Brochure Liban-Map Oct 09:Layout 2 10/14/09 3:44 PM Page 2

Serving tourism in Lebanon since 1959

Sami El Solh Avenue - Ghorayeb Bldg.

Tel: 1270 or +961 1 389 389 - Fax: +961 1 389282
Website: www.nakhal.com - E-mail: [email protected]
P.O.Box: 11-4910 - Beirut - Lebanon

PHOENICIAN RUINS

ROMAN RUINS

CRUSADERS RUINS

ARAB RUINS

NATURAL SIGHTSEEING

CEDARS

SKIING CENTERS

BEIRUT: is a city of half a million

inhabitants, bright sunshine and
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modern business activity mingled
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with old traditions. It provides a
unique blend of ancient and
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modern, of East and West, to an

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extent not found elsewhere in

such a small area.
The National Museum, the Great
Mosque “Jameh-el-Umari”, the
Al Khodr Mosque built on the
spot where St. George, the
patron saint of Beirut is believed
to have killed the dragon and
innumerable ancient churches,
TO DAMASCUS
all bear testimony to the centuries of history that make Beirut what it is today.
Whale new districts have sprung up in the past decade. Beautiful modern buildings
along the Raouché Corniche, near the famed Pigeon Rock Grotto (just off the cost
and one of Beirut’s leading landmarks) provide a striking contrast with the older part
of the city and bear comparison with the best modern architecture of the world.
Life is pleasant in Beirut. Its lovely beaches are open most of the year, and its night-
clubs - probably more to the square mile than in any other metropolis - provide
entertainment both for the country’s fun-loving, carefree inhabitants and for the
visitors who, from the minute they step on Lebanese soil, feel the country’s welcome.

THE CEDARS: about eighty miles from Beirut, SIDON & TYRE: South from Beirut are the old
through the romantic Qadisha gorge, are the Phoenician cities of Sidon and Tyre of biblical
Cedars. Before climbing the last ascent to this fame. Sidon contains the ruins of a 13th century
beautiful locality one may visit the Qadisha Crusader Castle and the remains of the Chateau
Grotto, a fairyland of stalactites and stalagmites, of St Louis. About 30 miles away lies Tyre with its
through which gushes the ice-cold river of admirable monolithic sarcophagus, believed to
Qadisha. The Cedars are also a famous ski resort, be the tomb of Phoenician king Hiram of Tyre.
with a skilift and two hotels. Recent discoveries in Tyre have brought to light
vestiges dating from Alexander the Great.
Twenty miles from Sidon, the medieval Beaufort
Castle stands on a 1.000 foot high cliff overlooking
the Litany River.

BEITEDDIN: The palace of Beit-Eddin was built by Emir Bashir (1788 - 1840). It is a
fine example of old Oriental architecture and is rich in multicolored mosaic
floors of fascinating design. A folklore museum housing antiquities dating back
to the time of Emir Bashir, flanks the outer courtyard leading to the main
sections of the palace.

BAALBECK: one and a half hours from Beirut, on an BYBLOS (JBEIL): Although Byblos is today only a small coastal JEITA: The Jeita Grotto is the
excellent highway, proudly stands Baalbeck, one of the town 25 miles north of Beirut, it is in fact, one of the oldest cities source of the Dog River from
most ancient cities of the world, which was first built as a in the world and, according to legend, was founded by the which Beirut gets its water
center of pagan worship the Phoenicians later transformed Cananean god El, son of Kronos. supply. Inside, the grotto is
it into a temple in honor of the god Baal. After the conquest A neolothic village, well preserved, bears witness to the fact artificially lit to enable visitors to
of Alexander, Greeks settled in the country and named the that the region was inhabited more than five thousand years see the ferric and colorful rock
town Heliopolis (city of the sun). (X) The Romans built also ago while the ramparts of the Phoenician city, together with formations while they cruise
colossal temple here. With the crusader period came temples full of the old relics, date back three thousand years. round the subterranean lake in
important changes; a church was built in honor of St. Many royal tombs have been discovered in that area. The a boat. The grotto is considered
Barbara. In Baalbeck one may visit the Citadel, the Great walls of Ahiram’s tomb (13th century B.C) bear inscriptions in the most beautiful of its kind in
Mosque and the temples of Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus. characters from which all modern alphabets are derived. The the world because of its
A yearly Festival of Music, dramatic art and folk-dancing is Romans, for their part, left an amphitheatre and colonnades richness and variety of color.
held in the summer at the temples. The performances are and, after them, the Crusaders built the Church of St. John
selected from among the world’s greatest artists in their (12th century A.D) which still stands with its remarkable
particular fields. baptistery, a dungeon and a part of the fortified harbor.