Kefraya – Historical Overview

Kefraya is a Lebanese village located in the Western Beqaa District of the Beqaa Governorate, on the slopes of Mount Barouk in the heart of the Beqaa Valley, at an elevation of approximately 1,100 meters above sea level. The village covers an area of about 22 km² and is situated around 65 kilometers from Beirut, 33 kilometers from Zahle, and 7 kilometers from Jib Jannin.

The name Kefraya is derived from the Arabic language, and the word "Kafr" in Lebanon is usually associated with agricultural areas or old farms. It is inhabited by a mixed community of Sunni Muslims and Western Catholic Christians, and is characterized by its moderate mountain climate and picturesque natural landscape.

• The area in which Kefraya is located is considered an important archaeological region, as flint tools dating back to prehistoric times have been found there, including heavy tools from the Qaraoun culture, which represents one of the pre-Neolithic stone industries. This indicates ancient human settlement in the region.
• Historically, the Beqaa and its surrounding plains experienced the influence of multiple civilizations such as the Phoenicians and the Romans, and many neighboring villages display remains of these ancient civilizations.

Kefraya is renowned for its vineyards and agriculture thanks to its fertile soil and suitable climate. It is also home to one of Lebanon's most prominent wine brands: Château Kefraya. The first vineyards were planted in the early 1950s, and the first wine was produced in its own winery in 1979 despite the conditions of the Lebanese Civil War.

Kefraya combines ancient agricultural heritage, archaeological significance, and modern development in wine production and eco-tourism, making it one of the Lebanese villages with a distinctive cultural and economic identity in the Beqaa Valley.