Beirut’s Sites and Beyond
Here are some if the major sites to visit in Lebanon’s chaotic, war ravaged but unique multi cultural capital .And some day trips to take in this small country too.
1. THE HARISSA VIRGIN
As an introduction to Beirut and Lebanon, Take the funicular railway up to the top of this monument, a 13 tonne bronze Virgin who looks out over Beirut. There are great views of the sea one way and mountains in the other direction.
2. PIGEON ROCKS
Watch the sunset over the Pigeon Rocks at the Bay Rock Café.
3. FESTIVAL OF THE VIRGIN
May is the month of the virgin. There is a procession every year on the first of the month to celebrate the Virgin Mary. Held on a beautiful street that escaped the bullets of the civil war. Locals join a parade , while residents hang bed sheets from their balconies, interwoven with flowers.
4. Martyr’s Square
The name dates from the execution here of the leaders of the rebellionagainst Ottoman Rule in 1840. During the Civil War, it lay on The Green Line, and has always been a focal point for Beirutis.
One million Lebanese congregated in March 2005 to protest about foreign interference.
5. Central Business District
At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District (BCD) is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a focus of business, finance, culture and leisure. Its frequent destruction and reconstruction constitutes one of the most ambitious contemporary urban developments.
6. Holiday Inn Hotel
This building suffered more damage than any other during the Civil War in the 1970s.. To this day, its shell remains a reminder of how severe the fighting was.
7. The Green Line
The Green Line was the dividing line between Christians and Muslims, a wasteland corridor. Unsafe to cross except at checkpoints. Certain points have been redeveloped but there is a stretch that is unchanged since the wars
8. Palestinian Refugee Camps
The United Nations Works and Relief Agency, provides humanitarian care for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees.
9. Beirut’s Beaches
On a summer’s weekend in Beirut, everyone heads to the beach. But there are two different sides to beach life. If you’re in the money, you head to a Beach Resort, a classy, upmarket hotel’s beach where they beautiful sun themselves next to the pool (you don’t swim in the sea, that’s far too common!). Then there’s the students who have beach parties, a much more relaxed affair!
Rich Arabs have summer houses in Beit Meri East of the city, inland. It’s a little village with spectacular views of the city and a popular summer resort also for rich Gulf Arabs.
Day Trips from Beirut
THE CEDARS
Spend a day out of the city exploring the beautiful mountains of Lebanon. The giant Cedar trees here are symbolic of Lebanon and even feature on the national flag.
The oldest Cedars, and the most famous, are found in the Cedars of the Lord or Arz el Rab found 4km from Bcharre. 375 trees stand on Mount Makmel, some of them are 3000 years old, and with trunks measuring up to 14m around.
Lebanon’s Skifields near year-round snow in Lebanon’s major ski resort means this is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to swim in the sea in the morning, and ski in the mountains in the afternoon.
BYBLOS
Located 40km from Beirut, this is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.
Stop at Nahr al Kalb or Dog River, to see the plaques left by 20 different armies that have passed through the tunnel here from the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramese II to Babylonian invasion of the 6th Century BC, up to British forces of World War II. Turn right immediately out of the tunnel, they are lined along the face of the cliff.
At the BYBLOS FISHING CLUB Pepe the owner hosted Bardot and Brando. He’s a legend for helping to make Lebanon famous for celebrity partying.
Visit the Byblos Archaelogical Site and Ruins and buy a genuine fossil in the BYBLOS Souq
The sale of fossils is legal here and you get a certificate of authenticity. Excavated from the mountains above Byblos, the fossils are still set in the rock as they were found. A proper piece of Lebanese ancient history!
JEITA GROTTO
One of the longest cave systems in the world. They are 10.5km long and we’re used as ammunition stores during the Civil war. You can take a boat ride and amazing concerts are staged in one of the big ‘halls’.
Destination – Lebanon
