Al-Mrah
The Qalamun village whose Damascene rose harvest is UNESCO-listed.
Updated 4 September 2026
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Al-Mrah is a small village in the dry Qalamun hills with one glory: the Damascene rose. Each May the fields around the village flush pink and the harvest begins - families picking at dawn, distilling rose water, drying petals for tea and syrup, making the preserves the region is famous for - practices UNESCO inscribed in 2019 as intangible heritage. The rose festival at harvest time fills the village; the scent, for those weeks, is the address.
What you'll find
- The rose fields - the pink flush of the May harvest.
- The dawn picking - families at work while the oil is strongest.
- The distillation - rose water made in village stills.
- The festival - the harvest celebration that draws visitors.
When to go
May to June is the harvest and the reason to come; exact weeks shift with the season. The festival follows the picking. Outside harvest the village is quiet hill country.
Things to know
Outside the harvest weeks there is little to see. Visits during picking should be arranged with growers - this is their livelihood, not a show. Facilities are village-simple.
Nearby
Nabk and Mar Musa are east, and Damascus is south.
What to pack for Al-Mrah
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
