Brummana
Broummana (Arabic: برمانا) is a town in the Matn District of Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon, located approximately 17 kilometers east of Beirut at an elevation of about 800 meters above sea level.[1] Its Aramaic-derived name likely signifies "house of Rammana," alluding to an ancient deity linked to air, storms, and thunder.[2] Characterized by pine-covered hills and a temperate Mediterranean climate cooler than coastal areas, Broummana functions primarily as a summer resort destination, drawing visitors for respite from urban heat; its resident population stands at roughly 15,000 in winter but expands to around 60,000 during peak summer months.[3] The town's development accelerated after the 1860 massacres and during the Ottoman Mutasarrifate period, spurred by cultural and social influences from European missionaries including British, French, Swiss, and German entities that established educational and charitable institutions.[4] Broummana boasts a rich ecclesiastical landscape, dominated by Maronite churches such as Mar Cha’aya and Deir el Saleeb, alongside Greek Orthodox sites and a Druze tomb, underscoring its sectarian diversity within a predominantly Christian context.[5] Economically reliant on tourism, it features traditional architecture, hotels, and apartments that cater to seasonal influxes, while recent international recognition includes hosting the Sixth Mediterranean Forest Week in 2019, where the Brummana Declaration addressed regional environmental priorities.[3][6]