View source for Batroun

{{Short description|City in Lebanon}}
{{distinguish|Batroun District}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Batroun
| native_name        = البترون
| native_name_lang   = ar
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = Batroun port IMG 1038.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = The port at the old city of Batroun with the St. Stephens Church
| pushpin_map        = Lebanon
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Batroun within Lebanon
| pushpin_mapsize    = 280
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|15|0|N|35|39|0|E|region:LB_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagcountry|Lebanon}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Governorates of Lebanon|Governorate]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[North Governorate]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Lebanon|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Batroun District]]
| established_title  = <!-- Founded -->
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Marcelino Al Hark
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 34
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_max_m    = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 45000
| population_as_of   = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_note    = 
| timezone1          = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset1        = +2
| timezone1_DST      = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +3
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Lebanon|Dialing code]]
| area_code          = +961 (6) ''Landline''
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Patron Saint]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Saint Stephen]]<ref name="Raphaël ">{{cite book |last1=Raphaël |first1=Nada  |title=Hyphen Islam-Christianity|date=1 November 2009 |publisher=Electrochocks Editions |page=267}}</ref>
| other_name         = Botrys
}}

'''Batroun''' ({{langx|ar|ٱلْبَتْرُون}} ''{{Transliteration|ar|al-Batrūn}}'';, ancient '''Botrys''' ({{Langx|grc|Βότρυς|translit=Bótrys}}),<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Knudtzon |first=Jørgen Alexander |author-link=Jørgen Alexander Knudtzon |url=https://archive.org/details/dieelamarnatafel02knud |title=Die El-Amarna-Tafeln |publisher=<!-- not Leipzig, Hinrichs --> |year=1915 |volume=2 |location=[[Leipzig]] |pages=1165}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Hill |first=George Francis |author-link=George Francis Hill |title=Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Phoenicia |publisher=Arnaldo Forni - Editore |year=1965 |page=lix}}</ref> is a coastal city in [[North Lebanon|northern Lebanon]] and one of the [[List of oldest continuously inhabited cities|oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world]]. It is the capital city of [[Batroun District]].

== Etymology ==

''Batroun'' appears in [[Western Aramaic]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon |url=https://cal.huc.edu/ |website=cal.huc.edu}}</ref> and is attested in as ''bṯrwn'' ({{langx|ar|بثرون}}) in premodern Arabic texts, with the expected [[begadkefat|lenition of t]] for an Aramaic term.<ref name="The 'Aramaic Substrate' Hypothesis">{{cite journal |last1=Pat-El |first1=Naʾama |last2=Stokes |first2=Phillip W |title=The 'Aramaic Substrate' Hypothesis in the Levant Revisited |journal=Journal of Semitic Studies |date=24 August 2022 |volume=67 |issue=2 |page=24 |doi=10.1093/jss/fgac002}}</ref> Elie Mardini suggests the shift of the th to t in [[Aramaic]] terms in the Levant is due to the merger of certain fricatives in [[Levantine Arabic]].<ref name="The 'Aramaic Substrate' Hypothesis"/>

== History ==
Batroun is likely the "Batruna" mentioned in the [[Amarna letters]] (EA 078, EA 079, EA 081, EA 087, EA 088, EA 090, EA 093, EA 095, EA 124, EA 129), dating to the 14th century B.C.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Knudtzon |first=Jørgen Alexander |author-link=Jørgen Alexander Knudtzon |url=https://archive.org/details/dieelamarnatafel02knud |title=Die El-Amarna-Tafeln |publisher=<!-- not Leipzig, Hinrichs --> |year=1915 |volume=2 |location=[[Leipzig]] |pages=1165}}</ref> Batroun was mentioned by the ancient geographers [[Strabo]],<ref name=":1">[[Strabo]], ''[[Geographica]]'', 16.2.18 ([https://el.wikisource.org/wiki/%CE%93%CE%B5%CF%89%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AC/%CE%99%CE%A3%CE%A4 Greek source] and [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/16B*.html English translation])</ref> [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]],<ref>[[Pliny the Elder]], ''[[Naturalis Historiae]]'', 5.17 ([https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/LA:Naturalis_Historia/Liber_V#XVII Latin source] and [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D5%3Achapter%3D17 English translation])</ref> [[Ptolemy]], [[Stephanus of Byzantium]],<ref name=":0">[[Stephanus of Byzantium]], ''Cum annotationibus L. Holsteinii, A. Berkelii et Th. de Pinedo. Vol. I, cum Guilielmi Dindorfii praefatione, cui insunt lectiones libri Vratislav'', Leipzig, 1825, [[iarchive:stephanusbyzant00holsgoog/page/117|p. 117]]</ref> and [[Hierocles (author of Synecdemus)|Hierocles]]. [[Theophanes the Confessor]] called the city "Bostrys."<ref>Malalas, Chronogr., XVIII, in P.G., XCVII, 543, cited in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02708a.htm Bothrys] - [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] article</ref>

