Bteghrine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bteghrine (بتغرين) | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Governorate | Mount Lebanon Governorate |
| District | Matn District |
| President | Mirna Michel el-Murr |
| Vice President | Emile Murad Saliba |
| Mayors | Nejm Elias Saliba Elias Hanna Saliba |
| Geography | |
  Bteghrine
Location of Bteghrine, Lebanon
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| Coordinates | |
| Elevation | 950 m |
Bteghrine (Arabic: بتغرين, also spelled Bteghrin and Btighrin) is a municipality in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon.
Contents |
[edit] Etymology
The exact origin of the name Bteghrine is unknown, but possibilities include Place of Warriors, Place of Rocks, and House of the Saddest - references to a large battle in the area around 1290 that resulted in thousands of deaths.[1] This date corresponds closely with the end of Christian rule in the region and the rise of the Mamluks – a period which saw numerous battles in the area, including a 1291 rebellion by the Shi'a and Druze against the Mamluks in Keserwan, the district on the northern border of the Matn.[2]
[edit] Geography
Bteghrine is located at . It is bordered by Mount Sannine to the east, Wadi el-Jamajem to the north, Jiwar to the west, and Khinsharah to the south. The municipality is comprised of seven neighborhoods and four outlying areas.
[edit] Neighborhoods
- Haret al-Ain
- Haret al-Dara
- Haret al-Shahara
- Haret al-Shawyee
- Haret al-Ssaha
- Haret al-Wata
- Haret Ali
[edit] Outlying areas
- Bsefrine
- Meisree
- Sabourta
- Zaarour
[edit] Water
There are several springs used for both drinking water and agriculutural purposes in Bteghrine. The four primary springs are Aassal, Manboukh, Mir, and Sparta.
[edit] Agriculture
Bteghrine is situated on a rocky hillside, but supports a thriving, self-sufficient agriculture. Most of the land within the city and the surrounding hills, including the Meisree and Bsefrine districts, was fully terraced to make it more suited for planting. The most common fruits and vegetables grown in Bteghrine are: figs, grapes, mulberry, plums, apples, peaches, persimmon, pomegranate, cherries, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, mint, wheat, and beans. Small shops in the town process much of the local produce into arak, molasses, wine, and preserves.
[edit] Economy
The Saliba Nail and Screw factory[1] is the largest single plant in Bteghrine. Additionally, the town has a large number of small shops for blacksmithing, woodworking, car repair and bodywork, leather tailoring, and aluminum manufacturing. The city also enjoys a full set of services including three gas stations, a supermarket, dry cleaner, several specialty and general stores, a large bakery, several bookstores, several clinics, many restaurants, and one hotel. Bteghrine also hosts the central telephone station for the upper Metn region.
[edit] Education
There is one public school in the town named Bteghrine Public School, and one private Catholic school.
[edit] Religion
The inhabitants of Bteghrine are almost all Christians, predominantly Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholics.
[edit] Churches
- St. George – Greek Orthodox.
- St. Michael – Greek Orthodox.
- St. Elias – Greek Orthodox.
- Notre Dame – Greek Catholic.
[edit] Famous Bteghrineites
- Elias Murr – Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister
- Gabrielle Bou Rached – the reigning Miss Lebanon 2005
- George Hawi – former Secretary General of the Lebanese Communist Party, assassinated June 21, 2005 by a bomb planted under his car
- Greg Simon (Saliba) – current President of the Washington, D.C. based think tank FasterCures, Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to former Vice President Al Gore from 1993 to 1997
- Michel Murr – former Lebanese Minister of the Interior
[edit] References
- ^ "History of Bteghrine". Retrieved November 11, 2006.
- ^ Library of Congress. "A Country Study: Lebanon". Retrieved November 29, 2006.
