The families who moved to Bhamdoun from northern villages many generations ago did so seeking employment from local Druze landowners. Over time, the hardworking Bhamdouni people purchased the land of the valley for their own, constructing the terraces and creating a formidable industry of table grape production. In the early part of the 20th century, Bhamdoun became renowned for its healthy climate, and a new rush of tourism began. High in altitude but still within reach of Beirut, summer tourists came seeking a refuge from the city's cloying humidity. Physicians recommended that their respiratory patients spend a period of recovery in Bhamdoun, which enjoys a delightfully dry climate. By the 1970s, no fewer than thirty-five hotels had sprung up to accommodate the summer guests. The very first of all hotels in the region was Hotel Belle-Vue, built by Naji Boutros' maternal grandfather. Hotel Belle-Vue stood commandingly high on the mountain with an unparalleled view of both the Mediterranean sea and the snow-capped mountains to the north. The hotel, run by his mother's family, became Naji's home as a child. When war broke out in 1975, most hotels closed their doors, including Hotel Belle-Vue. It then became the family residence, though guests who came knocking were always offered a bed for the night. In 1983, that all changed very suddenly. Bhamdoun was caught in the crossfire as the war in Lebanon found a new front in the mountains. Dozens of families fled on foot to Christian villages which did not see battle, but tragically, several hundred local people-men, women, and children-were massacred before they could make their escape. If I am to relate one tale of horror (or heroism) on this page, I need to write them all-that will be the substance of a book someday. It is perhaps enough to remember that lives were lost, families displaced, the community tragically shattered, and even the stones used to build their homes stolen away. But the material fact remains that after 20 years of mourning their substantial misfortune, the people of this village are slowly returning to rebuild and recreate the community they once took for granted. Hotel Belle-Vue no longer exists, though if you search the land you will find the outline of the building's foundations. Symbolically, this land was the first to be planted with vines in April 2000. Knowing a bit of the history of this area, you can recognize that our project--Chateau Belle-Vue--is a testimony to both the resilience of the Bhamdouni people and their unshakeable faith. Therefore, our mission is one that we take most seriously. Our success must also mean the success of the village. One cannot be separated from the other.