The third Lebanese city and the most modern of its counterparts, Beirut, Tripoli, Saida, and Tyre, Zahle was founded in the early 18th century and maintained its role, due to its geographical location, as a link between Lebanese regions and those external to Lebanon.
“Bride of Bekaa,” “City of Poetry and Wine,” was made immortal in Ahmed Shawki’s poem “The Neighbor of the Valley,” a well known poem composed into a song and sang by Mohammed Abdulwahab Himself. It is the muse for numerous writers and poets starting with Raji Al Raii, Issa, Fawzi, Chafic, Riad Maalouf, Michelle Trad, and not ending with Zahle’s Icon Saeed Akel in addition to poets Joeseph Geha, Khalil Farhat,Emile Moubarak, Anis Khoury, Joeseph El Sayegh whoem we lost recently and many others….
Zahle, was the first of Lebanese cities to have its own anthem, its own flag colored in red and green and having the cross as its spear, and its own Municipal Commission. Zahle was also the first to exercise democracy manifest in its use of a municipal stamp made of 7 fragments each kept with one of the 7 families, a measure that guaranteed all decisions required consensus.
Unlike other cities whose governmental headquarters were accommodated in the palaces of royalty during the autonomous rule of “Mutasarifiya,” Zahle was the first to have a Governorate Palace built solely for the purpose during the administration of Wasa Bacha at 1888, and after renovation it remained an architectural wonder known as “MUNICIPAL PALACE”
The City of Churches, with each of its streets named after a saint, has St. Mary as its patron. “Our Lady of Zalzala,” one of the City’s oldest churches built to commemorate St. Mary goes back to the early to mid-17th century. According to Issa Iskandar Al Maalouf, a historian specialized in the history of Zahle, it is the City’s oldest church. The Cathedral “Our Lady of Salvation” (Sayedat Al Najat) was built by Archbishop Basilios Shahbat of the Choueirit Monastic Order in the years 1846-1856. “Our Lady of Zahle” sanctuary was inaugurated on July 8, 1968 as an expression of the City’s Christian identity.
The “Eucharist Thursday” or Khamees Al Jasad the locally most sanctified of holy days since 1895 commemorates the City’s miraculous mass healing from plague.
That and the Zahlean cuisine is at the heart of the Lebanese “meza” is a fact that no two Zahleans contest. The multitude and diversity of dishes showcase the Zahlean ingenuity. This comes organically as the City relies on its produce, food industry and items integral to the Zahlean dining. The long prevalence of agricultural drive can be traced back to cultivation of greenery and wheat that gave rise to the production of flour and bourghul, a Zahlean staple and basic ingredient in celebrated dishes like the delicious Zahlean “Raw Kibbeh” or “kibbeh nayeh” unmatched in any of the other Lebanese cities known for making it.
Talking about Zahle inevitably leads to delving into the subject of its Valley traversed by the waters of Bardawni River. An intermix of banquets and artistic ingenuity run along this Valley. Honorable mentions include the refreshing Zahlean ice-cream which is a must as you stroll along, the sesame seed candy, a heritage associated with specific Zahlean families and widely known across the world.
These elements constitute the distinctive “Zahlean Taste;” the preconditions that had the “UNESCO” consider the City for its “Network of Creative Cities, “ which Zahle has become part of since 2013. Zahle has become an active member of the “Network for Sustainable Tasting”. In addition to celebrating World Tasting Day, since 2018 , Zahle has established an annual tradition of Arak Tasting given that it is the hometown of Lebanese Arak.
Since 19th century, Arak industry has flourished in the city’s different neighborhoods. Until mid-20th century, there were more than 500 taverns. Rasieh alone was home for 25 taverns some of which gained reputation for serving the finest of all Arak labels.
Zahle holds to its exclusivity as a confirmation of its identity strongly associated with its produce, which is a main pillar to the City’s economy. That Zahelian’s are proud of their unique identity is exhibited by the statue symbolizing love of Poetry and Wine erected at the entrance of the City since the 1960’s.
The prominence of grapevine in Zahle is evident in the rituals associated with it, especially the “Alkarma Tourism Carnival” which has been held every year since 1934. The carnival culminates with the selection of the “Alkarma Pageant” who leads the convoy of cars embroidered with roses and traverses the Boulevard of Zahle.
In modern days, Zahle is one of a kind city producing its own electricity independently and sustains electric power around the clock.
Zahle pioneers the enterprise of solid garbage treatment and spearheads ecological initiatives. As well, it is one of the few cities that embarked on the treatment of wastewater in its plant operating since 2018.
Zahle is one of the few cities that pays special care to public recreation areas, the “Municipal Park of Joseph Tomeh Skaf” being one the examples of such initiatives in addition to “Almamshiyeh” the Cty’s first park and a recreational area for visitors of different ages and interests.
Additionally, Zahle is one of the few cities which strive to keep strong ties with the diaspora through the “Zahle Hometown Association.” an innovative endeavor that will bring Zahleans together wherever they maybe around the world