Baasir, in the Chouf

Baasir is a town in the Chouf area, Mount Lebanon. Chouf App is a utility app for Chouf-area residents — it connects Baasir with Chouf-based stores for shopping and with a directory of trusted local trades.

elevation ~357 m

About Baasir

Baasir is a town in Iqlim el-Kharroub in the Chouf district of Mount Lebanon, administratively paired with neighbouring Haret Baasir. Its Syriac-rooted name means 'the place of the press' — the town anciently held many olive-oil and carob-molasses presses.

Name & origin

Fariha, Hbeika and Armala traced the name Baasir to a compound of two Syriac elements meaning 'the place of the press' (a press / oil-mill). The town anciently had many presses for olive oil and carob molasses.

In figures

area ~550 ha · ~48 km from Beirut

Families

إبراهيم، أبو حاقة، أبو صالح، جريس، حاج، حمزة، القعقور، المهدي، نصر الدين

Notable people

Dr. Ahmad Abu Haqa — Doctorate in Arabic language and literature; dean by deputation of the faculty of education and director of the faculty of arts and humanities at the Lebanese University, which named him 'above the summit' in higher education; many publications.
Ahmad al-Haj — Retired major general who held many administrative and military responsibilities; ambassador.
Mustafa Mahmoud al-Qaaqour — Lyric poet and artist; supervisor of sung poetry at Radio Lebanon; member of poets' and composers' associations; his verses were sung by performers.
Said al-Qaaqour — Retired brigadier general who held senior posts.

Common questions

Where is Baasir located?

The town of Baasir is in the Chouf district of Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, about 48 km from Beirut, at around 357 m elevation.

How far is Baasir from Beirut?

Baasir is about 48 km from Beirut.

What does the name Baasir mean?

Which families are from Baasir?

Families associated with Baasir include: إبراهيم, أبو حاقة, أبو صالح, جريس, حاج, حمزة, القعقور, المهدي, نصر الدين.

Who are some notable people from Baasir?

Notable people connected to Baasir include Dr. Ahmad Abu Haqa, Ahmad al-Haj, Mustafa Mahmoud al-Qaaqour, Said al-Qaaqour.

In the Iqlim El-Kharroub area

Baasir is one of the seventeen municipalities that form the Union of Municipalities of Iqlim El-Kharroub El-Chamali — the northern half of the Iqlim El-Kharroub belt of Chouf District; within the union it is administratively paired with neighbouring Haret Baasir. The union takes Mazboud as its seat and runs from Jiyeh and Rmaileh on the Mediterranean up to roughly 795 metres at Daraya and Aanout on its eastern, mountainous edge. Within the union, Baasir is one of the towns hosting industrial facilities.

Source: UN-Habitat Lebanon (2023), A Road Map Towards a Socioeconomic Development Plan for the Union of Municipalities of Iqlim El-Kharroub El-Chamali, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.