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Bestinlebanon.com | Lebanon Tourism | Beirut
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Beirut |
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A
view from renovated
DownTown Beirut |
Beirut: Modern Capital, Venerable
Past
Beirut, with its million-plus inhabitants, conveys a sense of life and energy that is
immediately apparent. This dynamism is echoed by Capital’s geographical position: a
great promontory jutting into the blue sea with dramatic mountains rising behind it. A
city with a venerable past, 5,000 years ago Beirut was a prosperous town on the Canaanite
and Phoenician coast. Beirut Literally lies at the crossroads of three continents. In
times of peace, the city benefited from trade and dynamic cultural exchanges. In times of
war, Beirut's location placed it at the forefront of all major battles, as invading armies
swept upon its shores. But somehow, Beirut survived all conflicts waged within its
boundaries, emerging stronger with each passing era.
The City That Would Not Die
Beirut survived a decade and a half of conflict and so has earned the right to call itself
"the City that would not die." As if to demonstrate this resiliency, the
Lebanese have launched a great rush of building activity, including the public service
infrastructure.
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An
aerial view of Beirut |
Nowhere is Beirut's resilience more apparent than in its
reconstructed city center. In 1990, Downtown was in shambles, a deserted no man's land, a
ghost town. Just over a decade later, Downtown has emerged as Beirut's most fashionable
and desirable neiborhood, with gloriously restored French Mandate-ers buildings, European
and Lebanese cafes, world-class restaurants, luxurious boutiques, and stylish pubs. Maarad
Street, with its arabesque and sidewalk cafes, is unquestionably the beating heart of
Downtown. Its main artery leads to Nijmeh Square (Place de L'Etoile), with the 1930s
Art-Deco clock tower at its center.
Commerce is second nature to Beirutis, who long ago
discovered that their port city on the East-West cross-roads was ideally placed for
trading and business all kinds. A banking center with free currency ex-change, the chief
employment here is in trade, banking, construction, import-export and service industries.
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The
Grand Serail: Seat of the Lebanese Government |
The Lebanese capital enjoys a vigorous press that publishes
in Arabic, English, French and Armenian. Five Universities help keep ideas and innovations
flowing. The flourishing art scene, including theater, film making, music and plastic arts
adds to the sense that is indeed a city on the move.
Its many advantages also make Beirut a natural venue for international, regional or local
conferences and conventions. Beirut’s Port, the largest in the eastern Mediterranean,
is equipped to handle tens of freight and passenger vessels. Further updating of its busy
facilities will be made as part of Lebanon’s general reconstruction plan.
Beirut International Airport, which serves the national carrier Middle East Airlines and
numerous foreign airlines, will have an annual capacity of six million passengers by the
start of the 21st century.
Historical Heritage
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Beirut
Banks' Street |
Beirut stands on the site of a very ancient settlement
going back at least 5,000 years. Its name appeared in cuneiform inscriptions as early as
the 14th century B.C. In the first century B.C., Berytus, as it was then called, became a
Roman Colony and under Roman rule was the seat of a famous Law school which continued into
the Byzantine era. But the power and the glory of Berytus were destroyed by a triple
catastrophe of earthquake, tidal wave and fire in 551 A.D. In the following century Arab
Muslim forces took the city and in 1110 it fell into the Crusaders. Beirut remained in
Crusader hands until 1291 when it was conquered by the Mamlukes. Ottoman rule began in
1516, continuing for 400 years later until the defeat of the Turks in World War I. The
French Mandate Period followed and in 1943 Lebanon gained its independence.
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Ramlat
Al Baida sea side view |
Uncovering the Past
A city continuously inhabited for millennia, until recently most of the few archaeological
discoveries in Beirut were accidental. However the war's end in 1991 provided opportunity
for more comprehensive and scientific investigation. Beneath the ruined downtown area,
which is under reconstruction, lie the remains of Ottoman, Mamluke, Crusader, Abbassid,
Omayyad, Byzantine, Roman, Persian, Phoenician and Canaanite Beirut. With luck, a good
portion of Beirut's history will be uncovered before reconstruction is complete.
