Tannourine lies in a splendidly beautiful area near the mountain of the same name. The village also shares its name with a cedar forest of some 60,000 trees. These cedars can be seen along the road that goes north to Hadath al-jobbe, which, although in poor condition, wends its way through wild and isolated scenery up to the Qadisha gorge.
In and around Tannourine village are numerous scattered remnants from pre-Roman, Roman and Byzantine times. The Crusader Church of Mar Chalita is further evidence of its long history and even today the saint is honored in an annual feast on August 20.
Broumana
Broumana, which lies on a hilltop overlooking the sea, combines the charms of a traditional Lebanese summer town with big city variety.
Here you'll find a number of old houses dating from the time of the Abillama Emirs in the 18th and the 19th centuries, while north of
the village stands the huge Maronite monastery of Deir Mar Chaaya, built in 1700. An international tennis tournament takes place each summer
at the Broummana High School, a Quaker institution.
Hamana and falougha
Hamana sits in a lovely valley that can be seen in panorama from the village of Sofar above. Once active in the silk industry, its huge
19th century silk factory has been converted into a school. You can reach Hamana from Mdairej on the Damascus Road or from Ras ek Metn.
Three km to the north is Falougha, another traditional summer resort, where you can see a 19th century Serail with a splendid door that
combines oriental and Italian styles.
Koura: Mediterranean charm with a modern lifestyle
The Koura region, located along the Mediterranean coast south of Tripoli, offers all the amenities of modern-day Lebanon in a setting that
reflects the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle.
Starting along the sunny Mediterranean coast, visitors to the Koura region can enjoy beautiful sandy beach resorts with a full range of water
sports and other amenities. Traveling inland, you begin to climb the foothills of the Mount Lebanon range. The area is dotted with small
villages, many with small, historic Greek Orthodox churches that reflect the religious traditions of the region. Climbing further eastward,
and higher into the mountains, you reach the mouth of the Holy Qadisha Valley.
Koura is especially famous for its olives and olive oil, which are grown throughout the region. The area is dotted with old olive groves, and
during harvest season you may see local farmers harvesting olives and pressing oil using time-honored techniques. The region’s olive oil is
also used to produce natural olive oil soaps, using traditional methods that have been passed down in families for centuries. If you want to
purchase locally-produced olive oil soaps, look for the artisanat shop in the village of Amioun.
Al Ain Caves in EnféAl Ain Caves in EnféAl Ain Caves in EnféHeritage House in BsarmaSunset over the Mediterranean, EnféCrusader Fort,
EnféCrusader Fort, EnféCrusader Fort, EnféCrusader Fort, EnféChurch of Our Lady of the Wind, EnféChurch of Our Lady of the Wind, EnféChurch
of St. Catherine, EnféChurch of St. Catherine, EnféChurch of St. Simeon & the Archangel Gabriel, EnféChurch of St. Simeon & the Archangel
Gabriel, EnféChurch of St. Simeon & the Archangel Gabriel, EnféLater Additions, Abbey of Balamand.
History-lovers should be sure to visit Enfé, a lovely, seaside fishing town known for its ancient churches and caves. Notable churches
include Our Lady of the Wind and Saint Catherine Churches, both dating from the Crusader period. The foundations and moats of a Crusader-era
fortress can still be seen on a rocky promontory that juts into the sea off the village's coastline. Today Enfé is also known for its salt
production. Throughout the village you can see salt flats that are used to transform seawater into sea salt. The highest quality salts, known
as fleur de sel , are sought after for cooking, bath products, and much more.
Close to Enfé is the Crusader-era Abbey of Balamand, which sits on a promontory overlooking the sea. This lovely Cistercian-style Abbey has
been restored and is still in use, and it is open to the public.
What to See & Do
Enfé & the Abbey of Balamand
Qannoubin
(131 km from Beirut) - Old Monastery
Deir Qannoubin served as a fortress palace for the Maronite Patriarchs from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The monastery can be reached by
foot from Blawza or Diman, a walk of several hours that gives an idea of what the journey was like for early pilgrims and patriarchs. A
shorter way is by the path that begins at the bottom of the valley.
