page_title: Bsharri
section_title: Cedars ski resort Bsharri
hierarchical_section_title: Bsharri / Cedars ski resort Bsharri
caption_attribution_description: English: cedars ski resort
context_page_description: Bsharri. It is located in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate in Lebanon.
  Bsharri is the town of the only remaining and preserved original Cedars of God (Cedrus libani), and is the birthplace of the famous poet, painter and sculptor Khalil Gibran who now has a museum in the town to honour him. Moreover, Bsharri is home to the oldest skiing area, the Cedars Ski Resort, and to Lebanon’s first ski lift, built in 1953. The resort is about a two-hour drive and 130 km (81 mi) from Beirut. Qurnat as Sawdā Mountain in Bsharri is the highest peak in the Levant, at 3,088 meters above sea level.
  The nearby site of the Holy Kadisha Valley shelters some of the most ancient Christian monastic communities of the Middle East. A true heritage of Maronite Christianity in the Middle East, the town has also the biggest cathedral in the region, the Saint Saba Cathedral, built by Anthony II Peter Arida. Bsharri is sometimes called "the city of churches" as it houses some 37 churches.
  The Kadisha Valley and Cedars of God comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
context_section_description: The Cedars resort is located in the North of Lebanon. Skiers came to the resort as early as 1920, and have been returning there ever since. The first lift was installed by the government in 1953. 
  The Cedars resort has a slightly longer season than the others, sometimes beginning early November and often lasting until late April. Pisted and off-piste skiing is possible, as well as nordic skiing and skidoo rides.
  Bsharri, is the village of the Cedars, is the birthplace and resting place of Gibran Khalil Gibran. The Gibran Museum houses his paintings, drawings and personal effects. There is a number of Maronite churches and monasteries scattered throughout the Kadisha valley.
  In summer 2005, The Cedars resort installed 3 new chairlifts to replace the old T-bars and extend the ski runs. 15 million US Dollars have lately been invested to upgrade the facilities and expand the resort to higher standard of in terms of accommodation, equipment, safety, and services.
  A Gondola for 6 persons will carry skiers and visitors from the parking level at 2,095 metres (6,873 ft) to the highest accessible summit of 2,870 metres (9,420 ft), however, there is no indication yet of when will this be completed. To comply with international regulations, a Refuge with a capacity of 400 persons will also be built at the top of the Gondola. Its terrace will be equipped with telescopes capable of seeing sights as far away as the island of Cyprus.
caption: Cedars Ski Resort
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