In Marjaayoun, the range of themes extends from the habitats of Hima Ebel El Saqi to archaeological and rural heritage in the Caza de Marjayoûn. The natural side is particularly tangible in Ebel El Saqi: BirdLife International has designated the area as both an Important Bird Area and a Hima.

Hima Ebel El Saqi: Nature Across Several Habitats

Pine forest is the dominant landscape feature, although it has a limited diversity of native tree species. It provides shelter for Levant sparrowhawks and short-toed eagles. The Hasbani River ecotone is a habitat for black-crowned night herons, water rails, and cranes; the fields along the Hasbani provide refuge for migrating white storks and song thrushes. The forest, river ecotone, and fields thus represent different habitats within the Hima.

The olive grove is also part of this picture. It is associated with traditional olive cultivation and is a habitat for Sardinian warblers and Syrian serins. Two perspectives come together in this landscape feature: agricultural tradition and birdlife. The Hima thus connects conservation themes with a culturally shaped landscape feature.

Rivers, Springs, and Plains

The Caza de Marjayoûn is known for its fertile plains, which are crossed by the Litani. The Litani and its tributaries are among the waterways in the Caza. The Houjeir and Ed Dardara springs are also located there. Wadi El Houjair runs alongside a secondary road and has been declared a nature reserve. These natural features differ in form: fertile plains along the river, named springs, and a designated protected area.

Archaeological Sites and Rural Heritage

Qlaiaa has an old fortress and an old monastery. Deir Mimas is home to an old shrine and caves. In Marjaayoun, Phoenician, Roman, and Crusader sites are located near the PRI 062 road. A museum in the village of Khyem is also among the archaeological sites in the Caza. These places include buildings, a shrine, caves, and a museum.

Bait Al Fallah, the House of the Farmer, serves as a folklore museum in Ebel El Saqi and showcases the area’s traditional agricultural heritage. The museum thus complements the archaeological themes with another perspective on the history of the Caza: everyday agricultural life and its traditions. The cultural perspective therefore extends from ancient sites to a museum dedicated to rural heritage.

Nabatieh in a Broader Context

In the wider destination of Nabatieh, the Wadi al-Hujair Nature Reserve extends across the districts of Nabatiyeh, Bint Jbeil, and Marjayoun. The Nabatiyeh District, the administrative center of Nabatiyeh Governorate, is known for its annual Ashura commemorations. These are two distinct regional connections: the extent of a protected area and an annual commemorative tradition.

Discover more destinations: Chiyam, Ebel Es Saqi

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