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Pigeon's
Rock (Raouche) |
Beginning in 1993, archaeologists and builders began
cooperating on just such a project. Teams from Lebanese and foreign institutions have
found significant remains from each of Beirut's historical periods. All discoveries are
being carefully recorded and many will be preserved.
Reconstruction
The 1.8 million-square-meter reconstruction project for Beirut's Central District includes
hotels, office space and residential areas. But not all the buildings will be new. Some
256 structures will be restored by 1998, plus historic mosques and churches. Beirut's
souks or markets will be reconstructed in the traditional style by 1999. Solidere, the
private company taking on the challenge of this 25-years project, plans a modern
infrastructure of roads utilities, public areas and marine works. More than half a million
square meters of landfill will provide land for two marinas, a seaside promenade and a
green park.
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The
National Museum |
Sights around Beirut
Roman and Byzantine
Structures
- Group of five columns: These columns found on the left of the St. George Maronite
Cathedral, were once part of a grand colonnade of Roman Berytus. They were found in 1963.
- Roman Exedra: Discovered west of the St. George Maronite Cathedral, this semi-circular
cultural building was moved in 1963 to Blvd. Charles Helou near the eastern entrance to
the modern port.
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Sursock
Museum |
- Roman baths: Behind Bank Street are the remains of the
Roman bath which once served the city's population. Originally discovered in 1968-69, it
underwent a thorough cleaning and further excavation in 1995 - 1997.
- Four corniced columns: These columns in front of the Parliament Building in Nejmeh
Square were discovered in 1968-69.
- Highly carved colonnade: Found in the 1940's between Nejmeh Square and the Great mosque,
this five column colonnade is part of the Roman basilica. The columns were later erected
across from the National museum on Damascus Street.
- Floor Mosaics: These mosaics came from a Byzantine church of the 5th century A.D. They
were moved from Khalde south of Beirut to a site near the National Museum in the 1950's.
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Roman
Baths |
Crusaders, Mamluke and
Ottoman Structures
- Medieval wall: An excavated wall dating from Crusader and Mamluke times can be seen
north of Weygand Street along the old Patriarch Howayyek street.
- Crusader Castle: A large Crusader land castle once stood near the present port area.
Excavations in 1995 revealed a large well-preserved section of the foundation wall
complete with Roman column drums used as bond-stones or reinforcements.
- The Grand Serail: Constructed in 1853, as an ottoman military barracks, this building
was the headquarters of the French governor during the French Mandate. After Lebanon's
Independence, it became the Governmental Palace.
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Parliament
Square |
- Ottoman Clock Tower: Located near the Grand Serail, this
tower was built in 1897 and restored in 1994.
- Ottoman Military Hospital: Just in front of the Grand Serail, this large building was
constructed in 1860 as a military hospital. From the French Mandate Period until the
1960's it served as Law Courts. Completely renovated, it now houses the Council for
Development and Reconstruction.
Mosques
Al-Omari Mosque: Originally the Crusader
Cathedral of St. John (1113 - 1115 A.D.), the building was transformed into the city's
Grand Mosque by the Mamlukes in 1291.
Zawiyat Ibn al-'Arraq: Built in 1517 by Mohammed Ibn al-'Arraq ad-Dimashqi, this building
was originally an Islamic law school and continued as an Islamic sanctuary into late
Ottoman times. It was rediscovered during the post-war clean-up process in 1991.
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Down
Town Cafes |
Amir 'Assaf Mosque: Also called Bab
es-Saray Mosque, this was built by Emir Mansour 'Assaf (1572 - 1580) on the site of the
Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior. Located opposite the Municipal Building.
Amir munzer Mosque: The Amir Munzer Mosque was built in 1620 on an
earlier structure. Also called Naoufara (Foountain) Mosque, there are eight Roman columns
in its courtyard.
