Brih, in the Chouf

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

elevation ~816 m · area ~8 km²

About Brih

Brih — together with Al-Bsail and Al-Mteileh — is part of the upper Arqoub villages in the Chouf District, at about 800 m elevation and roughly 58 km from Beirut via Damour–Deir el-Qamar–Maaser Beit Eddine, or via Mdairej–Nabeh es-Safa. Its land spans about 8 km², planted with apples, peaches, pears, olives, grapevines, figs and seasonal vegetables, watered by Nabeh es-Safa via the Beit Eddine network and several local springs. About 4,000 residents are registered, of whom roughly 1,500 are voters, with significant demographic shifts following the displacement of Christian residents in the late 20th century.

Name & origin

The ancients traced Brih to Aramaic-Syriac, reading it as 'the wind' meaning 'place of winds and storms', or 'Bayt al-Riha' meaning 'a fragrant place'. Freiha did not rule these out and added the possibility of the root 'baraha' (to flee/take refuge), making it 'the fugitive'. The author favors 'place of winds and storms'.

History

Earlier scholars derived the name Brih from Aramaic-Syriac roots variously meaning "place of winds and storms," "fragrant place" (Beit er-Reha), or — per Freiha — possibly from the Aramaic root b-r-ḥ ("to flee, to take refuge"), giving "the fugitive." Freiha also raised a fourth reading, beth raḥib, "the spacious house." The sub-village Al-Mteileh appears to derive from a Syriac root for "shaded / sheltered place" (the side sheltered from wind and sun), which by contrast tilts the reading of Brih itself back towards "place of winds." Al-Bsail is most plausibly from a Syriac root for "the onion-growing place."

In figures

area ~100 ha · ~58 km from Beirut

Families

أبو عز الدين، أبو حلبي، أبو فخر، جاسر، سري الدين، السعدي، صغبيني، عبد السلام، علامة، العلي، عماد، محاسن، يحيى، جوهر، حبيب، حسون، خليل، الخوري، شلهوب، صعب، صوايا، صوما، فارس، كامل، كوكباني، لحود

Notable people

Notable landmarks

Common questions

Where is Brih located?

The town of Brih is in the Chouf district of Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, about 58 km from Beirut, at around 816 m elevation.

How far is Brih from Beirut?

Brih is about 58 km from Beirut.

What does the name Brih mean?

The ancients traced Brih to Aramaic-Syriac, reading it as 'the wind' meaning 'place of winds and storms', or 'Bayt al-Riha' meaning 'a fragrant place'. Freiha did not rule these out and added the possibility of the root 'baraha' (to flee/take refuge), making it 'the fugitive'. The author favors 'place of winds and storms'.

Which families are from Brih?

Families associated with Brih include: أبو عز الدين, أبو حلبي, أبو فخر, جاسر, سري الدين, السعدي, صغبيني, عبد السلام, علامة, العلي, عماد, محاسن, يحيى, جوهر, حبيب, حسون, خليل, الخوري, شلهوب, صعب, صوايا, صوما, فارس, كامل, كوكباني, لحود.

Who are some notable people from Brih?

Notable people connected to Brih include Aida Halim Sari al-Din.

What are the main landmarks in Brih?

Landmarks in Brih include Nabeh es-Safa (irrigation via Beit Eddine network), Al-Ain spring, Ain Mahla spring, Ain el-Qais spring, Ain el-Habbeh spring, Ain el-Faira spring, Ain es-Safsafa spring, Ain el-Matalleh spring.

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Local services & shops in Brih

No providers are listed against Brih specifically yet. Browse the Chouf directory to reach providers serving the Chouf area.

Other Chouf towns