The monastery's church, half built into the rock, is decorated with frescos from the 18th-19th centuries. The eastern apse has a Deisis (a
representation of Christ between the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist) with St. Stephanus taking the place of St. John the Baptist.
Another small apse shows St. Joseph holding the Child in one hand and a saw in the other. In a second apse is the figure of the prophet
Daniel in the lions' den. On the northern wall a fresco represents the coronation of the Virgin by the Trinity, with nine miter-capped
Maronite Patriarchs looking on. At the entrance of this church is a cave where a naturally preserved body can be seen, mistakenly believed by
the local population to be that of Patriarch Youssef Tyan.
Not far from here is the chapel of Mar Marina, famous saint of the valley, where 18 Maronite patriarchs are buried. Interestingly, the
Patriarch Tyan is listed among those buried here.
Getting There ...
From Chekka take the main highway East towards Amyoun passing through Hadath El Jebbe, and Bcharreh. Qannoubine is 6km away from Bcharreh.
City Life: Sightseeing
Beirut’s new architecture – which includes contemporary high-rises, as well as Parisian-style buildings constructed in the old tradition with
beautiful wrought iron work – blends well with the old. And the old can be very old. Visit the ruins of the Roman Baths near the Grand
Serail, the Parliament building, the Al-Omari Mosque, and St. Georges Cathedral. If these sites captivate your interest, take a tour of the
local museums. The National Museum and the American University of Beirut Archaeology Museum showcase antiquities from Lebanon’s past.
Name: AFDC - Association for Forest Development and Conservation
Caza: Beirut
Mohafaza: Beirut
Phone Number: +961-(0)3-848412 / 493281 / (0)1-752670 / 752671
Website: http://www.afdc.org.lb
Description: Established in 1993 to promote sustainable conservation of natural resources, AFDC runs a variety of ecotourism projects and
activities. Its programs include trails for hiking and biking, camping, and special outdoor and educational activities for children. AFDC is
teaming with Wild Expeditions, an outdoor adventure company, to offer rappelling and other activities. Its facilities, which also include
hostel-style lodging, are located in a pine forest ten minutes away from the Al Shouf Cedar Reserve, at an altitude of 700 meters.
Name: Al Omari Mosque (Beirut)
Address: corner of Rue Weygand and Rue Allenby
Caza: Beirut
Mohafaza: Beirut
Municipality: Beirut
Hours Of Operation: Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques during the month of Ramadan nor during prayer hours throughout the year.
Prayer hours depend on the positioning of the sun and are typically before sunrise, mid-noon, afternoon, early evening and sunset. The dress
code for women is headscarves, non-revealing clothes and shoes removed. For men, the dress code is appropriate attire, i.e., no shorts, and
shoes removed.
Description: One of the first buildings to be restored following the war, the Al Omari Mosque dates from 1291. In this year the Mamluks
rested control of Beirut from the Crusaders and converted the former 12th century Crusader church (Cathedral of St. John) into the great
mosque. Note: According to Islamic tradition, non-Muslims are typically not allowed to enter mosques or sacred sites. However, non-Muslim
visitors may be able to visit the courtyard gardens and may find someone they can ask for permission to enter. Visitors should be
appropriately attired and remove their shoes before entering. Entry is not permitted during prayer hours and not permitted at any time during
the month of Ramadan.
Driving Distance:
City Distance
Sidon 30 min
Tripoli 1h 15min
Tyre 1h
Zahle 45min
Name: American University of Beirut (AUB) Museum
Hours Of Operation: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
losed during official and AUB holidays.
Description: One of two archaeological museums in Beirut, the AUB Museum was founded in 1868 with a donation from General Cesnola, the
American Counsel in Cyprus. It is the third oldest museum in the Near East and houses a collection of artifacts from the early Stone Age to
the Islamic period. Some special collections include the museum s 10,000 coins from various time periods, Phoenician figurines and ancient
engravings and clay tablet writings.
