Maasser el Chouf – 2003

History

In 2003, arcenciel was solicited to manage the St. Micheal convent at Maasser el Chouf, a greek catholic property. Following the Lebanese civil war, the convent was renovated into a youth hostel, based on international standards, to encourage solidarity and cohesion between young Druze and Christians in the village. In Maasser, Auberge St. Michael’s remains a center of shared living, unity, social and community service.

Objectives

• Allow children and teenagers to develop their potential physical, intellectual, and artistic skills.
• Promote values such as the notion of collective conscience, peace, solidarity and altruism, in order to fight laziness, selfishness.
• Help young people battle against instability pertaining to their professional future, unemployment and to prevent emigration.

Activities and facilities

The hostel is equipped with a conference room that can accommodate up to 65 persons . Many workshops take place all year around (business annual meetings, schools and universities seminars, scouts gatherings, as well as yoga and photography workshops).

Other activities are available such as:

• Rainbow Club
• Ping-pong, billiards, baby foot
•  Basket-ball
• V.T.T
• Camping

And other attractions nearby:

• Maasser el Shouf Village
• Olive Oil Press
• St Micheal Winery
• St Micheal Church
• Candle factory
• Bike tours

The St- Micheal youth club

Located in Chouf Village, Auberge St Michel is a 10-minute drive from Maasser Al Chouf Cedars. The simply decorated rooms at the Auberge feature a window overlooking the mountains. Each is fitted with light green wooden furniture and a fan. The bathroom includes a shower. Beirut International Airport is a 50-minute drive away. Moussa Castle and the Beit El Dine Castle are 20 minutes by car. The

Best option for families and groups of friends, the hostel can accommodate up to 90 persons.

• 6 rooms with private bathrooms, 3-5 beds / room
• 2 rooms with private bathrooms (outside the rooms)
• 5 rooms with shared bathrooms, 3-5 beds / room
• 3 dorms, 12 beds/   dorm
• wi-fi access
• small library
• TV room
• check-in at 14:00
• check-out at noon

Services provided by the St-Micheal youth hostel

• local guides to the village, the cedar reserve and the Chouf region
• Provision of transportation to and from the different attraction sites
• Provision of transportation from/ to Beirut: 100$/one way

Beit el Hana guesthouse

In 2008, a traditional stone house, built in 1910, was renovated into a guesthouse called “Beit el Hana”.

This guesthouse is intended solely for couples and adults with no children.

• 6 private rooms, all with private bathrooms
  • 3 rooms with 2 twin beds
  • 3 rooms with 1 double bed

Check-In/ Check-out times:

• check-in at 14:00
• check-out at noon

Directions

From Beirut, take the Saida-Damour highway, then take the Beit El Din exit, through Kfar Him. Cross Deir El Qamar, Beit El Dein, Semkanieh, Moukhtara, Boutmeh, till you see Maasser El Shouf.

Reservation

For reservations, please call: +961 5 350 451-452

Or send an email at: auberge@arcenciel.org

The restaurant

The St-Micheal restaurant serves a wide variety of traditional Lebanese dishes, with locally produced ingredients. Specially crafted wine & Arak are served, products of St Michel Winery, made from the finest selection of grapes harvested in Maasser el Chouf and the Bekaa valley. These artisanal products are aged to perfection in the village of Maasser el Chouf.