Shemlan is a small resort village in the Aley district of the Lebanon Mountain range. Situated only 25km Beirut, Shemlan is an attractive destination for families and traveling businessmen trying to escape the summer heat. Shemlan's climate boasts warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Spring is a favorable time in Shemlan, and across Lebanon, for its pleasant aroma of flowers and the late summer (early autumn) produces some of the sweetest figs available in the world. One of Shemlan's main attractions is the Sakhra(Cliffhouse Restaurant).

Shemlan is first mentioned in history books as early as the 12th century. More recent accounts attribute Shemlan as being part of the land belonging to the Shehab Family. In the 1800's, this land was donated to the Antonine Monks. Over the years, Shemlan's was inhabited by the Jabbour's, Hitti's, Tabib's and Farajallah's--all traditional Maronite Catholic families--many of which emigrated during the civil war.

Shemlan's strategic location overlooking Beirut International Airport and its diverse political make-up, made Shemlan a fierce battle ground during the 1950's civil war and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

In 1947, the British Government opened the Middle East Center for Arabic Studies in Shemlan. This school gained a reputation as being a "spy school" because many of its graduates worked for the C.I.A. or Britain's Foreign Ministry.

To better understand the beauty and conflict surrounding Shemlan, here are some helpful documents:

• A Village in the Mountains - Chapter 3 of Sir James Craig's book.
• The Battle of Chemlane and Einab - An account by the SSNP.

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