Driving Distance:
City Distance
Baalbek h 30min
Hermel 2h
Sidon 40min
Tripoli 1h 20min
Tyre 1h 15min
Zahle 1h
Name: Beirut Central District - Solidere
Caza: Beirut
Mohafaza: Beirut
Municipality: Beirut
Website: http://solidere-online.com/thecity/enjoyover.html
Individual Tarriff: Free
Hours Of Operation: 24 hours
Description: The trendy Solidere area of downtown Beirut has been beautifully restored and is a center for family outings, cafes, shopping,
and leisurely walks. The government has paid special attention to rebuilding this area since the war, and today the buildings are magnificant
architectural gems, with yellow stonework, arabesque archways, and wrought-iron scrollwork. The cobblestone pedestrian streets are lined with
shops selling unique traditional crafts, trendy designer fashions, jewelry, and many other things. There are over 70 restaurants and sidewalk
cafes, which are popular places to spend a warm evening. At the center of Solidere is the Place dEtoile and Clock Tower, a popular area for
children to ride bikes and play while their parents relax at a nearby cafe. Solidere is also home to several Roman ruins sites that have been
uncovered and preserved, several notable mosques and churches, and the National Parliament Building.
Description: The ruins of this extensive Roman Bath complex are located just west of the Solidere (Beirut Central District) region, below the
Grand Serail. Discovered in the 1960s and restored in the late-1990s, the site contains the remnants of the brick vaults and columns that
supported the floors, allowing hot air to circulate. The ruins are surrounded by landscaped terraces and Mediterranean-style gardens. Open
air concerts and events are frequently held here.
Name: Ancient Tell of Beirut
Caza: Beirut Mohafaza: Beirut
Municipality: Beirut Phone Number:
Hours Of Operation: 24 hours
Description: Recent archaeological excavation revealed evidence of the existence of Beirut as a city during Phoenician times. Ramparts and
other settlements remains were discovered.
Driving Distance:
City Distance
Baalbek 1h 30min
Sidon 30min
Tripoli 1h
Tyre 1h
Zahle 1h
Jeita Grotto
Caverns sculpted by water and time
Few caverns in the world approach the astounding wealth or the extent of those of Jeita. In these caves and galleries, known to man since
Paleolithic times, the action of water has created cathedral-like vaults beneath the wooded hills of Mount Lebanon.
Geologically, the caves provide a tunnel or escape route for the underground river, which is the principal source of the Nar el-Kalb (Dog
River). Located some 20 kilometers along the highway North of Beirut, a large sign indicates the right turn from Zouk Mickael village, just
beyond the tunnel. The caverns are on two levels. The lower galleries, discovered in 1836 and opened to the public in 1958, are visited by
boat. The upper galleries, opened in January 1969, can be seen on foot.
To mark the inauguration of the upper galleries, arranged by the Lebanese artist and sculptor Ghassan Klink, a concert was organized in the
cave featuring electronic music by the French composer François Bayle. Other cultural events have taken place in this unusual venue,
including a concert by the German composer Carl-Heinrich Stochhausen in November 1969.
Jeita remained a popular attraction until the recent Lebanese conflict forced it to close in the mid 1970’s. Upon the initiative of Minister
of Tourism Nicolas Fattouche, the Ministry charged the German company "Mapas" to renovate and re-equip its facilities by the most
modern techniques and to operate the complex. On July 6, 1995, this natural wonder was again open to the public.
JEITA REDISCOVERED
The modern discovery of the underground river of Jeita dates to 1836 and is attributed to Reverend William Thomson, an American missionary
who ventured some 50 meters into the cave. Reaching the underground river, he fired a shot from his gun and the resulting echoes convinced
him that he had found a cavern of major importance.
In 1873 W.J. Maxwell and H.G. Huxley, engineers with the Beirut Water Company, and their friend Reverend Daniel Bliss, president of the
Syrian Protestant College (later the American University of Beirut) explored these caverns. In two expeditions carried out in 1873 and 1874
they penetrated 1,060 meters into the grotto-principal source of the Nahr el-Kalb that supplies Beirut with water. They were finally stopped
by "Hell's Rapids", where the river flows in torrents over razor sharp rocks.
