• Home

The Complete Pilgrim - Religious Travel Sites

Howard Kramer's, The Complete Pilgrim, Religious Travel Site

  • AMERICAN RELIGIOUS SITES
  • CHRISTIAN SITES
  • JEWISH SITES
  • CATHOLIC SITES
  • ISLAMIC SITES
  • INDIAN/HINDU SITES
  • HOLIDAY SITES
  • CASTLES
  • BATTLEFIELDS
  • MOUNTAINS
  • NATURE
  • WILDLIFE SITES
  • PHOTO GALLERIES
  • ARCHIVES
  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CEDAR GROVES OF LEBANON

August 12, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Becharre, Lebanon

Cedar Grove Bcharre Bsharri

Cedar Trees in Shouf Biosphere Reserve (Wikipedia.com)

In the midst of the Holy Land’s countless venerated mountains, deserts, ruins and tombs, it is perhaps fair that there are at least a few sacred places that celebrate life.  If there is any such place representative of the early kingdoms period, it is the fabled Cedar Groves of Lebanon.  The cedar trees of Lebanon are mentioned many times in the Bible, most notably in the stories of David and Solomon, for their wood was prized and used in the construction of the First Temple.  Although the cedar forests of the region have been decimated for centuries, a few of the ancient giants still cling to life.  These are now incorporated into a small national park, where new trees have been planted and protected since the 19th century.  The Forest of the Cedars of God is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

The Lebanon Cedar Tree is one of two major species of cedars, and one of the only coniferous species to be found in the Eastern Mediterranean region.  Named for the mountain upon which they were first harvested and cultivated, they are native to Lebanon, Cyprus, and nearby regions of Syria and Turkey.  The wood of the cedar tree has been prized since ancient times, both for its strength and durability in construction as well as for its pleasant aroma.

The great Cedar Forest of Lebanon was considered a sacred place by the Canaanites long before the Israelites arrived on the scene.  It was known to people as far away as Mesopotamia, and was almost certainly familiar to Abraham when he arrived in Canaan.  The trade in cedar wood permeated the Mediterranean world, from the cities of Phoenicia where it was used in shipbuilding and construction, to Egypt where its resin was used in the preparation of the dead.  When the Israelites arrived, it became prized for medicinal and religious purposes.

The Cedar Forest of Lebanon reached the height of its fame during the reigns of kings David and Solomon, when demand for cedar wood soared in order to accommodate the two kings’ extensive construction programs.  The king of Lebanon, who was both pragmatic and on reasonably good terms with David, levied a heavy tribute of cedar wood to Israel in order to secure his people’s independence.  The wood was used in major building projects throughout Israel, most famously in the construction of the Temple of Solomon.

In later years, the Cedar Forests of Lebanon became more and more accessible to the burgeoning empires that were emerging in the region.  The groves of massive trees were plundered by everyone from the Assyrians in the 8th century BC to the Ottomans in the 19th century AD.  It was only in the 1800s that conservancy efforts were finally introduced.  By that time less than twenty trees over a thousand years old were still standing.  Today the surviving trees are fiercely protected and cared for, and though new groves of trees have been planted in vast numbers throughout the region, it will be many centuries before the ancient forest will seem its old self again.

Visiting

The Shouf Cedar Reserve covers nearly five percent of Lebanon and is one of the largest nature parks in the Middle East.  It incorporates much of Lebanon’s territory inland from Beirut, including Mount Lebanon of Biblical fame.  The park was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1995.  It is a highly diverse area, incorporating mountains, hills and lowlands, forests and wetlands, and is home to a number of large animal species that have otherwise been long missing from the area

Of course, the main attraction of the Shouf Cedar Reserve from both a naturalist and religious point of view are the three magnificent forests of cedar trees.  It is estimated that one in four cedar trees in Lebanon grows within the park’s boundaries.  The most popular site within these forests are the groves which contain the dozen or so ancient giants, cedar trees which tower as high as a hundred and thirty feet and which date back to the days of the Byzantine Empire.

The Shouf Cedar Reserve spreads out over a large area approximately twenty miles southeast of Beirut.  It is home to the largest forest of cedar trees in Lebanon.  As a national park it is an open site, though access to the grove of the ancient cedar grove is restricted.  The park is open daily except Mondays.  Ther is no cost for admission.  Web: www.shoufcedar.org (official website of the park)

Other Sites

Byblos, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and the chief Phoenician port during the days of the united realm of Israel, was the probable home of the king of Lebanon who was known to King David.  The Ruins of Byblos are extensive, and include remains of the city from David’s period and even earlier.

Filed Under: Jewish, Old Testament Site Tagged With: Syria/Jordan/Lebanon

Where would you like to go?

Africa (North) Africa (Sub-Sahara) Arabia Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Australia/Pacific Austria/Switzerland Balkans Belgium/Netherlands British Isles Canada Caribbean Central Asia China Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria India (NE)/Nepal India (NW) India (South)/Sri Lanka Iran/Iraq Israel Italy/Malta Japan/Korea Latin America Mexico Palestine Poland/Lithuania Russia Scandinavia Southeast Asia Spain/Portugal Syria/Jordan/Lebanon Turkey/Cyprus Ukraine US-California US-Mid Atlantic US-Midwest US-New England US-New York US-Pacific Northwest US-South US-Southwest

About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

THE COMPLETE AMERICAN PILGRIM – NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

THE COMPLETE PILGRIM

Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

Site of the Week

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

Wittenberg, Germany The … [Read More...]

Friends of TCP Spotlight

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

by Glory Ali The City of Brotherly Love offers tons to see and do and get this, it’s FREE. That’s right you heard it right it’s FREE. Click here for complete article  

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

by Mary Neuhauser President Trump recently announced his intentions to move the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. The purpose of this article is to give you a brief overview of what this decision means and why it matters. Click here for […]

Photo of the Week

BASILICA OF ST. DENIS

Last month, I visited one of the most fascinating churches I have ever been to, the almost completely ignored Basilica of St. Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris.  Almost every French monarch is buried here, and almost nobody goes here.  Here are some pics I took:

Basilica of St. Denis

Tomb of Clovis

Tomb of Clovis

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Royal Tombs

Royal Tombs

The Crypt

The Crypt

 

 

 

 

Follow us!

Where would you like to go?

Africa (North) Africa (Sub-Sahara) Arabia Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Australia/Pacific Austria/Switzerland Balkans Belgium/Netherlands British Isles Canada Caribbean Central Asia China Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria India (NE)/Nepal India (NW) India (South)/Sri Lanka Iran/Iraq Israel Italy/Malta Japan/Korea Latin America Mexico Palestine Poland/Lithuania Russia Scandinavia Southeast Asia Spain/Portugal Syria/Jordan/Lebanon Turkey/Cyprus Ukraine US-California US-Mid Atlantic US-Midwest US-New England US-New York US-Pacific Northwest US-South US-Southwest

Contact Us

Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

Return to top of page
Copyright © 2023 The Complete Pilgrim, LLC || Marietta, GA 30068 || Legal Disclaimers

Website by: Kristina McInerny, Notes From Kris, Inc.