Majidjiyyeh Mosque: This mosque was constructed in the mid-19th century
and named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Majid I (1839-1861).
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Beirut
Port |
Churches
The Greek-Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George: Until the recent war
in Lebanon this church, built in 1767, was the oldest functioning church in Beirut. The
decorations on its walls were lost during the war.
The Greek-Catholic cathedral of Saint Elias: This mid-19th century church
with it's vaulted interior was once decorated with a marble iconostasis.
The Saint Louis Church of the Capucins: Inaugurated in 1863, this church
served the foreign community of the Latin rite in Beirut.
The Evangelical Church: This church was built in 1867 by a group of
Evangelical Anglo-American missionaries.
The Maronite Cathedral of Saint George: Built in 1888, the style of this
church is neo-classical.
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Beirut
Rafic Hariri
International Airport |
Museums
The National Museum: Opened in 1942, the National Museum houses
Lebanon’s archeological treasures, and is located in Damascus Street at the junction
known as Al Mathaf (the museum). Recently reopened
after extensive renovation, the ground floor displays about seventy large objects. The
undoubted star of the collection is the sarcophagus of Ahiram, King of Byblos, which is
inscribed with the earliest known example of the Phoenician alphabet.
Sursock Museum: A museum of modern art
located in the Sursock Quarter in Achrafieh. In addition to its permanent collection, it
presents regular exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and other art forms.
The Archeological Museum of the American university of Beirut (AUB). Open
weekdays 10 AM - 4PM except on academic holidays.
Raouche
On Beirut’s western-most tip, is a popular area with something for everyone. Its most
famous landmark is Pigeon Rocks, huge formation which stands like sentinels off the coast.
Numerous restaurants in Raouché serve local and foreign cuisine, while cliff-side cafés
offer a good range of snacks. But walking and jogging are the favorite pastimes on this
seaside promenade. The shores near Pigeon Rocks have yielded the oldest evidence we have
of human existence on the site of Beirut. Flints and basic tools found here are displayed
in the AUB Archaeological Museum.
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Riad
Solh square and statue |
Things To Do
University campuses are common venue for cultural events form abroad as well as local
productions. The American University of Beirut and Lebanese American University, with
their lovely, park-like campuses are pleasant places to visit.
Tours
A number of tour companies provide a wide selection around Lebanon.
Food and Entertainment
Restaurants specializing in Lebanese food offer a chance to sample this well known cuisine
at its most authentic.
A large selection of foreign restaurants serve cooking from around the world in
surroundings as elegant or as cozy as you desire.
Night life in Beirut is non-stop. Discos, dinner-dancing, bars and pubs of every variety
invite visitors to join the fun. You can sample some of the trendiest places going or opt
for super-sophisticated night-clubs. The Casino du Liban, with its luxurious gaming rooms,
is another favorite.
Turkish Bath
The Al-Nouzha Bath last operating public Bath located in Basta Tahta, provides a real
glimpse of old Beirut. Although not traditional in style, the scrubdown you get is
authentic. Sauna, steam room and massage facilities can be found as well. Women's hours:
Monday mornings; men's, all other times.
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A
panoramic view of Beirut |
Sports
Those who appreciate the best in horse racing will enjoy Beirut's racetrack, where every
Sunday pure bred Arabians run.
Beirut's Golf Club is open to foreign visitors who can use
the 9-hole course, swimming pool, squash and tennis courts for a moderate fee. Along
Beirut's shores are many resort complexes, beaches and swimming clubs with aquatic
amusements and sports on offer. More exercise is available at health clubs in the city.
Ramlet el-Baida on the south coast of Beirut
Shopping
Name what you want and it is almost sure to be available in the shops and street markets
of Beirut. Traditional crafts, high fashion, jewelry or everyday needs, all are easy to
find. Most standard shopping can be done in the Mar Elias area, Hamra Street, Rashid
Karamé Street (ex Verdun), Ashrafieh and Furn el-Shebback. Bargain hunters are urged to
try Bourj Hammoud and Basta-Tahta. |
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