Baskinta

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    Baskinta
    بسكنتا
    City
    Baskinta
    Location within Lebanon
    Coordinates: 33°57′N 35°47′E / 33.950°N 35.783°E / 33.950; 35.783Coordinates: 33°57′N 35°47′E / 33.950°N 35.783°E / 33.950; 35.783
    Country  Lebanon
    Governorate Mount Lebanon Governorate
    District Matn District
    Elevation 1,300 m (4,300 ft)
    Highest elevation 1,800 m (5,900 ft)
    Lowest elevation 1,200 m (3,900 ft)
    Time zone EET (UTC+2)
     • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
    Dialing code +961

    Baskinta (Arabic: بسكنتا‎) is a Lebanese village situated at an altitude ranging from 1250 metres above sea level at its lowest point, to 1800 metres at Qanat Bakish. Baskinta is renowned for its natural beauty and moderate climate. Baskinta is becoming a cycling spot for mountain biking amateurs with plenty of technical off road trails and a developed cycling community. It was also the capital city of the Syriac Christian state of Marada. Baskinta is also known for the variety of its fruit especially apples and vineyards.The residents are Christians: 70% Maronites and 30% Greek Orthodox.

    History

    Baskinta carries the ruins of monuments, cemeteries, and numismatics, pottery remains that date as back as the Phoenician and the Greek ages. The Greeks knew Baskinta and built in it fantastic palaces of which enormous stones, pillars stands, and underground passages still exist. Golden numismatics, coins, jewels that belonged to the Queen Helena have been found too and they go back in time to the reign of Suljok and Antokhios the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd. Bacchus temple in the place known as Bakish-canal, connotates Bacchus, the god of merriment and wine in Greek mythology In addition to its ruins, there are lustrous hotels, and luxurious chalets sought by ski fans. This is the native village of Mikhail Naimeh (1889-1988), one of Lebanon's greatest thinkers and men of letters who personified Baskinta's natural scenarios in most of his writings. It was here in a hut surrounded by extraordinary rock formations that Naimeh drafted much of his monumental work.

    Location

    Ahead of Faraya, and at the foot of Mount Sannine lies Baskinta (according to the Syriac Etymology, the abode, the residence, and the place). This traditional summer resort boasts a magnificent view of surrounding mountains. From Beirut head north toward Antelias, about a 12 km drive before you turn east to drive uphill towards Bikfaya, passing through Bteghrine towards Baskinta. From Baskinta it is possible to climb to the 2,628-meter summit of Mount Sannine, starting off at Nabaa Sannine, a village 7 km up the mountain.

    See also

    External links

    Capital: Jdeideh
    Towns and villages
    Notable landmarks
    Notable touristic sites
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