Ghabat


Ghabat is a village in Lebanon located in the Jurd area of the district of Byblos in the Mount Lebanon region, about 74 kilometres northeast of Beirut. Its inhabitants are predominantly Maronite Catholics.
Al Ghabat has a dry-summer subtropical Mediterranean climate with moderate weather throughout the seasons. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are rainy with occasional snow. It is located on the mountains above Byblos at an altitude of 1000 to 1200 metres. It is surrounded by the villages of Afqa and Lassa and is home to 591 people registered on the electoral list.

Economy

Al Ghabat's main industry is agriculture. The town mainly produces apples, peaches, grapes and vegetables.

History

The name means forests in Syriac. It could also mean imprisonment, pressure, strain. In Arabic it means a dense forest.
The biggest resident family is the Karkafi family and its origin dates back to the 19th century when Nassar Gemayel left Bikfaya to a location named Karkafi, next to Lassa village in the Byblos caza and later settled in Al Ghabat.

Sites to visit

Ghabat is known mainly for:
  • Its abundant water.
  • The towering mountains surrounding it.
  • Its location at the mouth of the steep Nahr Ibrahim river valley.

    Demographics

Ghabat's inhabitants are predominantly Maronite Catholics. The major families of the village are Karkafi, Rahi, Karam, Hatem and Khoueiry.
The first municipal council was elected in 2010. Its current president is Bechara Philippe Karkafi.

Institutions