A VISIONARY COMMUNITY PROJECT

“Al Fundok” kept the mission of a community project run by a non-profit foundation. A Place with a big soul. Its main vision is to encourage the rural tourism and create a sustainable income for the community.

We invested heavily in people of the local area, training them to acquire professional skills in hospitality. More than 40 families benefit from the hotel.

“Al Fundok” is not only a hospitality project. During your stay you will experience the real lifestyle of the local culture. Being partner with the Shouf Cedar Biosphere, “Al Fundok” is promoting the preservation of the environmental, cultural and culinary estate.

About the Foundation

The « Al Fundok » project has a long history and finds its roots back in the 50’s. Back then, Judge Boutros Noujaim, president of the supreme court of cassation, and originally from Maasser el Chouf, had a vision of building a school to create a community center in the village near the church. He started asking for help from the villagers at first, and you can find all the village donations from Druze and Christians alike, still perfectly recorded in beautiful books.

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Of course all these donations would not have been enough for this ambitious project so the judge also solicited all his friends across Lebanon. They, all, responded to his call won by his determination, his honesty and his vision. And so, in the year 1963 at the time of the presidency of General Chehab, the school of Salvadoran Sisters opens its doors in Maasser el Chouf. It will welcome more than 700 students a year, and also had a workshop dedicated to promoting crafts. At the time, it was one of the very few educational institutions in the region.

Each classroom was dedicated to one generous donor among which we could find (to only name a few: Salle Laura Emile Boustany, Salle May Moussa, Salle Najib Salha, Salle Honein Al Sehnaoui Salle Aajjaj Choueiry, Salle Youssef Mansour el Haddad

After the “Reconciliation of the mountain” in 1995 and the return of the Christians, Bishop Koueiter made the decision to convert the school to a “Bed and Breakfast”, as the nuns were not present anymore after the war. The renovation was the responsibility of the Boutros Noujaim Foundation, represented by Mr. Charles Noujaim. The stewardship of the St Michael Auberge was entrusted to the Arc-en-Ciel Association and thus opened the first “Maison d’hôte” in the Chouf.

In 2019, Yola and Charles Noujaim decided to undertake a complete renovation to install a new life in the hotel, so “Al Fundok” opened its doors.

In the continuation of the spirit of the judge’s vision, all the profits will fund Boutros Noujaim Foundation and continue the initial mission of the founder; education.

WHERE AGRICULTURE & TOURISM INTERSECT

AGRO TOURISM ACTIVITIES

FOARAGING SEASON

From March to May, Guests can go foraging in the mountains to pick up edible plants. During the cooking classes, Chef Lena will teach them how to prepare them.

AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP

From March till October, Guests can visit local farms to learn more about agriculture, from planting to fruit picking.

ARTISAN DISTILLATION

In the “Em Boutros” workshop, Guests can learn about traditional distillation, starting with the Rosa Damascena in May, followed by thyme, rosemary, sage,…. and ending with the ARAK distillation in Autumn .

ARTISAN FOOD PRODUCTION - MOUNEH

Al Fundok has his own artisan food production, made with creativity, passion and traditional methods using our own grown ingredients. Guests can share with our local team this unique experience.