Shansharah

Shinshirah, whose name means place of rest in Syriac, lies peacefully among olive groves. Established in the early 5th century AD, the site is distinguished by its twin temples, separated by a stone-paved courtyard used for agricultural celebrations. Greek inscriptions carved above the doorways express gratitude to Saints Sergius and Bacchus for safeguarding the harvest.
The stepped masonry style of the doorframes demonstrates a dry-stacking technique—where stone blocks were carefully placed without mortar—allowing the buildings to withstand earthquakes for decades. In 1998, a French excavation uncovered a watermill, confirming that the local community ground their grain onsite.