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 the Capital’s geographical position: a great promontory jutting into the blue sea with dramatic mountains rising behind it. A city with a venerable past, 5000 years ago Beirut was a prosperous town on 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. In the ruined City Centre, a huge reconstruction project is underway to create a new commercial and residential district for the 21^st century.

Commerce is second nature to Beirutis, who long ago discovered that their port city on the East-West crossroads was ideally placed for trading and business of all kinds. A banking centre with free currency exchange, the chief employment here is in the 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 theatre, film making, music and plastic arts add 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.

The new Beirut Airport with international standards, which serves the national carrier Middle East Airlines and numerous foreign airlines, has a capacity to handle six million passengers per year.

Historical Heritage;

Beirut stands on the site of a very ancient settlement going back at least 5000 years. Its name appeared in the cuneiform inscriptions as early as the 14^th 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 Bizantine era.

But the power and the glory of Berytus were destroyed by 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 to the Crusaders. Beirut remained in Crusaders hands until 1291 when it was conquered by the Mamlukes. Ottoman rule began in 1516, continuing for 400 years 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 millenia, until recently most of the few archeological 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, archeologists 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. 

Reconstruction;

The 1.8 million-square-meter reconstruction project for Beirut’s Central District include hotels, office space and residential areas. But not all the buildings will be new. Some 265 structures are restored, plus historic mosques and churches. Beirut souks or markets are restored and reconstructed in the traditional style. Solidere, the private company taking on the challenge of this 25-year project, plan 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.

Sights Around Beirut;

The municipality Building is a good place to start your visit to central Beirut. Check with the Tourism Information office on Hamra Street for advice on guided tours. Phone: 01-340073. You can also check Beirut Map for more images and information. The following are some of the sites worth visiting:

 1- Roman and Byzantine Structures;

            a. Group of five columns: These columns found to the left of St. George Maronite Cathedral, were once part of the grand colonade of Roman Berytus. They were found in 1963.

            b. Roman Exedra: Discovered west of the St. Georges Maronite Cathedral, this semi-circular cultural building was moved in 1963 to Blvd. Charles Helou near the Eastern entrance to the modern port.

            c. Roman Baths: Behind Bank Street are 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.

            d. 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.

            e. Floor Mosaics: These mosaics came from a Byzantine church of the 5^th century A.D. They were moved from Khalde South of Beirut to a site near the National Museum in the 1950’s.

2. Crusader, Mamluke and Ottoman Structures;

a. Medieval Wall: An excavated wall dating from Crusader and Mamluke times can be seen North of Weygand Street along the old Patriarch Howayyek Street.

b. 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 bondstones or reinforcement.

c. The Grand Serail: Constructed in 1853 as an Ottoman military barracks, this building was the headquarters of the French governor during French Mandate. After Lebanon’s Independence, it became the Governmental Palace.

d. 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.

e. Ottoman Clock Tower: Located near the Grand Serail, this tower was built in 1897 and restored in 1994.

3. Mosques;

            a. Al Omari Mosque: Originally the Crusader Cathedral of St. John (1113-1150 A.D.), the building was transformed into the city’s Grand Mosque by the Mamlukes in 1291.

            b. Zawiyat Ibn Al-Arraq: Built in 1517 by Mohammed Ibn Al-Arrak Addimashqi, This building was originally an Islamic law school and continued as an Islamic scnctuary into late Ottoman times. It was rediscovered during the post-war clean-up process in 1991.

            c. 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 Municipality Building.

            d. Amir Munzer Mosque: The Amir Munzer Mosque was built in 1620 on an earlier structure. Also called Nafoura (fountain) Mosque, there are eight Roman columns in its courtyard.

            e. Majidiyyeh Mosque: This mosque was constructed in the mid 19^th century and named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Majid I (1839-1861).

4. Churches;

            a. The Greek-Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Georges: 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 cathedral has recently been restored.

            b. The Greek-Catholic Cathedral of Saint Elias: This mid 19^th century church with it’s vaulted interior was once decorated with a marble iconostasis.

            c. The Saint Louis Church of the Capucins: Inaugurated in 1863, this church served the foreign community of the Latin rite in Beirut.

            d. The Evangelical Church: This church was built in 1867 by a group of Evangelical Anglo-American missionaries.

            e. The Maronite Cathedral of St. George: Built in 1888, the style of this church is neo-classical. The cathedral was completely restored in 2000.

5. Museums;

            a. National Museum: (Antiquities in Safekeeping) – Opened in 1942 to house Lebanon’s archeological treasure, the National Museum on Damascus Road has been a landmark both in times of peace and turmoil. During the war, when the Museum stood on the dangerous “green line” that divided Beirut, the antiquities it housed were removed for safekeeping. Larger objects were covered with concrete to ensure their protection.

From prehistoric flint tools and weapons to Greco-Roman objects and large collection from Byblos, the Museum’s holdings are a reflection of Lebanon’s national heritage. The Museum has been fully restored and is a fantastic place to visit.

            b. Sursock Museum: A museum of modern art located in the Sursock Quarter in Ashrafieh. In addition to its permanent collection, it presents regular exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and other art forms.

            c. The Archeological museum of the American University of Beirut.