The Monastery of Our Lady of the Citadel (Sayyedet el Qalaa) is considered one of the most beautiful in Lebanon. Along with its church, it is built in black basalt stone, typical of the region. Today, Maronite, the monastery was built by the Jesuits in the early 20th century on an old church. This church was part of a crusader citadel dating back to the 12th century, itself built on Greco-Roman ruins.
The Feast of Our Lady of the Virgin Mary is celebrated there on September 8, leading to great festivities.
From the outside of the monastery, one can admire a beautiful panorama of Syria beyond the Nahr el Kebir River, which marks the border between the two countries. The monastery underwent major renovation work starting in 2011. Today, its premises house the Technical Institute of Our Lady of the Citadel, which trains students of all faiths from villages in the region in CAP, BP, BT, TS, and LT level diplomas in electricity, mechanics, agriculture, and education. The Institute also offers training in cooking and pastry making.
