A pilgrimage destination
Rising on a hill to view the amazing Adonis valley
A 14 m cross on top of the mountain. This cross was erected by the “Youth Group of the Holy Cross of Jabal Moussa, at Yahchouch”, in 2000, on one of the hills overlooking their village, at an altitude of 1365 meters. Later on, a bell and a statue of the Virgin Mary were added. All the materials were carried by the young people along the paths of Jabal Moussa.
Every year, on 14th September, the people of Yahchouch celebrate there the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, which commemorates both the finding of the True Cross and its Recovery in the year 628 A.D.
Defying the mountain’s steep slope on the northern side, you finally reach the Cross-site and are rewarded by the amazing view over the Adonis Valley and the surrounding villages.
Quick overview
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Opening days
Open daily
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Opening times
From 8:00 am till 5:00 pm
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How to reach
By car/bus:
From Beirut Airport to St. George’s Monastery in Al Snawba by private transportation. The total distance is approximately 54 km. You need to hike along the Cross trail (trail 9- moderate to difficult 2.9 km) to reach the Holy Cross site - Web
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Reservation & Price
Visitors need to book the lunch and accommodation in advance
Bookings can be done over the phone or through the website
Services
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Visits
20 local guides
1 local guard
1 bakery
Najwa’s Guesthouse
Available in
English, French, Arabic
Additional Info
Jabal Moussa Biosphere reserve entrance fee:
4 USD adults over 16
2 USD children under 16
Please gear up with hiking shoes, hiking stick (optional), backpack, energy bars, 1L of water/person, sunscreen.
Make sure to inform us in advance if you have a health condition
Suggested periods
- Autumn
- Spring
Visiting Rules
Basic rules:
No hunting
No picking flowers and plants
No smoking or lighting fires
No pets