Like explorers everywhere, Dr. Bliss, Mr. Maxwell and the other engineers could not resist recording their names and the year on
"Maxwell's Column", a great limestone pillar some 625 meters from the entrance.
About 200 meters further on, in the so-called "Pantheon', they wrote their names and details of the expedition on paper, sealed it in a
bottle and placed it on top of a stalagmite. The action of the lime- impregnated water has since covered the bottle with a thin white film,
permanently fixing it to the stone. Between 1892 and 1940 further expeditions were carried out, mostly by English, American or French
explorers. These efforts brought them to a depth of 1,750 meters.
Since the 1940's, Lebanese explorers, notably the members of the Speleo-Club of Lebanon founded by the first Lebanese speleologist Lionel
Ghorra, have pushed even deeper into the Jeita grotto. Their methodical exploration revealed the great underground system of the upper and
lower galleries which is now known to a depth approaching
9 kilometers.
The upper galleries, discovered in August 1958 by Lebanese speleologists, required a hazardous climb to 650 meters above the entrance of the
underground river. Altogether, 2,130 meters of this gallery have been explored.
INSIDE THE CAVERNS
In summer you can visit both the upper and lower galleries while enjoying the refreshingly cool temperature inside the caves. The lower
section is sometimes closed in winter when the water level is high, but the extensive upper galleries are open all year.
Plan on about two hours for the tour, which includes a boat ride through the lower galleries, the visit to the upper galleries on foot and a
film presentation.
The Lower Galleries
This part of the cavern takes you to a beautiful underworld millions of years in the making.
Both the 600-meter boat trip on a subterranean lake is only a sampling of the system that has been explored for almost 6,910 meters.
The first impression is the sound of rushing water and a sensation of clean cold. But the roar of the waterfall at the entrance gives way to
profound silence as you glide deeper into the cave. An effective new lighting system illuminates expert rock climbers-and marvel at the
columns and sculptures fashioned by those great architects-water and time.
The Upper Galleries
The approach to these dry galleries through a 120-meter-long concrete tunnel does little to prepare you for the surprising world beyond.
Formed several million years before the lower caverns, this section shows what the entire cave system was like before geological conditions
displaced the subterranean river to its present level.
For 650 meters you wind your way through different levels of the caverns, contemplating the flowing stone draperies and other formations.
Perhaps the most dramatic sight is the yawning canyons and sink holes, some seen at a drop of over a hundred meters.
Getting Around Jeita
Leaving your car in the parking area, you purchase entry and parking tickets. From here the fun begins with a short ride
up the mountain in one of four Austrian cable cars.
If you prefer land transportation, a Disney-like "train" pulled by a small
replica of a steam engine makes regular runs up and down the hill between the parking area and the upper galleries.
Near the entrance to the upper galleries is an air conditioned theater which has scheduled showings of a film about Jeita in several
languages. Check which time the language you want is shown so you can coordinate the film with your visit to the cave.
The tickets you have bought double as access cards and are inserted at the entry gates of the upper and lower galleries and for the cable
car. Also keep them handy for the train and the theater. When departing, your parking ticket is needed to exit the gate.
The facility has several restaurants, snack bars and restrooms as well as souvenir shops selling Lebanese handicrafts. Open Tuesday through
Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm and Friday through Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm. Closed on Mondays, unless it is a national holiday.
Photography is not permitted inside the caves
Baalbeck
Baalbeck can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world. The largest and most noble Roman temples ever built, they are also among the
best preserved.
Towering high above the Beqaa plain, their monumental proportions proclaimed the power and wealth of Imperial Rome. The gods worshipped here,
the Triad of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, were grafted onto the indigenous deities of Hadad, Atargatis and a young male god of fertility.
Local influences are also seen in the planning and layout of the temples, which vary from the classic Roman design.
Over the centuries Baalbeck's monuments suffered from theft, war and earthquakes, as well as from numerous medieval additions. Fortunately,
the modern visitor can see the site in something close to its original form thanks to work in the past hundred years by German, French and
Lebanese archeologists.
