BAALBEK
Located in the fertile Bekaa Valley,the temples of Baalbek are among
the wonders of the antique world. The city of Baalbeck originated in
Phoenician times as a place of worship to Baal, the Phoenician Sun God.
During the Hellenistic period (333-64 BC), the Greeks named the city
Heliopolis, or “City of the Sun.” However, Baalbeck entered its golden
age in 47 BC, when Julius Caesar made it a Roman colony. Perhaps
because of the area’s agricultural importance in feeding the eastern
inhabitants of the Roman Empire—or perhaps because of its strategic
location along the major east-west and north-south trading routes—the
Romans selected this site to construct the largest religious temples in
their empire. Over a span of 200 years (60 BC – 150 AD), a succession
of Roman emperors oversaw the construction of the magnificent
temples to honor the divine Roman trinity: Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. These temples also served as a
monument to the wealth and power of Imperial Rome.
BEKAA VALLEY (Wine and Gastronomy)
The Lebanese cuisine has a reputation as one of the best in the world;
the people of the Land of Milk & Honey knew how to take advantage of
an exceptional Mediterranean and Ottoman heritage, and developed it
by the means of oriental finesse. Lebanese culinary habits are indeed
very oriental, and meals are taken rather late, gathering with family and
friends, time is taken to enjoy the “mezzé”, these delicious horsd’oeuvres, before pursuing with main dish & deserts. While Lebanese
wines are still fairly unknown, there are some very beautiful Lebanesemade wines available worldwide. From the Bekaa Valley, for example,
you'll find Ksara and Château Kefraya. Ksara is an excellent, fullbodied red and its winery, founded by Jesuit priests, is the largest in the
Middle East. Château Kefraya produces a light and pleasant rosé. And
from the Mount Lebanon region is Château Musar, which is an outstanding, full-bodied red. The entire
Mediterranean rim is known for their anise-flavored liqueurs. In the South of France there is Pastis, and in
Lebanon there is the ubiquitous Arak, which is the national drink. Interestingly, these anise-flavored liqueurs
came into existence around the turn of the century as a substitute-out of desperation actually-when the
infamous beverage Absinthe became illegal.
TLB Destinations Last update: 02 March 2006
Tel: +961.4.41.98.48 - Fax: +961.4.40.26.34 - email: [email protected]
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SIDON (Saida)
Sidon, on the coast 48 km from Beirut, used to be one of the famous names in
ancient history.
Sidon was one of the most outstanding of the Phoenician City states, but
unfortunately its past is mainly a mystery for it has been tragically pillaged and
scattered. Its most beautiful ancient objects were taken in the last two centuries
and can be seen in museums around the world.
Today the highlights of the city are the Seacastle, that was built by the Crusades
in the 13th century, but above all the Khan El Franj, the medieval souks that are
a haven for lovers of water pipe and Turkish coffee, and the Big Mosque. The
caravanserail of Khan El Franj was the centre of commercial activity during the 17th
century, has been beautifully restored and today houses the French Cultural Centre
of South Lebanon.
BEITEDDINE
Host to a well established international Music Festival,
The palace of Beiteddine is one of the Arabic
architectural jewels. A historic monument, this palace
has two large courtyards. The "midane" (public square)
which is a huge rectangular place for visitors, and a
courtyard with a fountain in the middle for the royal
private apartments. Wonderfully laid out, the gardens
offer an extraordinary view of the region. Finely sculpted
doors and columns, in stone and wood make every
single inch of the edifice a piece of art. A unique
collection of mosaics from the Byzantine era is shown in
the ancient stables. A large part of the private
apartments has been open to visitors for several years.
DEIR EL QAMAR
Deir el Qamar was Lebanon's political capital until the 17th century.
This lovely city, with its spectacular Lebanese traditional architecture
fully restored, is classified in the UNESCO world cultural heritage.
Indeed, it contains numerous palaces and monuments, a testimony to
the country’s political history. You usually enter Deir el Qamar
through the “Midane”, the public square. A small mosque (a few
meters square) rises. Facing it, you will see several palaces open to
visitors and a seraglio, from 16th and 17th centuries. Finally, erected
on Shouf hill, Deir el Qamar lies in a beautiful natural environment
and offers an unrestricted view over the region.
TLB Destinations Last update: 02 March 2006
Tel: +961.4.41.98.48 - Fax: +961.4.40.26.34 - email: [email protected]
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BYBLOS (Jbeil)
Byblos city has constantly been inhabited since the sixth century BC until
today. The actual town is made up of the old town, surrounding by medieval
walls and of the modern town that progressively develops towards the
mountains. Fishing port since Neolithic, it has miscellaneous influences
(Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Fatimide, Mameluke, Crusader or Byzantine)
leaving numerous vestiges. The old town holds around the port and the huge
archaeological site, impressive because of its situation (diving into the sea)
and its 8000 years of history. You enter through the crusaders’ castle (12th
century). There, for examples, the obelisks’ temple (19th-16th BC), houses’
foundations (dating from 3200 to 2000 BC), a royal necropolis and some
sarcophagus succeed one another. Out of the archaeological site, the old
Jbeil, of which medieval walls seem fixed, offers a perfect example of
traditional architecture, well preserved and kept. Its and lovely alleys, all ochre
stoned, invite long walks where churches (including the Crusader church of
Saint John), chapels and houses are worth visiting. Its tiny port, the most beautiful one in the country, is a nice
place to relax on one of the terraces with a glass of Lebanese wine.
QADISHA VALLEY
Qadisha, one of the deepest and most beautiful valleys in
Lebanon, is indeed a world apart. At the bottom of this Wild
steep-sided gorse runs the Qadisha River whose source is in
the Qadisha Grotto at the foot of the Cedars. And above the
famous Cedar grove stands Qornet es Sawda, Lebanon’s highest
peak. The word ‘Qadisha” comes from a Semitic root meaning
‘holy” and Wadi Qadisha is the Holy Valley.” Filled with caves
and rock shel-ters inhabited from the third millennium B.C. to the
Roman period, the valley is scattered with cave chapels,
hermitages and monasteries cut from rock. Since the Early
Middle Ages generations of monks, hermits, ascetics and
anchorites found asylum here. These religious men, who
belonged to the various confessions that grew out of medieval
controversies over the
nature of Christ, included the Nestorians, Monophysites, Chalcedonians and Monothelites. Even Moslim Soufis
were found in this valley. They prayed in many languages: Greek. Arabic. Syriac and Ethiopian. At the town of
Tourza the valley divides into two branches, each named for a monastery there: Wadi Qozhaya leading to
Ehden, and Wadi Qannoubin leading to the Cedars.
A path goes along the bottom of the valley through an area called “Bain an-Nahrain” (Between the Two Rivers)
where Wadi Qannobin meets Wadi Qadisha. From here trials lead to the various sites you can also start from
the top of the valley and take one of the numerous paths to the bottom.
TLB Destinations Last update: 02 March 2006
Tel: +961.4.41.98.48 - Fax: +961.4.40.26.34 - email: [email protected]
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THE CEDARS
Even though several regions of Lebanon shelter forests of cedars, when
we talk about 'the Cedars' we mean the Arz-el-Rab massif, in north
Lebanon. A few minutes away from the town of Bcharreh, the multimillennial forest with the symbolic tree of the country is today protected,
but open to visitors. Hidden in the heart of the massif, a lovely little
chapel with white stone reinforces the serenity of the place.
TLB Destinations Last update: 02 March 2006
Tel: +961.4.41.98.48 - Fax: +961.4.40.26.34 - email: [email protected]
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