Chouf Destrict

Chouf (an aa spelled Shouf, Shuf or Chuf, in Arabic جبل الشوف Jebel ash-Shouf) is a historic region o Lebanon, as well as an admeenistrative destrict in the governorate (mohafazat) o Munt Lebanon.

Locatit sooth-east o Beirut, the region comprises a narrae coastal strip notable for the Christian toun o Damour, an the valleys an muntains o the wastren slopes o Jabal Barouk, the name o the local Munt Lebanon massif. Chouf is the hertland o the Lebanese Druze community, wi Druze leader Walid Jumblatt residin at the Jumblatt palace in the toun o Moukhtara. The Emirs o Lebanon uised tae hae their residence in Chouf, maist notably Bachir Chehab II, who built the magnificent palace o Beiteddine durin the first hauf o the 19t century. Anither historical toun, locatit juist belaw Beiteddine, is Deir al Qamar (the monastery o the Moon).

Baakline, anither lairge toun in the Chouf, uised tae be the caipital o auld Muntain o Lebanon, whaur Amir Fakher El-Deen wis born. He wis well liked bi baith Christians an Druze. He switched his residence tae Deir al Qamar seembolizin his neutrality.

The Chouf is livin proof o the harmony atween Maronite Christians an Druze, although several violent clashes hae occurred atween the twa groups in 1848, 1860 an maist recently in 1983-1984, durin the Lebanese Ceevil War (Muntain War, Arabic: Harb el-Jabal). This saw the Progressive Socialist Pairty (PSP), a fundamentally Druze pairty, face the Lebanese Forces (LF), comprisin Maronite Christians. Reconciliation atween the Druze an Christian communities came tae fruition on August 8, 2001, when the Maronite Patriarch o Antioch, Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir made a historic visit tae the Chouf an met wi Druze leader, Jumblatt.

Despite a bloody history, the Chouf is ane o the best-preserved Lebanese destricts an its natur haes been generally spared frae the intense biggin frenzy that haes spoiled neighbourin Metn an Kesrouan. The biggest forest o Cedars o Lebanon is foond on the flanks o Jabal Barouk.

Demographics

Despite the historical feuds atween Maronites an Druze, the Chouf destrict is ane o the maist releegiously diverse regions in Lebanon. The Druze, Maronite Catholics an Sunni Muslims are the lairgest releegious groups. Mairower, there is a substantial Greek Catholic population, as well as a smawer Shi'a Muslim population. The current population is maistly Druze, but the oreeginal population wis Predominantly Maronite, wi a lairge minority o Druze an a smawer Sunni minority. Maist o the Christians muivit tae Beirut, an some who immigratit ootside Lebanon.

Ceeties an touns

Dalhoun

Damour
Daraya
Deir el Qamar
Dibbiyeh
El Bireh
Gharife
Jahlieh
Jiyyeh
Kahlouniye
Kfarfakoud
Mazraat el chouf
Maasser
Moukhtara (Home to Walid Jumblatt; Politician and Leader of the Druze Progressive Socialist Party)
Mtolleh
Niha
Serjbel
Shheem
Zaarourieh
Mristi