Bhamdoun

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Bhamdoun بحمدون
Administration
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Mount Lebanon Governorate
District	Aley District
Geography
Bhamdoun Location of Bhamdoun, Lebanon
Elevation	1,100–1,246 m  (3,609–4,088 ft)

Bhamdoun (Arabic: بحمدون) is a town in Lebanon 23 km from Beirut on the main road that leads to Damascus, lying at an altitude of 1100m above the Lamartine valley. Two separate villages compose the town, Bhamdoun-el-mhatta (literaly meaning Bhamdoun the station) and Bhamdoun-el-day'aa (Bhmadoun the village). A railroad used to link Bhamdoun to Beirut with the train station being a prominent feature of the town for many years. The station and railroad were eventually abandoned when cars became more popular. The population is mostly orthodox.

Before the lebanese civil war, Bhamdoun was one of Lebanon's most renowned and favorite summer resorts. Today, the town has regained some of its past touristic industry as most of its hotels, restaurants and entertainment centers have been renovated or rebuilt. Tourists, especially from the Gulf region who once knew Bhamdoun, are returning to spend their summer vacation there. Many have also purchased houses or built their own.

It has five churches, three mosques and one synagogue. During the civil war, all five churches were destroyed by the multiple militias that successively occupied the strategically placed town but they have since been rebuilt. The synagogue, one of three in all of Lebanon was abandoned shortly before the civil war, but still stands.

Bhamdoun hosted the first international rugby league match between Lebanon and the UAE on 22 March 2008. It has also hosted international football competitions.