Achkout  is located in Kaza of Kesrouan in the governorate of Mount Lebanon, at an altitude that varies between 900 and 1400 meters above sea level. It is 30 kilometers far from Beirut through Zouk Mosbeh – Jeita – Rayfoun or Jounieh – Ghosta – Bzoumar . It is surrounded by several villages among them: Rayfoun – Faytroun – Bekaata Achkout – Raashine – Bzoumar – Ghosta – Dlebta – Merab – Ajaltoun – Kleiat

The town of Achkout  is an ancient village of great antiquity. It is known in history for its group of clergymen and great people. It is based on seven small hills which many had migrated from northern Lebanon for about five hundred years in order to preserve their existence.

Achkout  is a Syriac Arameic word for the stronghold or hard to reach, because of its shape, and its location at the heart of Keserwan.

Rocky mountains surround the village from three sides   : from the north, the mountain “Kerset El Motran” lies on an altitude of 300m  from the east  Al Hosen Feytroun  where the width of the mountain shrinks and narrows to reach the village Bekaata Achkout (Sahl Kanaan), from the south  another mountain called “Kerset El Abrashiye” surrounds it  and finally from the west  a path to the capital  going through  a deep valley called “Wadi El Msaylekh ”.

Monuments:

“Al Keshk Castle”: is a beautiful natural rock that includes pathways and an inner space. It is one of the unique natural monuments. The municipal claimed it with its surrounded lands to create a public garden.

“Kersey Al Katin”: is a special rock summit at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level that allows the view of Cyprus through its telescope on a clear day.

“The Phoenician Achkout structure”: that was turned into Mar Sarkis and Bakhous monument church. It is around 850 hectares and is characterized by its black volcanic dirt nature that is rich with rocks and caves. It enjoys an agriculture side as well, more specifically vines and fruitful trees.

Achkout’s population is around 6000 people, having 2500 qualified as voters.

Its families:

Maronite (the most important): Abi Risk, Abi Nakhoul, Estephan , Tabet, Jadaoun,  Hajj, Khazen, Khoury, Derian, Daghfal, Rizk,  Rezzi, Seif,  Chidiac,  Chemaly , Daou, Trad, Eid, Fahed, Farah, Kreidy, Massaad, Moussa, Nebhan, Nakhoul, Weheibe and  Weheibe  Al Khazen.

The most important spiritual, educational and administrative institutions:

Mar Sarkis and Bakhous Convent and Church of the Maronite order – Mar Sarkis and Bakhous Monuments – Mar Sarkis and Boulos Convent and Church where the tomb of the Patriarch Boulos Massaad exists (and the family of Massaad) – Kerset El Abrashiye of Maronite Sarba Church – Mar Youhanna El Maamadan Church (St. John The Baptist Church) – Our Lady of Salvation Church (Beit Eid) – Our Lady of Salvation Church (Al Karkouf) aged more than 150 years – Church of St Gregory  (Jwar Bweshek), Mar Youssef Church (Saint Joseph Church) property of Youssef Jeryes Chidiac – Mar Youssef Church (Saint Joseph Church) property of the Moussa Family – Saint Rita Church – Mar Youhanna school and College des Soeurs Antonines Orphanage and Convent – Al Fransiscan Sisters Convent (Mary’s transmitters) – Iskandar Rizk public school – gendarmerie station – clinic – Al Hajj Hospital – Ministry of Affairs Center (Jwar Bweshek) – Malakout el Cheer , AFEL organization – Om Al Nour Center for Rehabilitation – Lebanese Child House.