Baalbeck is located on two main historic trade routes, one between the Mediterranean coast and the Syrian interior and the other between
northern Syria and northern Palestine. Today the city is an important administrative and economic center in the northern Beqaa
valley.
THE TEMPLES IN HISTORY
Baalbeck's temples were built on an ancient tell that goes back at least to the end of the third millennium B.C.. Little is known about the
site during this period, but there is evidence that in the course of the 1st millennium B.C. an enclosed court was built on the ancient tell.
An altar was set: in the center of this court in the tradition of the biblical Semitic high places.
During the Hellenistic period (333-64 B.C.) the Greeks identified the god of Baalbeck with the sun god and the city was called Heliopolis or
City of the Sun. At this time the ancient enclosed court was enlarged and a podium was erected on its western side to support a temple of
classical form.
Although the temple was never built, some huge structures from this Hellenistic project can still be seen. And it was over the ancient court
that the Romans placed the present Great Court of the Temple of Jupiter.
The temple was begun in the last quarter of the 1st century B.C., and was nearing completion in the final years of Nero's reign (37-68 A.D.).
The Great Court Complex of the Temple of Jupiter, with its porticoes, exedrae, altars and basins, was built in the 2nd century A.D.
Construction of the so-called temple of Bacchus was also started about this time.
THE SITES
The Great Temple or 'Jupiter Temple"
The first view the visitor has of Baalbeck is the six Corinthian columns of the Great Temple thrusting 22 meters into the skyline. Built on a
podium seven meters above the Court, these six columns and the entablature on top give an idea of the vast scale of the original
structure.
The complex of the Great Temple has four sections: the monumental entrance or Propylaea, the Hexagonal Court, the Great Court and finally the
Temple itself, where the six famous columns stand.
The Great Court, built in the 2nd century A.D., covered an area 134 x 112 meters and contained the main installations of the cult.
Structurally, the court is a platform built on the leveled-off top of the ancient artificial tell. The tell was consolidated on the eastern,
northern and southern sides by vaulted substructures, and on the western side by the temple's podium. These substructures supported the
porticos and exedra around the Court and were used for stables and storage. Two huge structures stand in the center of the Great Court: a
restored sacrificial altar and a tower with only the lower courses remaining. The tower, dating from the beginning of the 1st century A.D.,
was probably built to allow the worshipers to view the proceedings from the top. It was flanked by two solitary columns of gray and red
granite. Two pools for ritual washing, decorated with relief carvings, were placed north and south of both altar and tower. These structures
were destroyed when a Christian basilica was built on the site at the end of the 4th century.
The Little Temple or the so-called Temple of Bacchus
Next to the Jupiter complex is a separate building known as the Temple of Bacchus. Constructed during the first half of the 2nd century A.D.,
it has been remarkably well preserved.
While the Great Temple was dedicated to the public cult of the Heliopolitan Triad, the little temple was apparently consecrated to a
mysterious and initiatic cult centered around the young god of Baalbeck.
This god was identified as a solar and growth deity, whose birth and growth promised regeneration and eternal life to the faithful. Wine and
other drugs, such as opium may have been used by the worshipers and it was the carvings of grapes and poppies on the main door jamb and some
carved Bacchic scenes, which suggested the temple's identification with Bacchus.
The 15th century tower 3t the corner of this temple is a good example of the Mamluke fortifications of Baalbeck. From the top of the tower a
view can be had of the surrounding area.
The Round Temple or the so called Temple of Venus
The gem-like temple southeast of the acropolis was built in the 3rd century A.D. Its design and size, as well as its orientation towards the
Great Temple set it apart from the other Baalbeck temples. These attributes also help identify it as the temple of the Fortune of Baalbeck,
that is the tutelary divinity of the City, under the protection of its great gods. It was not by accident that during the Byzantine period it
was converted into a church dedicated to Saint Barbara, who is the patron saint of Baalbeck to this day.
Near the Temple of Venus are the remains of "The Temple of the Muses", dating from the beginning of the 1st century A.D.
