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Entrance
to the chapel is through an arched
doorway. A modern altar with a niche
has been installed against the north
wall, while niches for sarcophagi are
cut into the other walls. The uneven
rocky floor is evidently part of the
original cave. In the center is a
rough stone pillar.
The Chapel of St. Simon (in the
distance to the right of the cave) can
be reached by going south around the
great cliff of the cave chapel and
following a trail leading from the
village outskirts. This small church
has been restored in modern times, but
the foundations are still of the
Crusader era. The key is kept in the
door.
Above the cave in the forest
overlooking the village are six Roman
Forestry Inscriptions dating from the
time of Hadrian (117-138 AD). While
the modernized chapel of St. Simon is
somewhat disappointing, the location
is superb, with magnificent craggy
landscapes and sweeping valleys below.
Continuing around the church you find
a great gorge where a river rushes in spring. This
roadway goes on to join the Roman Road
at a place called Draj Mar Sem'an
leading over the mountains to the town
of Yamouneh in the Beqaa valley.
Stone-cut steps signal that you have
found the place. Beside the steps a
worn inscription in the limestone
proclaims the road open by order of
the Emperor Domitian in the first
century AD. Sadly, further exploration
here is not recommended due to the
possibility of land mines.
Two km south of Aqoura on the east
side of the road there is a natural
bridge across the two entrances to the
Roueiss cave, a favourite with
speleologists. Below the cave you'll
find a pleasant restaurant with fresh
trout on offer.
High on the cliff above Roueiss is the
Chapel of Mar Youhanna (Saint John),
which requires a stiff climb to reach.
The cave goes back for 500 meters and
has a small spring. Domestic remains
left by cave dwellers from the Bronze
Age to the Medieval period have been
found here.
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Major
Cities - Aqoura
