About Darbechtar

 Welcome to Darbechtar, a village of heritage, heart, and harmony.

Darbechtar (Arabic: دار بعشتار), also known as Darb Ishtar, is a village located on the South-Eastern periphery of the Koura District in the North Governorate of the Republic of Lebanon. Darbechtar borders the villages of Amioun, Bziza, Mijdel, Kaftoun, and Darchmezzine. The Lebanese hailing from Darbechtar number 10,000 worldwide. 85% of them live outside Lebanon, mainly in France, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Canada, the United States. The population of Darbechtar is Maronite Christian. The village’s name is derived from the Aramaic words “Dar” and “Ishtar,” which translate to “House of Astarte.” The village is thought to have been the location of an old Phoenician fertility shrine.

A Village of Nature and Simplicity

Darbechtar is surrounded by nature — from its rolling olive orchards to its clean mountain air and beautiful views. The village is the home of olive oil production. Therefore, most of the village is planted with the ever green olive Trees along with Grapes, Figs, variety of bushes, plants, and flowers.

Culture and Faith

At the heart of Darbechtar are its churches, religious traditions, and seasonal celebrations. These events bring families and neighbors together in a shared spirit of faith, music, and food — especially during christmas, Saint celebrations, and the annual olive harvest.

There are 4 mainly Churches in Darbechtar: Church of Saint Gerges, Church of Saint Elias, Church of Saint Chalita, Church of our Lady of Saydeh and several private churches owned by citizens.

The Olive Tree Legacy

For generations, Darbechtar has been known for its high-quality olive oil, produced using traditional methods. The olive harvest season is one of the village’s proudest moments, where families gather to pick and press olives — a true symbol of unity and heritage.

Traditionally, olive oil was produced by crushing olives in stone or wooden mortars or beam presses. Nowadays, olives are ground to tiny bits, obtaining a paste that is mixed with water and processed by a centrifuge, which extracts the oil from the paste, leaving behind pomace. Olive Oil is used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps, and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps. Olive oil is a healthful oil because of its high content of monounsaturated fat (mainly oleic acid) and polyphenols.

A Community That Cares

Darbechtar may be small in size, but it is rich in love and connection. Families have lived here for decades, and many young people return often — drawn back by the village’s timeless charm.

Location

Darbechtar is located approximately 10 minutes from Amioun and about 30 minutes from Tripoli, making it both accessible and comfortably distant from urban noise.
(You can check our location map on the homepage)

Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°16′06″N 35°47′37″E
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	North Governorate
District	Koura District
Elevation	350 m (1,148 ft)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)