AROUND THE TOWN
There are a number of other Roman remains and Islamic sites to visit in Baalbeck and its immediate neighborhood.
The Great Mosque: In front of the acropolis entrance, this mosque dates from the 7th-8th centuries of the Omayyad period.
Public buildings: At Boustan el Khan south of the temples are important remains of public baths, a market and probably a bouleuterion, or
assembly place.
Ras El-Ain: Here are traces of a Roman shrine and nympheum as well as remains of a Mamluke mosque built in 1277.
Quarries: At the southern entrance of town is a quarry where the stones used in the temples were cut. A huge block, considered the largest
hewn stone in the world still sits where it was cut almost 2,000 years ago. Called the "Stone of the Pregnant Woman," it is 21.5 m x 4.8 m x
4.2 m in size and weighs an estimated 1,000 tons.
Qubbat al-Amjad: On Sheikh Abdallah Hill are the remains of the Zawiya-Mosque and tomb of Sheikh 'Abdallah al-Younini.
City Gate: Northwest of the Acropolis near the army barracks lie the remains of a Roman city gate, part of the fortifications that surrounded
the city.
Qoubbat as-Saadin: Not far from the City Gate is a two-room mausoleum built in 1409, which served as a burial place for the Mamluke governors
of Baalbeck.
Qoubbat Douris: at the southern entrance of town is the site of an octagonal structure composed of eight Roman granite columns.
Getting There ...
From Beirut get on the Beirut-Damascus highway heading east towards the Bekaa. Once you arrive in Chtaura take the road in the direction of
Zahle and continue driving for 41km until you reach Baalbeck.
Cedars of God
Cedars of God
Known as Cedars of God, the trees are among the last survivors of the immense forests that lay across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. Their
timber was exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as well as the residents of Canaan-Phoenicia. The wood was especially prized
by Egyptians for shipbuilding and Solomon used it for his temple.
The Cedars of God (also known as the "Cedars of the Lord" or "Arz el Rab") are among the last survivors of the immense forests of the Cedars
of Lebanon that thrived across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. Their timber was exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as well
as the Phoenicians. The wood was especially prized by Egyptians for shipbuilding and Solomon used it for his temple. The Ottomans also used
the cedars to build the empire's railroad system.
History
Once Lebanon was shaded by thick cedar forests, so it is no coincidence that the tree is the symbol of the entire country. Today, after
centuries of persistent deforestation, the extent of this forest heritage has been markedly reduced. The trees however, do survive in
mountainous areas and there they seem to reign supreme. This is the case of the slopes of Mount Makmel that tower over the Kadisha Valley
where, at an altitude of more than 2000 meters, rest the Cedars of God. There are 12 trees that are over one thousand years old, and about
400 that are more than one hundred. Four of them have reached a height of 35 meters and their trunks are between 12 and 14 meters around.
Concern for the Biblical Cedars of God goes back to 1876 when the 102-hectare grove was surrounded by a high stone wall, which was financed
by Great Britain's Queen Victoria. The wall protects against goats who enjoy feasting on young saplings.
World Heritage Site
In 1998, the Cedars of God were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Current status
The forest is rigorously protected. It is possible to tour it escorted by an authorized guide. Recently, after a preliminary phase in which
the land was cleared of detritus, the sick plants treated, and the ground fertilized, a massive reforestation program, initiated by the
"Committee of the Friends of the Cedar Forest" in 1985, was undertaken. The fruits of these efforts, will only be appreciable in a few
decades since cedars grow so slowly. In these areas the winter offers incredible scenery, the trees are covered with a blanket of
snow.
Lebanon Cedar
References in religious texts
The Lebanon Cedar is mentioned 75 times[citation needed]in the Bible, for example:
"The priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet stuff, and cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer" (Numbers 19:6).
"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon" (Psalm 92:12).
"I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive" (Isaiah 41: 19).
"Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade" (Ezekiel 31:3).
"I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars" (Amos 2:9).
"The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted." (Isaiah 2:13 NIV).
The Cedars of Lebanon were also mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
