Dar Baachtar, that ancient town in the North of Lebanon, could be an awing surprise for us locals who live in the coastal cities.
Lebanon might be small in size, and we might be natives of this land, but there is so much we don’t know about the wonders scattered across our country. And that is what we came to realize that day on that trip through the charming villages of the Koura Casa.
We kept on cruising and driving around without any particular destination in mind until we saw Dar Baachtar sign. The name itself was an intriguing trigger for us to go discover this place together. We followed the signs and let the directions lead our way.
We reached Dar Baachtar after approximately a 10-minute drive from the main Amioun highway. The astonishing sceneries we saw there made us feel guilty for not driving much and enough to reach that pleasant and stumble-upon destination.
The quiet, peace, and silence there were both mesmerizing but also questionable until we knew from the elderly in the village that 85% of the original Dar Baachtar habitants live outside Lebanon and scattered across Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Australia, the US, and Uruguay.
Dar Baachtar, also known as Darb Achtar (The House of Astarte or Ishtar), that village located on the South-Eastern periphery of the Koura district in North Lebanon has been left by the majority of its original residents in search for better living conditions and opportunities.
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Nevertheless, this enchanting piece of nature is still wearing its ever-green dress in the wait of its sons and daughters. It will, further to that, remain the site of an ancient Phoenician shrine for Ishtar, the Goddess of Fertility and Love.
Dar Baachtar, that ancient Lebanese village that is 400 meters above sea level, does cover around 6000 square meters of Koura Casa. It is known for being one of those ancient and sacred villages with carved rocks and antiquity pots buried in the soil.
Another feature that distinguishes Dar Baachtar is its houses made of stone and wood with arches and pillars inside, making the residents’ homes steadfast and endurant.
The town today is being visited by a lot of people as it still retains and preserves its beautiful orchards, gardens, and houses.
Worthy to mention that Dar Baachtar is distinguished by its production of organic wine from the grapes of the village, as well as olive oil extraction and production, hence the olive trees all over the village among grapes, figs, and other kinds of flowers and plants.
That heavenly place on earth bordering the towns of Amioun, Bziza, Majdel, Kaftoun, and Dar Chmezzine is not to be missed, whether you are a tourist or a local.
And if you are particularly looking for a spiritual expedition, this village will certainly feed and fulfill your psychic, given the wonder-cave and the various archeological churches there: Church of Saint George, Church of Saint Elias, Church of Saint Chalita, and Church of our Lady.
To sum up, if you decided to pay that incredible beauty a visit, it’s guaranteed that the enchanting welcoming of Dar Baachtar’s generous people will make you come to that town every now and then!