Amsheet

Amsheet
عمشيت
—  City  —
Amsheet
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates:
Country  Lebanon
Governorate Mount Lebanon Governorate
District Jbeil District
Elevation 222 m (728 ft)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code
Dialing code +961
Website www.aamchit.com (Municipality of Amchit)

Amsheet (Arabic: عمشيت; also spelled Amchit) is a predominantly Maronite seaside town in Lebanon about 40 km north of Beirut.

There are many old churches in Amsheet (more than a hundred and some old synagogues)

Contents

Demography

Amsheet's population is around 25,000. The majority of the inhabitants are Maronite Christians with a small Shi'a minority.

Economy

Amsheet is known for its baskets and mats woven from palm leaves. Olive and citrus fruits are the main agricultural products of the town.

Landmarks

The house of Zakhia family where Ernest Renan stayed, the French philosopher who lived in Amsheet for a long period in the 19th century, can be visited, аs can the tomb of his sister who was buried at St. Marie Church in the Zakhia family Cemetery.

The Church of Saint George was built on an ancient temple and the altar has both Greek and Arabic inscriptions.[1] The adjoining churches of Saint Sophie and Saint Stephen retain their ancient vaulted porches and wall paintings. The churches were built on the remains of a Roman temple.

The Church of Saint Nicholas (Mar Zakhia) has medieval wall paintings and was built in the Vth century.

Tourism

The town is home to Lebanon's only organized coastal campsite, "Camping Les Colombes", a place with a history since it's beginning in the 50's. Amchit is also known for its delicious seafood restaurants located on all the coast. The most popular ones are "Chez Zakhia", "Mhanna Sur Mer","Le Cap".

Famous people from Amsheet

Main families from Amchit

Yazbeck, Wehbe, Karam, Lahoud, Khoury, Sleiman, El Hayeck, Zakaria, Abboud ,Zgheib

References