Rashaya District () is an administrative district in the

Beqaa Governorate Beqaa ( ') is a governorate in Lebanon and one of the eight districts of the country. It is located in the eastern part of Lebanon and borders with Syria. The capital of the district is the city of Zahlé. Districts Since 2014, Beqaa Governorate ...

of the Republic of

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

. Most of Rachaya's population are

Druze The Druze ( ; , ' or ', , '), who Endonym and exonym, call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (), are an Arabs, Arab Eastern esotericism, esoteric Religious denomination, religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic ...

with a

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

and

Shia Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...

and

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

minority. Many people of Rachaya have left for larger cities in Lebanon such as

Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...

. During the

Lebanese civil war The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...

, Rachaya was not affected as much as other parts of Lebanon during the conflict. Rachaya is known for its pottery and famous for the Church bells made in the town, the town is right next to the Anti-Lebanon mountain range in bordering Syria. In 1943, several prominent nationalist politicians were imprisoned in Rashaya's Castle by the French Mandate administration. Finally yielding to mounting internal and international pressure, France released the prisoners on November 22, 1943; since then, this day has been celebrated as Independence Day. In 1969, Rashaya witnessed clashes between

Palestinian fedayeen Palestinian fedayeen () are militants or guerrillas of a nationalist orientation from among the Palestinian people. Most Palestinians consider the fedayeen to be Resistance movement, freedom fighters, while most Israelis consider them to be Pa ...

and the Lebanese army Known as The. 1969 Rashaya Clashes

Local culture and festivals

Rashaya hosts various cultural events and festivals throughout the year, celebrating traditions, music, and arts. These events offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the local culture. The district's diverse religious communities, including Druze, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, and Syriacs, have lived peacefully together, contributing to a rich cultural tapestry.

Agricultural tourism

Rashaya's economy thrives on traditional activities, including herb harvesting, crop cultivation (cherries, olives, etc.), and goat husbandry for Labneh production. Visitors can experience agricultural practices such as olive harvesting and the making of olive oil, as well as other traditional products like olive oil soap, arak, pomegranate molasses, and flower waters.

Crafts and local artisans

Rashaya is known for traditional crafts such as silver and jewelry making. The district, particularly the village of Rashaya, is recognized for its pottery and ceramics. These crafts, along with others like cedar wood carving, blown glass, and textile weaving, are part of Lebanon's rich cultural heritage and can be found in local artisan shops and cultural centers throughout the country.

Demographics

References

Districts of Lebanon {{lebanon-geo-stub