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One of the most beautiful outlooks that men ever had the chance to take on God's creation is the Valley of Hammana. This is how in 1833, the famous French poet Alphonse de Lamartine described this small villages located in the heart of the Lebanese Mountains.

Almost two centuries later, Hammana still fits this description.

Whether in spring or in summer, in winter or in autumn, this village has picturesque and colorful views to offer its visitors. With its red tile-roofed houses and its waterfalls, Hammana look like an exquisite painting.

In 1996 Hammana was chosen by the Paris Political Institute, in collaboration with the French government and the Unesco, as a typical Lebanese village.

Hammana was until the 1930's an important center for the cultivation of Silk.

Mentioned in the Old Testament, silk is one of the oldest fiber textiles to be produced by mankind.

In order to feed the warm as they come to life, Lebanon have particularly specialized in the cultivation of berries, the quality and the life span of which depend on altitude, Hammana a premium location for this cultivation.

The production of Hammana's refined silk prospered for centuries, with large quantities of textile being exported to Tuscany in Italy first, and then to France since the XVII century, when Colbert, Louis XIV's Finance Minister, promoted the commercial traffic between Marseille and the Levant.

Between 1847 and 1850, five factories, three of which are France owned, were build in Lebanon. Rapidly, the number of factories multiplied, becoming 67 in 1867, 101 in 1885, and 194 in 1893.

In 1911, the quantity of silk produced in Lebanon and Syria reached 524,000 Kilos, the largest part of which was exported to Lyon in France via the Beirut port.

This beautiful and prosper production eventually slowed down with the instruction of artificial silk and the consecutive economic crisis the country has gone through.

One of the most famous silk factories was that of "Veuve Guerin et fils" which provided high quality product known as the "grand extra." Important edifices, including traditional factories has been preserved and at least one has been transformed into public hospital.

The tripe to Hammana, about 26 Km inland from Beirut, passes through some of the most beautiful sceneries in Lebanon.

The best way to get there is by taking the Damascus Road. But if you are looking for picturesque sceneries you should take the road that passes through Araiya and Abbadiye and make sure you stop at Ras al Harf.

This small village is as fresh as the water sources that it hosts, the most famous of which are Ain al Nabe, Ain el-Berde, and Ain el-Heloue.

Further up, the forest of chbaniye, a grater location to stop for a quick picnic or even camping. while there, you could also take a look at the Monastery Mar Ephrem, which is about to be restored by the Beaux Arts Institute.

Is a historic classified monument that was built in 1895 by the Congregation. This building, which serves today as a shelter for children and single mothers, and a center for the education of young delinquents, have started its activities as a school and hospital receiving patients from  all races and religions.

When he visited Hammana, Lamartine stayed in the residence Mouqaddamins Druzes, the Mezhers for 15 days only. But the then 700-year-old house left its mark on the poet.

"The castel of the Sheikh of Hammana, surpasses with its elegance, grance and nobility, all I have seen of the type, since the Place of Prince Beshir in Deir Al-Qamar. We could only compare it, to our most wonderful Middle Ages Gothic chateaux," wrote Lamartine.