The [[Phoenicia]]ns founded Batroun on the southern side of the promontory called in [[classical antiquity]] [[Theoprosopon]] and during the [[Byzantine Empire]], Cape Lithoprosopon. Batroun is said to have been founded by [[Ithobaal I]] (Ethbaal), king of [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]] (whose daughter [[Jezabel]] married [[Ahab]]).<ref>([[Menander of Ephesus|Menander]], in [[Josephus]], ''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'', VIII, xiii, 2), cited in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02708a.htm Bothrys] - [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] article</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Hill |first=George Francis |author-link=George Francis Hill |title=Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Phoenicia |publisher=Arnaldo Forni - Editore |year=1965 |page=lix}}</ref>
[[File:Monnaie - Bronze, Botrys, Phénicie - btv1b85359743 (2 of 2).jpg|thumb|An autonomous coin of Botrys, [[2 BC]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hill |first=George Francis |author-link=George Francis Hill |title=Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Phoenicia |publisher=Arnaldo Forni - Editore |year=1965 |page=lx}}</ref>|left]]
The city was under Roman rule to [[Phoenice (Roman province)|Phoenice Province]], and later after the region was Christianized became a [[suffragan]] of the [[Patriarch of Antioch]].

In 551, Batroun was destroyed by [[551 Beirut earthquake|an earthquake]],  which also caused mudslides and made the Cape [[Lithoprosopon]]  crack.<ref>Malalas, Chronogr., XVIII, in P.G., XCVII, 704, cited in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02708a.htm Bothrys] - [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] article</ref>  Historians believe that Batroun's large [[natural harbor]] was formed during the earthquake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earth-prints.org/bitstream/2122/908/1/01Sbeinati.pdf |title=The historical earthquakes of Syria: an analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D. |publisher=Earth-prints.org |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>

Three [[Greek Orthodox]] bishops are known to have come from Batroun: Porphyrius in 451, [[Elias I of Jerusalem|Elias]] about 512 and Stephen in 553 ([[Lequien]], II, 827). According to a Greek ''[[Notitia episcopatuum]]'', the [[Greek Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon|Greek Orthodox]] See has existed in Batroun since the tenth century when the city was then called ''Petrounion''. After the Muslim conquests of the region, the name was Arabicized to Batroun.

Batroun was controlled by the [[Crusades|Crusaders]] in 1104,{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=98}} to be known as the [[Lordship of Botrun]] as part of the [[County of Tripoli]], until it was conquered by the [[Mamluk Sultanate]] in 1289.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=407}} One of Batroun's archaeological sites is [[Mseilha Fort]], which is constructed on an isolated massive rock with steep sides protruding in the middle of a plain surrounded by mountains.<ref>[http://www.batroun.com/ Batroun.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416203743/http://www.batroun.com/ |date=2010-04-16 }} - Batroun Official Website</ref>

Under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule, Batroun was the centre of a [[kaza]] in the [[mutessariflik]] of Lebanon and the seat of a Maronite diocese, suffragan to the [[Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch]]. Since 1999, it has been the seat of the [[Lebanese Maronite Christians|Maronite]] [[eparchy]].<ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|diocese|dbatr|Eparchy of Batrun (Maronite)|23 January 2015}}</ref>

== Economy and urban development ==
Historically, the city of Batroun was settled at the interface between the sea and the national road that connected [[Beirut]] to [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]].

