Tartej
Tartej ( Arabic - ترتج ) is a Lebanese village located at an altitude of 1177 m, The altitude vary according to the peaks, the hills, the plains, and the valleys. Qornet ain el deb ( Arabic - قرنة عين الدب ) is the highest peak in the mountain 1859 m, peak Ain Al Marbout 1774 m ( Arabic - عين المربوط ), Jouret Al Maktoul 1715 m ( Arabic - جورة المقتول ), Jouret Al Touti 1480 m ( Arabic - جورة التوتي ) and Al Wata 1088 m ( Arabic - الوطى ).
The Area of Tartej is 1135 Hektar، most of the land are rocks in general, and the plain land located at the middle of the village.
It is far from Beirut 65 km, from Byblos 25 km, and from Tripoli 48 km. Tartej is located in East North of Jbeil District, in the Mount Lebanon Governorate.It is surrounded by mountains from all directions and open view to the West. Most of Tartej houses are made from Testa, it is special kind of rocks used to built old houses.
Tartej borders with neighbor villages:.
- From the East : Laqlouq, Balaa and Tannourine.
- From the West : Asia, Hadtoun, Ram and Quattara( Eilige).
- From the North : Douma and Bcheele.
- From the South : Jaj.
The most famous agriculture trees in Tartej are Olives, apples, grapevines, fig and tobacco Plant. Tobacco was the most important resource in the past for living.
History
Tartej dates back to the antiquity ages, indications of important examples are the ancient pagan temples, shrines, the writings on the rocks, traces of Phoenician ,traces of Romanian , iron mines, and the ruins of the Temple of God Avlij ( Arabic - الإله أفليج ). .
Tartej is well known for it is ancient Maronite historical monasteries, Monastery Saint Georges ( Arabic - دير مار جرجس ), which is located near the renovated old church ( Arabic - كنيسة مار جرجس ), Monastery Saint Antonios ( Arabic - دير مار انطانيوس ), and Monastery Saint Sarkis&Bakhos ( Arabic - دير مار سركيس و باخوس )
The old church name was Mary's church ( Arabic - كنيسة السيدة ) it was built in the year 1832 and it finish in the year 1850 ( according to special archives document from Bkerke ). In the 80 th They decided to upgrade the church and rename it as Saint Georges church ( Arabic - كنيسة مار جرجس ).It is famous, it contains a huge tour and big hall contains all facilities.
Origin of the name
As all Lebanese village the name of all villages has a meaning and it reflects to something. The name of the Tartej comes from the Syriac languages (Tur - Tag),[1] the Tur it represents the mountain, and the Tag represents the crown and the snow, therefore Tartej has the meaning of the name is such way that snow on the head of the mountain ( Arabic - الثلج على رأس الجبل ) and it is similar to the crown on the head of the king ( Arabic - التاج على رأس الملك )
Demography
The people of Tartej are Maronite. Tartej' s population is around 2,863 ( according to official list from Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (Lebanon) in 2010 ),[2] many of them leave the village in the winter, and return to the village during the summer, due to study and work.
The biggest families in Tartej are "Aoun", "Chalhoub", "Rkaiby", "Sadek", "Awwad", "Bchara". These families are the roots of other families, Antoun, Amine, Aoun, Abd Al Masih, Akl, Awwad, Al Khoury, Al Khoury Mkhayel, Bchara, Botros, Boulos, Chalhoub, Chayban, Chedid, Daoud, Doumit, Estephan, Joumayel, Khalil, Hanna, Ghousn, Kinaan, Kouberyanous, Kamel, Khair, Matta, Maroun, Moussa, Mansour, Nachoul, Nawfal, Rachid, Rouphael, Sadek, Sarkis, Saliba, Tannous, Youssef, Younan.
Development
The first road to connect The mountains with the city passed through Tartej was developed in the year 1932. Amchit - Abaidat - Lehfed - Jaj - Tartej. The second road to Tartej was developed in 1934. Amchit - Abaidat - Deir Mayfouk - Hadtoun - Tartej.
- School ( Arabic - المدرسة ) : Tartej school was created by the Jesuites Josef Dolor in the year 1927.
- Commission Saint Georges ( Arabic - لجنة وقف مار جرجس ) : Bkerke has created this commission in the year 1864. The commission is active and they renovated the old church, new hall and many orher projects.
- Municipality ( Arabic - البلدية ) : Municipality of Tartej was cretaed in the year 1964. The municipality building is located at "Al Talle" hill,a president of the municipal Council is elected every 6 years along with a list of 12 cabinet members who are all subjected to a vote by the residents. The cabinet represents all families. The current president is Mr Pierre Makhoul.
- Clinic Dispensary ( Arabic - المستوصف ) : It was created in the 80th and it is located at the municipality building.
- Social Culture Club Tartej ( Arabic - نادي ترتج الثقافي الاجتماعي ): Tartej club created in the 1964 and was officially registered at the Lebanese Ministry of Youth and Education.The current president of the club is Mr Toni Boulos.
- Moukhtar ( Arabic - مختار ) : Tartej has two represented person officially elected with the mandate of 6 years. Mr Doumit Amine, and Mr Wadih Nawfal.
- Testa : Tartej has a dozens of Testa quarries, many persons works with rocks and export it around the globe, (China, Africa, Golf Countries).
Famous People
- Dr Tarek Sadek - ( President of Al Tayyar Al Watani Al Hurr - intishar ).
- Emile Nawfal - ( Jbeil District deputy between 1996-2000).
- Khosse Khalil Marun - ( Presidente J.U.C.A.L Argentina - Córdoba 2009-2011 - Argentine ).
- Antoine Nawfal - ( Broadcaster at Radio Monte Carlo - France ).
- Najib El Khoury Mkhayel - ( President of Sitra Congo, Vice President of ULCU[5] ).
- Dr Nawfal Nawfal - ( President of the Culture Council of Jbeil ).
- Charbel Estephan - ( Writer, "Tartej in its past and present" First Edition).
- Dr Hanine Estephan - ( Health expert - Vice President of Harvard Club Lebanon[6] - United States ).
- Dr Georges Estephan - ( Anesthesiology and Reanimation - France ).
- Dr Josef Matta - ( Dentist - Belgium ).
- Dr Georges Younan - ( General Surgery - United States ).
- Jad Younan - ( Computer Programming - Founder of Woopra[7] - United States ).
- Naji Sadek - ( President of Byblos Club - Member of Lebanese Topograph committee ).