Ain El Remmaneh

Ain El Remmaneh is a small village in the Aley district of mount Lebanon surrounded by Aley itself, Bsous, Komatieh and Ain El Saydeh. The village is well known for its moderate climate, pine forest, and great views of Beirut and the deep-blue Mediterranean sea.

Population

Ain El Remmaneh has roughly 500 inhabitants, most of which have immigrated to Canada, the United States and Europe after the latest civil war in Lebanon. 95% are well educated and the village is home to many engineers, computer scientists, professors, doctors, farmers, priests and also poets.

Families and Faith

The following are major families in Ain El Remmaneh: Ashoo, Atallah, Baroudi, Haddad, Khalaf, Kyriakos, Shwayri, Skaff, Tayyar and Youssef.

The families are predominantly Greek Catholic (melkites), Maronite Catholic, Roman Catholics (Latins), and Protestans.

Main Resources

Most of the village residents are either in Beirut or have immigrated to the United States and Canada. But the village still has good agriculture resources: Apples, Grapes, Olives and Pine; 3 factories: Marble tiles, Mosaic tiles and Stone tiles. The village also has two casinos (mainly restaurants after the war). A new restaurant is also being built and will be inaugurated in 2004.

Prior to the Lebanese war, the village's main resource was tourism and the village was the summer residence for many Beiruties and tourists from the Arab world and Europe.

The village also has a very old and large oak tree (Al Shmoukh). Many world leaders have admired the tree and took a stroll under it, including Charles De Gaulle, and the Turkish Governor of Lebanon.

Historical Facts

Although a small village, Ain El Remmaneh, is a very strategic town overlooking Beirut. Armies from around the world have set post in the village and some of them made it their headquarters. In fact, during World War II, the Australian battalion, operating under the British Army, has designated Ain El Remmaneh as its headquarter. The village has also been occupied by the Syrian Army, The Israeli Army, the French army in WW II and the British army in WW II.

During WW II, Ain El Remmaneh used to be the summer residence for Charles De Gaulle, President of France. It was also the summer residence for Lebanon's prime ministers Riad El Solh and Takieddine El Solh.

During WW II, the village was also the place the French army was separated between De Gaullist and Petainist.

Other Facts

Ain El Remmaneh was well known for its mill, which was owned by Joseph, Simon and Youssef Khalaf. The mill was used by the Australian Army as it was the only mill for all neighboring villages.

Ain El Remmaneh has an athletic club founded by archbishop Gregoire Haddad to host summer camps for needy Lebanese youth. The camp was also used by Children of Ain El Remmaneh to host plays and summer festivals.

During each summer, the town's casinos used to host Lebanese zajal parties and hosted famous Lebanese and Arab singers and actors.