Kafr Lab كفر لاب

Kafr Lab (كفر لاب) is a minor yet charming Byzantine-era site hidden between olive groves in the region of Jebel Samaan (جبل سمعان), northwest of Aleppo (حلب). The settlement includes a small church, which remains very well preserved and is rich in decorative stonework. Other remains are in a far worse state of preservation, but the site is still worth exploring. It is located about one kilometer east of the Kurdish village of Basufan (باصوفان).

 

Getting There: Getting to Kafr Lab (كفر لاب), like other sites in this region, is a bit of a challenge. The nearby village of Basufan (باصوفان) does have direct microbus connections with Aleppo (حلب), a route which passes by other notable sites in the region such as Burj Heidar (برج حيدر) and Kharab Shams (خراب شمس). The trip only takes about thirty minutes, but unfortunately these microbuses are very infrequent. Alternatively, Basufan (باصوفان) is only about four kilometers east of Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان), the most prominent site in the region. Depending on your itinerary, it may be more convenient to walk or hitchhike from there, or hire a private driver from the nearby town of Daret Azeh (دارة عزة).

Once in Basufan (باصوفان), the site of Kafr Lab (كفر لاب) is roughly one kilometer to the east. The dirt road to the site begins at the eastern end of the village near a local school. The road runs through agricultural land, until eventually reaching a cluster of ruins, including an arch, on a hilltop. The more well preserved church is about 100 meters to the southeast of these ruins.

Coordinates: 36°20’08.09″N / 36°53’26.79″E

Transliteration Variants: Kfar Lab

Rating: 4 / 10