Report by Oumeima Mahroum

 

Translated by Aline Aoun

 

 

 

Hazmieh’s beautiful mosaic is rarely found in other Lebanese towns, and many people dream of living there due to its charm and diversity.

 

 

 

 

 

Hazmieh is located at a distance of 6 km from the capital Beirut, and close to 2 km from the presidential palace in Baabda. Its special location made it a unique attraction and one of the main suburbs of the capital, ranging between 50 and 200 meters, an area of ​​approximately ten square kilometers. Bounded by Furn el Chebak and Beirut River from north of Beirut and Baabda from the south and east, Hazmieh has a spectacular site and is considered one of the most beautiful suburbs sites in Beirut.

 

Hazmieh, before it witnessed construction, was part of Baabda town, the capital of Mount Lebanon. The word Hazmieh has a Syriac origin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazmieh is surrounded by a number of springs; the most important spring is Daychounieh Spring.

 

 

 

Before the establishment of the town, the area of Hazmieh was almost empty of people until the early nineteenth century, and it was a strategic position in the wars of Mount Lebanon. Its location is the gateway to Mount Lebanon and the international road which links Lebanon to the countries of the region and the entrance to the capital of Mount Lebanon Baabda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The construction process began in Hazmieh in the early years of last century, where as the agricultural area is rich with olive trees, berries and wheat. The families of Hazmieh are: Feghali, Ghazal, Mallat, Irani, Zoughbi, kahhali…

 

 

 

People of the area built in addition to Saint Takla Church, St. Rukiz Church in the nineteenth century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazmieh has lots of remains like, Kanater Zubaydah built by Zubaydah, the wife of Syriac king Trifon in 300 BC in the southern suburb to draw the waters of Nahr Ibrahim River to all Lebanon.

 

 

 

Tombs of Pashas which include the remains disposed of the second Franco Pasha and his son Fouad, wife Catherine, Wasa Pasha, his daughter, and Wasa Pasha the fourth, as well as Ahmad Fares Chidiac, founder of the newspaper "Jawaib" which is the oldest of Arabic newspapers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural life

 

Hazmieh’s fertile land and abundant water help people care for agriculture by planting grains of all kinds and olives in large quantities. People in this area are also interested in breeding silkworm cocoons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projects

 

The municipality of Hazmieh is currently undergoing several developmental projects, particularly the main highway, in coordination with the Council of Development and Reconstruction, funded by the Kuwaiti Fund for Development. For the time being, Hazmieh is the only highway without intersections.

 

The municipality also worked on the development of electricity and water networks, the execution of a sanitary sewage system and rain water drainage.

 

The municipality intends to do lots of other projects like the establishment of a sports complex, an artificial lake, gardens and landscaping at its entrance.

 

The Municipality of Hazmieh won the “Best Electronic News strategic website” award along with the "National News Agency", the Ministry of Interior, the Center for Statistics and Rafic Hariri International Airport.

 

 

      

 

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