Bkassine, Lebanon – JULY 2014: In the framework of the “Live Love Lebanon” initiative, “La Maison de La Fôret” – an ecotourism and hospitality venue opened in 2012 in Bkassine, Jezzine –was officially reopenedon the 22nd of June 2014.
Originally, “La Maison de La Fôret” was createdby the Union of Jezzine Municipalities (UJM), on a land offered by the Municipality of Bkassine with funding from the European Union managed by OMSAR. Nestled in a beautiful pine forest, the venue was meant to be a regionalecotourism hub comprising hiking trails, mountain biking trails and a rustic hospitality venue while providing sales channels for locally-made products to highlight Bkassine’s F&B specialties.
In 2013, the UJM decided to further develop the scope of the project and created for this purpose an investment company called“Knee Roots” to expand the existing facilities and operate them for long-term sustainability. In April 2014, “Knee Roots”became a Lebanese SAL, governed by a Board of Directors, under chairmanship of Mr. Joseph Aoun, a leading businessman from the region. The new shareholders decided to invest in boosting the capacity, upgrading the services and professionalizing the management of “La Maison de La Fôret”, leading to the reopening of the revamped premises in the summer of 2014.
Knee Roots’ official spokesperson and General Manager Mr. Elie Louca, commented the reopening of “La Maison de La Fôret”: “It was the Board’s decision to fully transform the venue to fit world-class quality parameters in the ecotourism business. By July 2014, “La Maison de La Fôret” will offer a rustic hostel venue with a sleeping capacity of 15 bungalows and tents counting around 100 beds; a new “Tawlet” F&B concept branded “TawletBkassine”,created and operated by the famous “Tawlet Souk el Tayeb”; in addition to a variety of high-intensity sporting activities such as wall-climbing, accro-branche, trail-biking, and canoeing, and low-intensity activities like hiking, riding and local tours in the Jezzine Area”.
Highlighting the economic importance of the project, Louca added: “Knee Roots was established with the broader perspective of developing and operating additional eco-friendly tourism facilities and activities in the JezzineCaza. Our main purpose is to develop and operate eco-friendly tourism facilities that could create work and economic opportunities for the local population, while preserving the natural beauty of the venues we invest in”.
The new “La Maison de La Fôret” is expected to receive excellent reviews and attract both Lebanese and tourists looking for the perfect mountain hideaway where comfort, fun and relaxation are secured.
The venue’slatest “TawletBkassine” additionwill certainly be a great boost for the location, with its private functions’ options, cooking classes, wine tasting, “DekenetBkassine” shop selling a selection of regional mouneh, handcrafts and environmental publications, and its festive weekend buffet offering home-cooked dishes prepared by local cooks just the way grandma makes them.
Another great booster for the venue will undoubtedly be the unique 20-km mountain biking trailinaugurated by “Bike Generation” – the reference in cycling equipment, professional maintenance service and memorable rides – in the Jezzine area and in partnership with “La Maison de La Fôret”.“Bike Generation” and sister company “Outdoor Generation” will also be organizing several bike tours on paved roads in the Jezzine district with a pleasant bed-and-breakfast stop at “La Maison de La Fôret”.
So if you’re looking for that perfect haven where youcan enjoyfun outdoor activities, delicious meals and an unforgettable stay, “La Maison de La Fôret”Bkassine is your ultimate destination this summer!