Enfeh
Enfeh, or Enfe, Anfeh, Anfe, is a town in the Koura district of the North Governorate of Lebanon at Latitude 34°21'0"N and Longitude 35°44'0"E. Enfeh borders the towns of Chekka, Al-Qalamoun, Barghoun and Zakroun. It is located north of Beirut and south of Tripoli. Its total area is, and its population is around 6,500.
The people are primarily Greek Orthodox with a minority of Maronite Christians and Sunni Muslim.
History
Remains from at least 3,000 years of human occupation lie tangled among the myrtle and brambles of this 400 meter long and 120m wide peninsula. It is partially separated from the land by two great trenches-dug into the bedrock during the Crusader period. While Enfeh has witnessed only minor excavation, Phoenician and Roman walls, wine presses, mosaic floors, and two seventh-century-A.D. chapels lie bare beneath the intense sun and wind. This lovely seaside fishing town is known for its ancient churches and caves. Today Enfeh is also known for its salt production. Close to Enfeh is the Crusader-era Abbey of Balamand, which sits on a promontory overlooking the seaAncient History
Today's village of Enfeh is built around the ruins of several short-lived cities going back to the pre-Phoenician period. Natural dwelling caves abound on the surrounding hill of Al-Gheer; the original city lies on a small near-island about half a kilometer into the sea. Its outstanding feature is that it is the only town throughout the eastern coast of the Mediterranean to be carved out of its rocky surroundings.Some of the carvings go all the way back to the Phoenician period, and possibly earlier, as witness to the fact that the name of Enfeh appears in the Tell-Amarna tablets of ancient Egypt;. which were sent by the governors of the coastal Canaanite cities to the Pharaohs of Egypt asking for help in repelling Amorites intruders. Letters written by Rib Addi, the King of Byblos, specifically mention the Canaanite city of Enfeh and state that Enfeh, after being occupied by the Amorites, fought with the Amorites against Byblos. Enfeh was conquered by the Assyrian army in the 7th century B.C., when it was known as "Anpa".
The remains of subsequent settlements include dwelling caves, places of worship, cisterns, water tanks and wine presses, as well as steps and roads all carved in the rock. One ancient quarry, known as the Great Trench, was used by the Phoenicians as a dry dock; The Phoenicians used the place as a shipyard for the construction of their vessels, as it was a strategic point on the mediterranean coast.
The Crusades Period
The Enfeh peninsula was once a mighty fortress area, including the Crusader castle of Nephin, and a fief of the Counts of Tripoli. The Crusader Lords of Nephin, who were protected behind the walls of Enfeh, the vast rock-cut moat which severed the peninsula from the town, and the sea-swept battlements of their citadel, soon established a reputation as robber barons, the terror of travellers between Jerusalem and Tripoli.The town itself had a better reputation, for its wines were known and prized far and wide throughout the Latin kingdom in the 12th and 13th Centuries. Enfeh entered its glory days during the Medieval era, and most of the archaeological and historical monuments that can be seen today date from this period. Around the 13th century, Enfeh was a small, fortified village surrounded by fertile fields, and it was famous for its wine production. It was one of the lordships of the county of Tripoli, governed by French provincial nobles from the Renoir family. The French Lord was eventually chased out of Enfeh by the Prince Bohemond IV of Antioch, the Lord of Beirut, and the Genoese, and he took refuge in Cyprus.
Enfeh, as a cell or a hive sculptured out of the ground, is surrounded by walls and fortifications of enormous stones hauled from the nearby quarries.
In 1282, Enfeh was part of one of the greatest plots that marked the end of the Crusades. The Lord of Byblos, the Genoese, and the Knights Templar rose up against the Count of Tripoli Bohemond VII, but they were brutally crushed. Bohemond VII punished the Genoese by blinding them, and he buried alive the Lord of Byblos and his family in the Fort of Enfeh.
Fall of Tripoli
In 1289 Sultan Qalawun suddenly attacked, captured and destroyed Tripoli. The knights who escaped from the burning city to the two remaining coastal castles of Batroun and Nephin were unable to withstand the full fury of the Mamluk army and beat a further retreat to the island kingdom of Cyprus.Sultan Qalawun destroyed both castles so thoroughly that even the site of Batroun's citadel is lost from history.
With Nephin it was a different story, for here the Crusaders had performed one of the great engineering feats of the Middle Ages. They had cut off the peninsular fortress from Enfeh proper by cutting a great moat, at sea level, all the way across the peninsula, for over 100 yards, through the living rock, leaving only a small spur in the center at the south end to support the castle's drawbridge.
