Arz, Mountain municipality in Bsharri District, Lebanon

Arz is a mountain settlement in Bsharri District situated at roughly 1900 meters elevation in North Lebanon. The village sits near the ancient Cedars of God forest and functions as a gateway to that woodland area.

Arz lies within the Bcharré municipality in North Lebanon, at about 1,900 m in the Qadisha valley, and holds the remains of the cedar forest of the Cedars of God, now a forest reserve. The village is a passage toward the Bekaa via the Ainata pass, 10 km away at 2,590 m and closed in winter.

The region maintains strong ties to Maronite Catholic traditions that shape everyday life in the settlement. Religious celebrations and customs are woven into the rhythm of the community and visible throughout the year.

The village is reachable via mountain roads from Bsharri, with road conditions varying depending on the season. Winter months bring snow that may affect access, so visitors should be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Arz holds Lebanon's record low temperature, -22.7 °C, and in a severe winter snow can pile up more than 9.5 m deep. Its heat record is only 32 °C, set on 18 July 2003. The Ainata pass, 10 km from the village at 2,590 m, links the Qadisha valley to the Bekaa but is closed in winter.