| Bteghrine | |
| Native Name: | بتغرين |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Lebanon |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Map showing the location of Bteghrine within Lebanon |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Lebanon |
| Coordinates: | 33.93°N 35.745°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  |
| Subdivision Type1: | Governorate |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mount Lebanon Governorate |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Matn District |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Mirna Michel el-Murr |
| Leader Title1: | Vice President |
| Leader Name1: | Emile Murad Saliba |
| Leader Title2: | Mayors |
| Leader Name2: | Nejm Elias Saliba Jean Jamil Saliba Jean Mansour Saliba |
| Leader Title3: | Council Members |
| Leader Name3: | Najib Harik Melhem Yazbek Saliba Feyez Najib Saliba Samuel Michael Saliba Samir Michel Saliba Najat Murr el-Murr Gabriel Elias Tabcharani Albert Elias Saliba Michel Hanna Salim Saliba Najib Michael Saliba Georges Samaha Michel Ibrahim Saliba Michel Jamil Saliba--> |
| Elevation M: | 950 |
| Elevation Min M: | 950 |
| Elevation Max M: | 1100 |
| Population Total: | 12000 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | EET |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | EEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +3 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | +961 |
| Footnotes: | Family Names
|
Bteghrine (Arabic: بتغرين, also spelled Bteghrin and Btighrin) is a municipality in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon.
The exact origin of the town name Bteghrine is unknown, but possibilities include Place of Warriors, Place of Rocks, and House of the Saddest - references to a large battle in the area around 1290 that resulted in thousands of deaths.[1] This date corresponds closely with the rise of the Mamluks, a period which saw numerous battles in the area, including a 1291 rebellion by the Shi'a against the new rulers in Keserwan, the district on the northern border of the Matn.[2]
Bteghrine is located at 33.93°N 35.745°W. It is bordered by Mount Sannine to the east, Wadi el-Jamajem to the north, Jouar to the west, and Khenchara to the south. The municipality is composed of seven neighborhoods and four outlying areas.
There are several springs used for both drinking water and agricultural purposes in Bteghrine. The four primary springs are Zaarour, Manboukh, Mir, and Sparta.
Bteghrine is situated on a rocky hillside, but supports a thriving, self-sufficient agriculture. Most of the land within the city and the surrounding hills, including the Meisree and Bsefrine districts, was fully-terraced to make it more suited for planting. The most common fruits and vegetables grown in Bteghrine are: figs, grapes, mulberry, plums, apples, peaches, persimmon, pomegranate, cherries, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, mint, wheat, and beans. Small shops in the town process much of the local produce into arak, molasses, wine, and preserves.
The Saliba Nail and Screw factory is the largest single plant in Bteghrine. Additionally, the town has a large number of small shops for blacksmithing, woodworking, car repair and bodywork, leather tailoring, and aluminum manufacturing. The city also enjoys a full set of services including three gas stations, a supermarket, dry cleaner, several specialty and general stores, a large bakery, several bookstores, several clinics, many restaurants, and one hotel. Bteghrine also hosts the central telephone station for the upper Metn region.
There is one public school in the town named Bteghrine Public School, and one private Catholic school.
The vast majority of inhabitants of Bteghrine are Christians, with roughly 80% Greek Orthodox and 20% Melkite Catholic.