Lately, the radical shift of the historical functions of the local economic tissue into a leisure service-based economy (nightclubs, bars, restaurants, stores, etc.) has become the unique and only lever of the development of the city.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sfeir|first=Nagi|date=August 2018|title=Local economic development via urbanism lever: the case of Lebanon|url=http://www.sauesjournal.net/article_32632_34584b1ed45ef32ab385d6dea9d40211.pdf|journal=SAUES Journal|volume=1|issue=2|pages=62–78|doi=10.22034/saues.2018.02.01|access-date=2019-05-02|archive-date=2019-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502154458/http://www.sauesjournal.net/article_32632_34584b1ed45ef32ab385d6dea9d40211.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The economic metamorphosis has resulted in the resettlement of housing towards emerging city suburbs (nearby hills: New Batroun, Batroun Hills, Basbina, etc.) consequently to the overvaluation of the real estate market in the city centre. It clearly reveals here the constitution of a business city-centre (dedicated to leisure and business) balanced by the constitution of residential suburbs, where accelerated [[urban sprawl]] has led to the destruction of natural lands (pinewood and orange groves) and to the fatal rise in land prices.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sfeir|first=Nagi|title=Realurbanism: or the Urban Realpolitik. Towards a " Spatialisation " of the Realist Paradigm from International Relations Theories »|url=http://geografie.ubbcluj.ro/ccau/jssp/arhiva_1_2013/01JSSP012013.pdf|journal=Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning |year=2013 |issue=1 |volume=4|pages=1–10}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
[[Image:Batroun Makaad El Mir.jpg|thumb|left|"Makaad El Mir" ruins by the rocky beach in Batroun, Lebanon]]
[[Image:Batroun.jpg|thumb|right|St. Stephen's Church]]
[[Image:OurLadyoftheSeasBatroun.jpg|thumb|right|Our Lady of the Seas]]Batroun is a major tourist destination in [[North Governorate|North Lebanon]]. The town boasts historic [[Maronite Church|Maronite]] and [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch|Greek Orthodox]] churches. The town is also a major beach resort with a vibrant nightlife that includes pubs and nightclubs. [[Citrus]] groves surround Batroun, and the town has been famous (from the early 20th century) for its fresh lemonade sold at the cafés and restaurants on its main street. Biking along the Batroun coastline is also a major activity mainly in late summer days.
In 2009, the Batroun International Festival was born. It began hosting leading local and international artists. The festival takes place usually in July and/or August of each year in the old harbor area.

==Demographics==
In 2014, [[Christianity in Lebanon|Christians]] made up 89.69% and [[Islam in Lebanon|Muslims]] made up 9.80% of registered voters in Batroun. 64.16% of the voters were [[Lebanese Maronite Christians|Maronite Catholics]], 16.44% were [[Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christians|Greek Orthodox]] and 7.97% were [[Lebanese Sunni Muslims|Sunni Muslims]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في بلدة البترون، قضاء البترون محافظة الشمال في لبنان |url= https://lub-anan.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8/|access-date=2024-11-04 |website=إعْرَفْ لبنان |language=en}}</ref>

The people of Batroun are mainly [[Lebanese Maronite Christians|Maronite]], [[Melkite Christianity in Lebanon|Melkite]], and [[Greek Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon|Greek Orthodox]] Christians. Batroun is a [[titular see]] in the [[Latin Church]] of the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02708a.htm |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Bothrys |publisher=Newadvent.org |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|diocese|d2b85|Botrys|23 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=David M. Cheney |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/ |title=Its Bishops and Dioceses, Current and Past |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy |date=2012-10-24 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>

== Politics ==
Recent years have seen municipal and parliamentary elections become a growing factor and interest in Batroun. This is mainly in the context of local and national struggle for power. The current serving Mayor of Batroun is Marcelino El Harek.

== Landmarks ==
[[Image:Batroun Phoenician Wall.jpg|thumb|left|Ancient Phoenician wall{{dubious|Looks like a channel cut into the bedrock, not a build wall. Pls explain.|date=September 2020}} built for protection from tidal waves]]
* Phoenician Sea Wall
* El-Bahsa beach
* Makaad El Mir
* [[Mseilha Fort]] 
* St. Stephan's Cathedral, built in 1896<ref name="Raphaël "/>
* Historic Souk
* Notre Dame de la Mer

== See also ==

* [[List of Crusader castles]]

*[[List of Lebanese monuments]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

;Citations
* {{cite book |last=Barber |first=Malcolm |year=2012 |title=The Crusader States |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-11312-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Runciman |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Runciman |year=1989 |title=A History of the Crusades, Volume III: The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-06163-6 }}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=North Lebanon|Batroun}}
* [http://www.ortmtlb.org.lb/ Ortmtlb.org.lb]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100416203743/http://www.batroun.com/ Batroun.com]

{{Archaeological sites in Lebanon}}
{{Batroun District}}
{{Crusader sites}}
{{Phoenician cities and colonies navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Coloniae (Roman)]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Populated places in Batroun District]]
[[Category:Phoenician cities]]
[[Category:Phoenician sites in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Hellenistic colonies]]
[[Category:Crusader churches]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Tourism in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Christian cities in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Maronite Christian communities in Lebanon]]