Shaqra, Lebanon
Chaqra, also spelled Shaqra, Chakra, or Chacra, is a municipality in southern Lebanon. It sits about 116 km from Beirut in the Nabatieh Governorate, Bint Jbeil District. The area includes two parts: the village of Chaqra and the nearby Doubay castle (Qal'at ad-Dubba), which lies about 4 km to the west. The people are called Shaqrawis.
The town is on a plateau surrounded by olive groves and fields. It relies on farming, small trade, and a strong poultry economy. It is reached via the Beirut–Tyre highway (the national road 3) and local roads to Bint Jbeil. Chaqra is about 6.8 km from the Golan Heights and the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Population and culture: in 2014, virtually all registered voters were Muslims, with the vast majority being Shiite. The town has about 7,000 residents in winter and around 12,000 in the summer.
History and landmarks: Chaqra appears in Ottoman records as Saqra in 1596. By the 19th century, it was a Muslim village of Metawileh (Shia) inhabitants, with a mosque, cisterns, and ruined remains. Early travelers noted the village’s plateau setting and potential older church ruins.
The nearby Doubay castle (Kulat ed Dubbeh) sits in a valley about 4 km east of Chaqra. It has Crusader origins but was rebuilt by later Muslim rulers, becoming a fortified complex with a moat and several towers. The site includes rock-cut water cisterns and sarcophagi and lies along the northern road linking Hunin and Tibnin.
Economy and administration: the village continues to farm and trade and is known for poultry. Chaqra is governed by a mayor and municipal council. The area is traditionally divided into two parts: the village of Chaqra and the nearby castle area of Doubay.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:56 (CET).