Mansourieh, Lebanon

Mansourieh (

Mansourieh, situated on a hilltop just 10 kilometres east of Beirut, serves as the gateway to Northern Matn, offering panoramic views of the capital.

Etymology

The name originates from the

Mansourieh is conveniently located 16 kilometres east to the capital Beirut, 16 kilometres north to Baabda, the Province Administrative Center, and 12 kilometres south to Jdeideh, the Caza Administrative Center. Mansourieh slopes upwards from an elevation of approximately 200 metres to reach its highest at around 350 meters above sea level.

Until the early 1950s, Mansourieh was mostly a rural area. Plains along the banks of the Beirut River were cultivated with citrus orchards. Olive groves were traditionally grown in more arid areas. Pine forests covered the southeastern slopes. Vineyards and fig trees, along with other Mediterranean cultivars, completed the landscape. Due to intensive urbanization since the second half of the last century, many green areas have been replaced by residential and commercial buildings. Few green areas remain, mainly along the river bank.

Mansourieh lies on the main road running from Beirut through Sin el-Fil and Mkalles, winding up the mountain to reach

Mansourieh is a lively hub with a variety of shops, restaurants, and supermarkets. The old road showcases scenic views of Beirut alongside charming houses, while the Mansourieh highway bustles with food chains, retail shops, and high mobility traffic.

The

The municipality of Mansourieh also administers the industrialized Mkalles zone and the Daychounieh village.

Demographics

As of 2009, Mansourieh houses a population of approximately 17,000 of whom 1,445 are voters and 2,254 native residents. Residences number approximately 4,500.^[5]

Education

Mansourieh is home to the following educational institutions:

• Eastwood College EWC
• Lebanese University, Faculty of Humanities [1]
• The Al-Kafaàt University

In addition to the institutions found within the town limits, several others are located in its suburbs:

• Université Saint Joseph [2] , Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (Mar Roukouz
  )
• Ain Saadeh
  )
• Lebanese University, Faculty of Humanities in Fanar [4] (Fanar)

Medical institutions

• Beit Al Ajouz
• Bellevue Medical Center

Archaeological sites

Located in the secluded river valley between Mansourieh and

During the Roman period, with the expanding urbanization of Beirut, the demand for running water outgrew the capacity of the existing wells and springs. The solution was to get water from one of the springs located along the Beirut River. The nearest spring was the Daychounieh source, situated 20 kilometres southeast of Beirut. The Roman architects built a water channel to convey this water across the Beirut River and transport it onwards to Beirut.^[6]

It was built over an arched, bridge-like structure known today as 'Qanater es-Sett Zubaida' (Arabic for 'the arches of Lady Zubaida).^[7] The aqueduct consisted of a series of arches, of which only a few remain on the sides of the river.^[8]

It was built in 273

• Mar Elias (
  Greek Orthodox
• Miled Es-Saydeh [5] (
  Greek Orthodox
• Mar Gergis (
  Maronite (Daychounieh
  )
• Mar Elias (
  Greek Orthodox (Mkalles
  )
• Mar Elias (
  Maronite (Mkalles
  )

Families

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• Hajj (Abdo, Hajj, Issa, Khattar, Khoury, Wakim, Zeidan) [10]^[11]
• Hamouche (Abi Khalil, Abi Nassif, Abi Rached, Hamouche, Kaadi, Merhej, Sakr) ^[10][11]
• Awwad (عوّاد) ^[10][11]

Hajj Family ^[12]

The Hajj family history traces back to the 17th century when its ancestor Hanna el-Hajj fled his hometown of

At the time, the land belonged to Druze families, mainly the Badghan clan. They hired labor to cultivate and care for their livestock. Hanna worked for those families in exchange for land. In Zireh Hanna built a small church, erect to this day although disused, known as Mar Gergis (Arabic for Saint George), where he was eventually buried. Hanna had two sons Youssef and Moussa.^[13]

In those days, the entire area was under control of the Abi Lamaa feudal Emirs. According to accounts, a group of men encountered harsh weather while traveling to Mtein village, necessitating an overnight stay at Hanna's residence. Overwhelmed by their host's generosity they related the episode to the Emir who, somewhat envious, decided to get rid of Hanna and dispatched his troops to that effect. Hanna, sensing trouble, greeted them with the same hospitality, leading to a reconciliation with the Emir.^[13]

Youssef and Moussa inherited their father’s competencies, generosity, and cunning, strengthening the relation with the Emir. The Emir summoned the two brothers and asked them to work his land instead. They accepted and moved to uptown Mansourieh, closer to the Emir whereabouts. Married, they lived in what is known to this day as the 'Harah' in the heart of the village.^[13]

Hamouche Family^[14]

Stories have it that the 16th-century family of Hamouche originated in a small village named Mizlla near Maad in Byblos. The father, a righteous man, was known to protect Christians from persecutions. His antagonists retaliated against the children after their father’s demise. As a result, the family of four children, Trad, Hamouche, Malek, and Melki scattered to different locations around Lebanon.^[13]

The family first moved to Ain el-Qabou near Baskinta, Trad then spent winters in Beirut, and Hamouche in Mansourieh where he eventually settled. Malek later moved to Baabdat, and Melki to the North.^[13]

In subsequent generations the Hajj family acquired the lands in the middle and lower parts of Mansourieh, while the Hamouche family dwelt in the upper parts of the village.^[13]

Gallery

• 
  One-lane bridge linking Mansourieh and Hazmieh
• 
  Remains of the Roman aqueduct
• 
  Remains of the Roman aqueduct
• 
  Mansourieh's Bellevue Medical Center

References and footnotes