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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.
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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In
the
ruined
City
Center,
a
huge
reconstruction
project
is
underway
to
create
a
new
commercial
and
residential
district
for
the
21st
century.
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.
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 |

View
of
Bliss
Street
and
AUB
Campus |
|
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. |
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Historical
Heritage
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.
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.
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. |
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Model
of
the
new
Marina |
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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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to
top |
S
I
G
H
T
S
A
R
O
U
N
D
B
E
I
R
U
T |

Roman
Baths |
|
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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. |
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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Ottoman
Clock
Tower |
|
-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.
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.
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.
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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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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Back
to
top |

National
Museum |
|
-
Museums
-
National
Museum
Opened
in
1942
to
house
Lebanon’s
archeological
treasures,
the
National
Museum
on
Damascus
Street
is
temporarily
closed.
Projects
are
underway
to
restore
the
building
and
gradually
bring
this
national
institution
back
to
its
former
importance. |
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Sursock
Museum |
|
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. |
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Raouché
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. |
|

Raouché |
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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. |
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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 |
|
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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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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. |
|
|
|
VISIT
OTHER
CITIES
(BYBLOS
-
JEITA
GROTTO
-
TRIPOLI
-
SIDON
-
ZAHLÉ
-
BAALBECK)
(THE
CEDARS
-
TYRE
-
BEITEDDINE
-
AANJAR) |
|
|
|

EGYPT
-
SYRIA
-
JORDAN
 |
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