1
Baalbek
The UNESCO listed Roman ruins at Baalbek are considered to be one of the most important Roman sites in the world, and were dedicated to the triad of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. The site is entered via a monumental stairway, and then proceeds through the Propylaea and two impressive marble courtyards to the Temple of Jupiter – one of the largest temples ever built. To the south, the Temple of Bacchus is one of the most beautifully decorated Roman temples in existence. The building is in an excellent state of preservation, and while small in comparison to the temple of Jupiter, is still larger than the Parthenon in Athens.
2
Beirut
One of the most vibrant and fascinating cities in the Middle East, Beirut was once known as the ‘Paris of the East’, and while very modern in outlook, features many beautiful Ottoman and French Mandate period buildings at its heart. The Lebanese capital has always been very sophisticated and chic and is known for its cafes, fine restaurants, nightclubs, and luxury hotels. The city’s National Museum contains a superb collection of antiquities, as does the nearby Robert Mouawad Museum. Beyond all else a stay in Beirut is fun, and a great way to experience some of the finer aspects of modern Middle Eastern life and culture.
3
Byblos
Byblos is reputedly one of the oldest inhabited settlements and is also said to be where the alphabet was invested. At the heart of this attractive town where history goes back more than 5000 years, is a picturesque fishing harbour, lined by superb taverna style restaurants and dominated by a Crusader castle. Behind this are the beautifully restored cobbled lanes and stone houses of the medieval city – now filled with cafés and small souvenir stalls. Byblos is a very pleasant place to enjoy a simple seafood meal, relax, and enjoy some sightseeing.
4
Sidon
Sidon is noted for its attractive Crusader sea-castle and thronging maze-like covered souqs. The city was one of the great Phoenician city-states, and though little of the ancient city survives, this is more than compensated for by the city’s attractive medieval core where you may enjoy many scenes of daily activity in shops and alleys, and witness a way of life which could not be more different from Beirut.
5
Beiteddine
High in the attractive Chouf Mountains is the beautiful late 18th century Beiteddine Palace, built by the Ottoman governor of Lebanon Emir Bashir II. Beiteddine is a superb example of Middle Eastern architecture and features: three main courtyards, numerous lavishly decorated rooms in the Syrian style, and a grand all-marble hammam (baths) complex. The palace is enormous and is set on a mountainside overlooking a peaceful valley.
6
Jeita Grotto
The striking 9 kilometre labyrinth of dramatic caverns at Jeita were nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Natural World. The caves are on two levels: an upper series of caverns where monstrous mineral animals crouch in shady corners; and a lower river level , which offers a unique tour by flat-bottom boat passing “weeping willows” and giant “stone flowers” .
7
Tripoli
The heart of old Tripoli is one of the most atmospheric places in Lebanon. Here, surrounded by Mamluk period buildings dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, while walking through a maze of winding alleys, and negotiating thronging souqs, it is easy to feel you have been transported back in time to the Middle Ages. The city is dominated by the citadel of Raymond Saint-Gilles, which towers over the numerous fine mosques, khans, madrassas that nestle beneath its walls.
8
Tyre
Tyre was one of the great trading entrepots of early antiquity. Legend tells us that the Tyrians under Princess Dido sailed from here to Tunisia to found the colony of Carthage. The town’s fortunes were a product of trade, and in particular, the sale of a purple dye made from the murex shell – a colour called Tyrian purple. The city is now noted for its wonderful UNESCO World Heritage listed Roman ruins. These are the harbour and an inland site that contains the city’s necropolis and the best preserved hippodrome in the world.
9
Qadisha Valley
The long narrow gorge of the Qadisha Valley is a site of great natural beauty, offering beautiful mountains vistas and wonderful opportunities for hiking (summer) and skiing (winter). The valley is also the resting place of Khalil Gibran, and location of a museum dedicated to the author. UNESCO has listed the Qadisha Valley as a World Heritage Site on account of the presence of monastic communities dating from the earliest years of Christianity, and as one of the last surviving groves of Cedar Trees – Lebanon’s national symbol.
10
Anjar
The ancient city of Anjar was built by the Umayyad Caliphs of Damascus in the 8th century on the site of ancient Chalcis and was once a major emporium with more than 600 shops. The rural ruins have been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO on account that they, almost uniquely, preserve a snapshot of life in an Umayyad city in the early Islamic period. The partially reconstructed palace of Khalid ibn al-Walid is the site’s most significant monument.