Chouf is a historic region of Lebanon, as well as an administrative district in the governorate of Mount Lebanon. Located south-east of Beirut, the region comprises a narrow coastal strip notable for the Christian town of Damour, and the valleys and mountains of the western slopes of Jabal Barouk, the name of the local Mount Lebanon massif. Chouf is the heartland of the Lebanese Druze community, with Druze leader Walid Jumblatt residing at the Jumblatt palace in the town of Moukhtara. The Emirs of Lebanon used to have their residence in Chouf, most notably Bachir Chehab II, who built the magnificent palace of Beiteddine during the first half of the 19th century. Another historical town, just facing Beiteddine, is Deir al Qamar. Baakline, a historic and one of the largest towns in the Chouf, used to be the capital of the old Mountain of Lebanon, where Druze Amir Fakhreddine II was born. He was well-liked by both Christians and Druze and is probably the best leader who has ever ruled Lebanon. He switched his residence to Deir al Qamar due to a water shortage in Baakline. Deir al Qamar became then the capital of the Mount Lebanon Emirate