Old Churches
- Our Lady of the Wind:
- Deir el-Natour:
- Saint Catherine:
- Saint Simeon and the Archangel Gabriel:
- Saint George:
- Saint John the Baptist:
Geography
Climate
Enfeh has a Mediterranean climate characterized by four notably different seasons with a moderate nice weather during spring time. Summers are mainly hot, while winters are cold and rainy.The table below displays average monthly climate indicators in Enfeh based on 8 years of historical weather readings.
Demographics
Its population is estimated to be around 6,500, not including the thousands of emigrant families and young individuals.Global Emigration
One of the many Lebanese villages where the number of inhabitants is a speck compared to the number of villagers abroad. Global emigration occurred as far back as the mid 19th century with records showing young men and families migrating to the new world mainly Australia and the Americas. The emigration continues till the present day. Some families are extinct and others are greatly reduced in number. However, in the diaspora, if one visits any major city or town specially in Brazil, Argentina, Qatar, Australia, Canada or the USA one will almost certainly find someone whose ancestors come from this village. During holidays specially summer many of the empty houses are joyfully cleaned and return to life with visiting families.Religion
Enfeh is primarily Antiochian Orthodox, and there are several historical churches and local shrines throughout the village.Notable people
- Farid Makari: Lebanese politician since 1980, He was elected as a member of the Lebanese Parliament in 1992 and reelected in 1996, 2000, 2005 and 2009, he served as information minister in Hariri’s second cabinet from 25 May 1995 to 7 November 1996, Former Vice-President of Lebanese Parliament since 2005.
Economy
Salines
Wide areas of Enfeh and its surrounding are covered by salines. Along the length of the bay, the salt marshes add a typically pretty note to the landscape, especially with the traditional wind wheel which pumps seawater. The production of sea salt is a staple of the local economy. "White gold", as it is called, provides for an inexhaustible natural resource which can thus be extracted without endangering the environment.Fishing
Around 415 inhabitants practice fishing on a regular basis. The 80 full-time fishermen own their boats and maintain them. Fishing is the livelihood and main source of income for many families in Enfeh. Fishing boats have sought shelter in the natural harbor of Nhayreh in bad weather conditions.The large terraces on Enfeh's rocky coast shelter underwater species feeding on the seaweed and attract large numbers of fish. That place also attracts many anglers willing to fill their baskets with different types of fish.
Fishing, by itself, is an art in Enfeh, inherited by its ancestors.
Agriculture
Fruits consist mainly of: Olive trees producing quality table olives and olive oil, and Grapes.Tourism
Enfeh attracts tourists, especially during summer time, for its landscape of small white houses, windmills and salines on its rocky beaches along the Mediterranean coast. Its historical monuments, old churches, and archaeological site of its peninsula make it one of the top touristic destinations of the Lebanese northern coast.Enfeh is equipped to receive tourists, offering a choice of activities and touristic resorts such as Marina Del Sol and Las Salinas. Tourists can also eat fresh fish by the sea at local restaurants that offer fresh daily picks.
Education
Enfeh is equipped with one public school. Private schools are available in the surrounding region of el-Koura, and in the nearby city of Tripoli.The three top universities of northern Lebanon, are around 5 to 10 minutes by car, like balamand university, NDU in Barsa, and USJ in Al-Qalamoun.
Sports
Camping Hiking and swimming
Lying between the natural harbor of Nhayreh and the archaeological peninsula, the Enfeh creek consists of an attractive rocky shore shaped as a perfect semi-circle at whose bottom lie many sandy underwater caves. It has become a haven for hikers and swimmers who are drawn to its well-preserved view and always clear water.Many swimmers enjoy the wavy clear sea of Enfeh, others prefer the olympic swimming pools that are available for practicing outdoor in summer and indoor in winter.
During the war, Lebanese national swimming championships were mostly held in Las Salinas and marina del sol in Enfeh.
Diving
Enfeh is known for its clear water, one of the cleanest waters on the Lebanese coast, home to a wide variety of fish. the archaeological peninsula hides many secrets in its bottoms below sea level, attracting curious divers.Surfing
The waves of Enfeh's sea are not big enough for surfing, and its rocky shore does not help much.although its mostly windy weather during summer, makes it a top destination for wind surfing. equipment rental are available in town.
Recently the wind of Enfeh is attracting the new small kite surfing community of Lebanon.
Arts And Culture
Cinema
Enfeh's mediterranean landscape has attracted the cameras of various film directors. The town has been the set of several local movies.The town has the number one cinema theatres in the north, Grand cinemas las salinas.