The Old Souk’s history was always linked to the feudalism of the Khazens. Following the urban renaissance launched by Prince Fakhreddin, which included building bridges, “khans” and castles, the old souk was constructed, to later reach its peak following the expansion of berry growing and silk industry, turning it at the time into the “silk stocks market”.

In the beginning of the 19th century, Zouk Mikael was crowned a privileged commercial town, following the important economical role of the Old Souk. This latter was known for its different crafts, such as weaving, shoemaking, carpentry, gemology, “Nawl”, canning… attracting Arabic, Turkish and European tourists.

The majority of the “Nawl” shops were located in the upper souk, as well as shoemakers. Shoemakers had their personal techniques that consist of lining the insole with fabric to provide comfort. It’s been said that, while in England, a member of the “Al-Khazen” family had to get his shoe, made in Zouk Mikael, fixed by an English shoemaker. Impressed by the Zouki technique, the English shoemakers decided to adopt it.

In the beginning of the 20th century, with the mechanization era, shoemaking started to fade away little by little, transforming the old shops into housing units and the upper souk into a traditional touristic neighborhood.

Parallel to the upper souk, the lower one was known for having a pharmacy, a jewelry, a printing house, grocery stores, as well as beverage and agricultural shops. At the entrance, the Mir’s coffee shop was considered a gathering point of statesmen, literary men, such as the poet Elias Abou Chabake, the prince Bechir El Chahabi, as well as the hero Youssef Beik Karam. It was this part of the Old Souk that hosted the “silk stocks market”.

The decline of the Old Souk’s economic movement came with the mechanization and local migration during the First World War.

In 1988, the municipal council led by Nohad Naufal launched the restoration of the Old Souk, preserving its traditional architectural aspect. The lower souk became a pedestrian zone, a romantic aspect that attracted thousands of tourists every year.