World Heritage Identification Number: 850
World Heritage since: 1998
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Natural Landscapes & Geographic Features
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇱🇧 Lebanon
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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Exploring the Spiritual Landscape of Ouadi Qadisha and Horsh Arz el-Rab
Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and Horsh Arz el-Rab (Forest of the Cedars of God), two distinct yet interconnected sites, form a unique cultural and natural heritage in Lebanon. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, these locations offer a captivating blend of history, spirituality, and breathtaking landscapes.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The Qadisha valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world. Its monasteries, many of which are of a great age, stand in dramatic positions in a rugged landscape. Nearby are the remains of the great forest of cedars of Lebanon, highly prized in antiquity for the construction of great religious buildings.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (iii): Since the beginnings of Christianity, the Qadisha Valley has given shelter to monastic communities. The trees of the cedar forest are the survivors of a sacred forest and one of the most prized building materials in ancient times.
Criterion (iv): The rugged Valley has long been a place of meditation and refuge. It comprises an exceptional number of coenobite and eremitic monastic foundations, some of which date back to a very ancient period of the expansion of Christianity. The monasteries of the Qadisha Valley are among the most significant surviving examples of the strength of the Christian faith.
Encyclopedia Record: Kadisha Valley
Kadisha Valley, also romanized as the Qadisha Valley and also known as the Kadisha Gorge or Wadi Kadisha, is a gorge that lies within the Bsharri and Zgharta Districts of the North Governorate of Lebanon. The valley was carved by the Kadisha River, also known as the Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches Tripoli. Kadisha means "Holy" in Aramaic, and the valley is sometimes called the Holy Valley. It has sheltered Christian monastic communities for many centuries. The valley is located at the foot of Mount al-Makmal in northern Lebanon.Additional Site Details
Area: 1,720.2 hectares
Number of Components: 2
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 34.2538888889 , 36.9511111111
