Civilization guide .. Mashta Helou is summery & wintry resort ...In ancient
times it was a center
for keeping silkworm seeds... As Mashta Helou is a center for both
local & Arabic tourism, Its natives seek to invest their money in the touristic
field.
Damascus
Tishreen Newspaper
Tourism
Wednesday, January 10th,2003
Dr. Afeef Bahnasy describes Mashta Helou in his encyclopedia "Syria the History
& Civilization".
He says:
Mashta Helou is a small town subordinates to Safita. The word "Mashta" attributes to the main job of the town as it was a wintry center for keeping silkworm seeds, and the word "Helou" is the surname for Helou family. It's located a shrot distance from Dawayat cavern & Alatshan spring.
Mashta Helou is located 26Km northeast of Safita, surrounded by greenwood of fruitful trees. It depends on tourism such as renting out houses and hotels. Tourism is the main financial resource for Mashta Helou's townsfolk. It has number of resorts and chalets. Tow month ago, new motel called "Montana" was opened. It contains number of rooms and suites. And what worth mentioning is that Syria's high authority itself encourages such kind of investment because of the good demand on these motels from tourists' side who come either from foreign country or from local Syrian cities such as Hama and Homs. they usually come with their family to enjoy beautiful places and nice climate in Mashta Helou.
Also we have to mention that all Masht Helou's Local inhabitants especially emigrants invest their money in tourist sector as to the flourishing of tourism in Mashta Helou.
Dawayat cavern is located /900/m to the northeast of Mashta Helou. It's called Dawayat as for the lightened holes in the cavern's ceiling. Also we can see its natural stalactites and stalagmites.
Tourist Department in Tartous performed a report about Dawayat cavern. The report says: As Dawayat is a huge cavern located in a mountainous spot and has an abundant spring, Ministry of Tourism lightened the cavern for about /500/m depth and opened the narrow passageways for the tourists to visit the cavern and enjoy its beauty. Dawayat's passageways aren't even they have heights and lowlands. Also, there are wide spaces inside cavern and the biggest one is about /3000/m2. Ministry of tourism is very interested to perform an investment study about Dawayat cavern.
The report refers to the procedures taken by the responsible authorities towards Dawayat cavern:
1- Offering a speleology about the cavern
2- Prparing an architectural and structural study about the visitors' passageway in addition to protecting mineral water from pollution.
3- Presenting the first study for the integral services outside the cavern.
4- Presenting a study to sign a contract with The General Company for Electricity and Telecommunications Syrian Establishment for Dawayat's adornment lightening. the contract will be signed in few days.
5- In its 2004 budget, Ministry of tourism adopted /750.3/ Million S.P. for Dawayat cavern. The amount went to civil works and to buying Dawayat's neighboring lands.
6- According to Ministry of Tourism's Suggestion for 2004 annual plane, the governorate has widened cavern road for about /8.5/Km.
There are numbers of archeological and tourist places in the area. For Example, Dawayat Cavern, Saida Montain, Souleiman Fortress.
It's very useful to give the visitors and tourists a glance about Souleiman fortress.
Dr. Afeef Bahnasy says in his encyclopedia:
Souleiman Fortress is located /23/Km to the northeast of Safita. It's an archeological fortress located /6/Km away from a town called /Seppe/ or / Fikhi House/. it was built by the Arwadeen or Arwad's Kingdom. It was a passage for them. Also there are evidences refer that the fortress was exited in Helnisti age and became temple for the Roman god (Zeius Bitosian).
It was built in the second and third century. The temple is surrounded with rectangular wall (L:144m, W:90m). The Fortress was built up with a huge stones (L: 8-10m, H:4m) for each one. The main entrance is located in the northern side and there is stairs connects entrance with temple. Through the stairs you can see two garrets used for idolatry and votive offerings. At the northern side of the temple there are some ruins for a monastery which was church in Bezants Age.þ
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