Zouk Mikael - City of Lebanon

Zouk Mikael is a town in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon. The town is famous for its Ottoman era old souk, which was renovated and restored in 1995.The souk is a pedestrian market with arcades and numerous shops and sidewalk cafés.

In addition to numerous monasteries and historic churches, such as the Saint George Church, Zouk Mikael is home to an open-air, Roman-style amphitheatre, which hosts live summer concerts. In 1999, the UNESCO chose Zouk Mikael as "City of Peace."

Zouk Mikael has been twinned with Eu, France since 2003.

The importance of Zouk Mikael rose in 1305 AD, during the Mameluke and Crusader eras, as Zouk was the center of Keserwan's coastal guard against the Crusader's attacks. It was also known as one of the rebellious villages that resisted tyranny and Mameluke occupation.
When several attempts to occupy Keserwan occurred, its citizens - mostly Maronites - stood together in order to preserve their independence from the Mameluke state.

17th century: Under Al Khazen feudalism, the citizens of Zouk proved to be ardent defenders of social equality.
1831 : Zouk Mikael avoided defeat during the Lehfed revolt.
1832 : Suffering from Egyptian occupation, Zouk played a major role fighting against the Egyptian Pasha's monopoly of the silk trade.
1940 : Fear predominated during World War II. The French army's occupation of Zouk led to general discontent among the city's inhabitants. During that war, Zouk Mikael hosted families, and especially those of Polish origin, who escaped the atrocities of the war in Beirut.