The History Of Ain Trez, Lebanon In 15+ Photos

Ain Trez is a small village in the Aley district, roughly 34 kilometers from Lebanon's capital city Beirut.

With a somewhat mystic feeling in the air, Ain Trez serves as an illustration of Lebanon's modern history.

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The palace of Lebanon's 2nd president

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The residents of Ain Trez have lived there for hundreds of years. Among those residents is the prominent Es-Saad family.

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From Ain Trez, Habib Pacha Es-Saad was appointed by the French Mandate at the age of 67 as the president of Lebanon, a position he served between 1934-1936.

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The residence was built around an enormous oak tree that the Es-Saad family took care of.

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Today, the palace can be visited upon request and is sometimes used for weddings and other events.

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A legendary thousand-year-old oak tree

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The oak tree at the Es-Saad palace has been around for over a thousand years, bearing witness to Lebanon's changing history.

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"The oak tree of Ain Traz is a monument just like Heliopolis, Sidon, or Byblos. It is no mere refuge for birds but has a presence that is bound up with all us Lebanese," wrote Joseph Matar of Discover Lebanon.

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People often gather beneath the giant tree for weddings, dinners, and other events.

Ancient silk factory

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This old silk factory in Ain Trez stands today as a testament to Lebanon's sericulture.

"The most beautiful silk fabrics were the ones dyed with 'Tyrian Purple', a very famous color made by the Phoenicians and extracted from the glands of Murex Mollusks," explained photographer Tony Aoun.

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The 200-year-old Melkite Monastery

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Founded in 1811, the monastery was initially a residence of Es-Saad family which they donated to the Melkite seminary mission.

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