(Two
Notable Sites 4 km)
From
Chtaura drive two kilometers to the west (towards Beirut),
then turn left to the village of Qab Elias.
This town has a landmark medieval castle ruin and a
mysterious rock-cut altar. The
ruin of a guardian fortress, probably dating from the 12th
century or later, may have been a Druze feudal castle.
Just south of Qab Elias is a rock carving high on a
cliff. Although
it has no identifying inscriptions, it is thought to be a
monumental altar, perhaps from late Hellenistic or early Roman
times (about the first century BC).
Qab Elias is a large village with a full complement of
shops, souvenirs and handicrafts, including sheepskins.
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