Chouf District

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Chouf (also spelled Shouf, Shuf or Chuf, in Arabic جبل الشوف Jebel ash-Shouf) is a historical region of Lebanon, and also an administrative district in the governorate (mohafazat) of Mount Lebanon.

Located in the south-east of Beirut, the historical region comprises a narrow coastal strip with notably the town of Damour and the valleys and mountains of the western slopes of Jabal Barouk, the name of the local Mount Lebanon massif. Chouf is the heartland of Lebanese Druze community, and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has its residence in the Jumblatt palace in the town of Moukhtara. The Emirs of Lebanon used to have their residence in Chouf. Most notably, Bachir Chehab II built the magnificent palace of Beiteddine during the first half of the 19th century. Another historical town, just below Beiteddine, is Deir al Qamar (the monastery of the Moon).

Another large town in Chouf is called Baakline. All of it's population is Druze except for one Christian family. The Hamadeh, Harfouch, Khodor, Ghoussayni families are the biggest famillies. There are more than 7 schools in Baakline, most important of which is the Shouf Natinal Collage. There is a castle in Baakline called "Asr el-Hamadeh", the Castle of Hamadeh.

Chouf has seen violent clashes between its Druze and Christian (mostly Maronite) population in 1848, 1860 and most lately during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983-1984 (War of the Mountain - Harb el Jabal). Many Christian residents have fled following these events and have still not returned, although some of them have come back and rebuilt the numerous villages destroyed by the Druze PSP militia.

Despite a bloody history, Chouf is one of the best-preserved Lebanese districts and its nature has been generally spared from the intense building frenzy that has spoiled neighbouring Metn and Kesrouan. The biggest forest of Cedars of Lebanon is found on the flanks of Jabal Barouk.