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(20 km from Beirut)
Until
the early 1960s 'Zouk Mikhael' was a small, sleepy Lebanese Village, perched
on a slope at 275m above sea level, overlooking the bay of Jounieh.
Situated a convenient 14km from Beirut, it is now a prosperous community of
about 40.000. It is the birthplace of the poet 'Elias Abou Chabkeh', whose
statue has been unveiled in the center of town. Its souk was famous for
jewellery, arak, marzipan sweets, and weaving pictures in silk.
In 1995 the old souk was restored. This consists of a long cobbled
pedestrian street entered through arches at either end, which is lined with
artisans' workshops and boutiques. A museum and cultural center dedicated to
Zouk's son Elias Abou Chabke has been opened.
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