Ouadi Qadisha, also known as the Holy Valley or Kadisha Valley, is a deep sacred valley in the Bsharri District of Lebanon's North Governorate. It is a place where landscape and faith have shaped each other for a very long time, and it has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
What you will find
The valley is home to some of the oldest Christian monastic communities in the world. Their buildings are set into the steep rock walls and along the valley floor, so a walk here is as much about the setting as about the monasteries themselves. Nearby, the Forest of the Cedars of God, a stand of ancient cedar trees, adds to the sense that this is a landscape held apart from the everyday.
What kind of visit it makes
Ouadi Qadisha suits visitors who want a slower, reflective day rather than a busy sightseeing list. Many come to walk the valley paths, to look at the monastic sites at their own pace, and to spend time among the cedars. Because the valley is steep and the terrain can be uneven, comfortable footwear and a practical plan for the day are sensible.
- Setting: a deep, sacred valley in the North Governorate, near Bsharri.
- Heritage: a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
- Nearby: the Forest of the Cedars of God.
- Contact: +961 6 671325.
If you are planning a trip, it is worth calling ahead on the number above to check current arrangements for visiting the valley and its sites before you set out.