Baakline is located on seven hills with green valleys in the middle, decorated with oak and pine trees. At 45 km away from the capital Beirut, it can be reached through three main roads:
Damour - Kfarheem – Baakline
Damour - Deir El Kamar - Beiteddine – Baakline
Iqleem el Kharoub - Gharifeh - Baakline.
History
Founded in the 12th century by the Maan emirs, Baakline served as their capital until the early 17th century, when its most famous Emir, Fakhreddin II, moved to Deir el Qamar. Today Baakline is an important Druze town and seat of the sect's religious leader. Baakline holds an important place in Lebanon’s history. The roots of Lebanon as we know it today go back to Baakline.
The beautiful “Grand Serail” or the “Great Saraya,” the main administrative building of Baakline before World War II, has been restored and transformed into a public library.
Due to water shortages in Baakline, the Maani Amirs were attracted to neighboring Al-Qamar (according to Druze archives, called Dar Al-Qamar), where they built many palaces and a mosque that still stands in the middle of the town square carrying the name of Amir Fakher Eddine Ibn Othman Ibn Al Hajj Younis Al Maani (1493 AD).
Under the Ottoman rule, Baakline came back to the forefront as one of the “Qasabat” or major towns. It served as the summer capital for the Druze “Qaem Makqam,” or the local governor in the name of the Ottoman Sultan.
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
- Ancient tombs decorated with carved and sculpted evidence, dated from 1562 A.C.
- St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church dating back to the end of the 17th century.
- Al Hamadeh Castle, built by Sheikh Sa’eed Hamadeh.
- Dar Al Takieddine dated 1830 A.C.
- The Great Saraya «The National Library», built in 1890, included a court, an outpost and a prison, and now, it is a scientific and cultural center containing thousands of books and references.
- The village source of water, built in 1890. It has a gothic architectural style with a pistol and round dome. It has been printed on Lebanese currency paper (25 Lebanese liras).
- Archeological sites: Dar Abou Chaqra, and Baakline Charity «Shouf Atelier»
BAAKLlNE FOREST (HORSH BAAKLINE)
Considered one of the most touristic attractions, it has been added to the list of the Shouf National Reserves.
TOURISTIC SERVICES
Baakline has all sorts of services: health, commercial, hospitality, shopping, hotels, an equestrian club, restaurants, swimming pools, and gardens alongside the Baakline riverbank.
