Chtaura
Chtaura (Arabic: شتورا) is a town in Lebanon in the fertile Beqaa valley located between the Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon mountain range. It is located halfway on the Beirut - Damascus highway. It is located 44 km from Beirut.
Chtaura شتورا | |
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A Hezbollah billboard after passing Chtaura in August 2007 | |
Chtaura Location in Lebanon | |
Coordinates: 33°49′N 35°51′E | |
Country | |
Governorate | Beqaa Governorate |
District | Zahle District |
Elevation | 2,990 ft (910 m) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | +3 |
Chtaura is the valley's hub for banking, transportation, and commerce. Hotels, and restaurants are plentiful there for the traveler on the main road. From Chtaura, the traveler can depart for Zahlé, Baalbek, or Damascus.[1]
A few kilometers south from Chtaura on the main road lies the village of Tannayal (Aramaic for the Grace of God). There is located an estate, now a farm and retreat centre in Ignatian spirituality, owned by the Jesuit fathers since 1860. Exotic fowl including peacock and doves can be found there. It is a working farm and also serves as a teaching facility for the Faculty of Agriculture at Saint Joseph University located in Beirut.[2]