Blaouza
Maronite village in Bsharri District, Lebanon
title: "Blaouza" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-bsharri-district", "maronite-christian-communities-in-lebanon"] description: "Maronite village in Bsharri District, Lebanon" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaouza" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Maronite village in Bsharri District, Lebanon ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Blaouza |
| native_name | بلوزا |
| native_name_lang | ara |
| settlement_type | Village |
| image_skyline | Kadisha Valley cross.jpg |
| image_caption | View from the village towards the southeast |
| pushpin_map | Lebanon |
| pushpin_map_alt | Map showing the location of Blaouza within Lebanon |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location within Lebanon |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Lebanon |
| subdivision_type1 | Governorate |
| subdivision_name1 | North Governorate |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Bsharri District |
| established_title | |
| elevation_m | 1320 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| timezone1 | EET |
| utc_offset1 | +2 |
| timezone1_DST | EEST |
| utc_offset1_DST | +3 |
| postal_code_type | Postal code |
| area_code_type | Dialing code |
| area_code | +961 |
| :: |
| name = Blaouza | native_name = بلوزا | native_name_lang = ara | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Kadisha Valley cross.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = View from the village towards the southeast | pushpin_map = Lebanon | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Map showing the location of Blaouza within Lebanon | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Lebanon | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Lebanon | subdivision_type1 = Governorate | subdivision_name1 = North Governorate | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Bsharri District | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 1320 | elevation_min_m = | elevation_max_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | timezone1 = EET | utc_offset1 = +2 | timezone1_DST = EEST | utc_offset1_DST = +3 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = | area_code_type = Dialing code | area_code = +961 | website = | footnotes =
Blaouza (), also spelt Blawza or Blouza, is a Maronite Christian village in the Bsharri District, in the North Governorate of Lebanon. The population is approximately 457 (2021), and the village lies at an altitude of 1,320 metres above sea level.
The Village and its History
Blaouza lies in the Qannoubine Valley region of the Qadisha Valley, an area settled 1,000-1,300 years ago by Maronite refugees fleeing persecution in the remote mountains of Lebanon and Syria. In their isolation, the communities of the Qadisha Valley preserved their religion, customs and language until the modern era. Unlike most Maronites in Lebanon, residents of Blaouza (and the Qadisha Valley in general) claim to be of Aramean, rather than Phoenician descent.
Most villages in the region have Aramaic names, and the name Blaouza comes from the Aramaic for "almond plains". Until the early 20th century, most villagers were Aramaic-speakers, and as a result, Blaouza natives speak Arabic with a distinct accent. This is also true of many of the Maronite villages of the region.
In 1998 it was reported that Blaouza had a population of around 200, whilst there were an estimated 10,000 people in Sydney who identified their families as coming from the village.
Demographics
In 2014 Christians made up 100% of registered voters in Blaouza. 98.80% of the voters were Maronite Catholics.
Famous residents
- Gabriel of Blaouza (born circa 1625), Maronite Patriarch 1704-1705
References
References
- [http://www.afdc.org.lb/pages-HTML/AFDC%20PROGRAMMES/centre-forest-fighting-ECLife-Project-Workshop.htm Association for Forest Development and Conservation (Lebanon)] {{webarchive. link. (January 1, 2006)
- "Localiban".
- [http://becharreregion.com/blawza.htm Blawza, Mayors' League of Becharre Region] {{webarchive. link. (October 7, 2007)
- [[Middle East International]] No 575, 22 May 1998; James Gavin p.24
- https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/الشمال/بشري/بلوزا/المذاهب/
- "Gabriel de Blawza".
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