Successive Municipal Council:

• The first mayor of Achkout was the late Naja Massaad Massaad, appointed from 1925 to 1928.
• The first elected municipal council in Achkout was from 15/4/1928 until 9/6/1934. It was composed by Iskandar Rizk as chairman and the members:
• • AbedAllah Abbas El Chidiac
  • Daoud Assad Al Hajj
  • Mansour Moussa Seif
  • Miled el Rezzi
  • Zakarya Moussa Weheibe
  • Fayez El Chidiac was elected for the position of chairman for Achkout Municipal council from 9/6/1934 to 5/9/1937 and was assisted by the following members:
    • Iskandar Rizk
    • Miled el Rezzi
    • Daoud Fahed
    • AbedAllah Daoud Massaad
  • From 5/9/1937 to 2/1/1938, a period of transition taken over by the District Court
  • After that, an election was held, Mr. Abdallah Daoud Massaad at the head of the municipal council from 2/1/1938 until 16/7/1944. The members were:
    • Daoud Fahed
    • Youssef Naoum El Chemaly
    • Iskandar Rizk
    • Miled El Rezzi
  • In the first year of independence and during the period from 16/7/1944 to 19/10/1947, Mr. Fouad Jamil Al Hajj headed the municipality of Achkout and the members were:
    • Abdallah Massaad
    • Zakariya Weheibe
    • Daoud Fahed
    • Youssef El Chemaly
    • And in the next election President Abedallah Massaad took his place until 16/10/1952 with the assistance of the members Mr. Zakariya Weheibe  and Mr. Daoud Fahed
  • The Municipality of Achkout from 16/10/1952 to 10/2/1961. The president was Iskandar Rizk, the members were:
    • Abedallah Massaad
    • Daoud Assad Al Hajj
    • Fares Tamer Fahed
    • Khalil Hanna El Chidiac
    • Mansour Moussa Seif
    • Antoine Hanna Weheibe
  • From 10/2/1961 to 11/7/1963, a period of transition taken over by the District Court
• The late Iskander Rizk was mayor of Achkout for the third time from 11/7/1963 until the date of his death in June 1970 with the help of the distinguished members:
  • Daoud Tamer Fahed
  • Naim Al Hajj
  • Fouad Al Hajj
  • • Georges Weheibe
    • Mansour Moussa Seif
    • Youssef Geryes El Chidiac
    • Youssef Hanna AbedAllah Massaad
    • On 30/6/1970, the late Daoud Tamer Fahed was elected as the mayor until his resignation in 1986. His successor was Youssef Hanna Abedallah Massaad until 24/5/1998 with the help of the members:
      • Fouad Al Hajj
      • Youssef Massaad
      • Naim Al Hajj
      • Youssef Geryes El  Chidiac
      • Georges Zakariya Weheibe
  • • Jean Iskandar Rizk was the mayor of Achkout for three consecutive rounds (1998, 2004, 2010).
    • In the first session from 6/5/1998 to 2/6/2004, the Municipal Council consisted of the following:
      • Jean Iskandar Rizk (President)
      • Fouad Chekrallah Fahed (Vice President)
      • Helene Hrawi Al Hajj
      • Emile Elias Rizk
      • Antoine Semaan Seif
      • Georges Daoud Massaad
      • Georges Semaan Daghfal
      • Roger Miled Khoueiry
      • Sami Michel Fahed
      • Selim Youssef El Chidiac
      • Simon Awad Tabet
      • Abdo Joseph El Chidiac
    • In the second session from 2/5/2004 to 1/5/2010:
      • Jean Iskandar Rizk (President)
      • Georges Diab Fahed (Vice President)
      • Helene Hrawi Al Hajj
      • Elias Philippe Massaad
      • Antoine Semaan Seif
      • Jean Gerge Abi Rizk
      • Hanna Antoine Tabet
      • Sami Michel Fahed
      • Selim Youssef El Chidiac
      • Abdo Joseph El Chidiac
      • Ghassan Philippe Daghfal
      • Nassif Assaad El Khoueiry
  • • In the third session from 14/5/2010 to 2/5/2016:
  • • Jean Iskandar Rizk (President)
    • Georges Diab Fahed (Vice President)
    • Mireille Chidiac Al Hajj
    • Elias Karam Daghfal
    • Elias Samir Seif
    • Jean Gerge Abi Rizk
    • Jospeh Tanious Fahed
    • Hanna Antoine Tabet
    • Sami Michel Fahed
    • Selim Youssef El Chidiac
    • Abdo Joseph El Chidiac
    • Nassif Assaad Al Khoueiry
    • On 15/5/2016, the current council was elected under the chairmanship of Mr. Alexander Jean Rizk and Mr. Joseph Philippe Fahed as Vice President.