour, Abi Nasr, Hanina, Saad Khoury, Khoury Maroun, Afif, Haddad, Rahib, Younis, Helou, Harb, Lotfi and Kahwaji.

 

 

 

Bkasin is the hometown of a great number of deceased intellectualists, renowned doctors, judges, lawyers, engineers, writers. It is also the birthplace of poet Paul Ghanem and journalist David Alexander Nasr.

 

 

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