All Monuments & Landmarks

Baalbak district

Baalbak

Hajar Al-Houbla

Hajar Al-Houbla (The Stone of the Pregnant Woman), located in Baalbak, in eastern Lebanon, is an enormous Roman monolith with many legends behind its name. Some say Hadjar Al-Hibla was named after a pregnant woman who convinced the people of Baalbak that she would move the giant pillar if they would provide her with food until she gave birth. Others say the name symbolizes an old belief that women who touch the stone will become more fertile. Still others say the name stems from legends of pregnant jinns, or genies, that were commanded to cut and move the stone. Hard science nevertheless confirms that the Stone of the Pregnant Woman and another ancient stone block beside it are together among the largest monoliths ever quarried. Weighing just over 1,000 tons, the stone block lies at a 900-meter distance from the temple complex. In the 1990s, a second ancient monolith even larger than the Pregnant Woman’s was discovered in the same quarry. The latest discovery, made in 2014 by the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, was that of a third and more gigantic monolith, found near the Stone of the Pregnant Woman, weighing over 1,600 tons. It is the largest intact stone block ever carved by human hands.

Maqlaa Roumani

At the southern entrance of the town is Maqlaa Roumani, the roman quarry from where the temples stones were cut in situ. Monolith I and monolith II are still lying. Another quarry, Al-Kiyyal, is located southwest of the town after Qoubbat Douris.

Qoubbat Douris

Located at the southern entrance of town, in Baalbak, eastern Lebanon, Qoubbat Douris houses an Ayyoubid tomb and was once topped by a cupola, a small dome structure on a roof. It was built in the 13th century as an octagonal structure held together by eight Roman granite columns.

Qoubbat As-Sa'adin

Qoubbat As-Saadin, is a two-room mausoleum, which is a structure that houses tombs. Built in 1409 in Baalbak, in the east, it served as a burial place for the Mamluk governors of Baalbak.

Iaat

Ia'at Column

Standing high in the middle of Ia'at town, a column made from local limestone, with a mutilated cornice and roman-style motifs decorating its length, was built in memory of the battles and olf victories.

Roman Temple

Probably dedicated to Apollo, the Roman Temple dates back to the 1st century B.C. It is made up of a rectangular-shaped patio with a host of carved and engraved stones scattered all around.

Chlifa

Qasr el Banat

Qasr el Banat is a roman temple located on a rocky plateau, the top of which is crowded with reservoirs and rocky-carved rooms, dating back to the Greco-Roman era. It appears through some modifications that occurred in the temple after its abandonment that it was used for defensive purposes.

Hermel district

Hermel

Al Qamou'h

Al Qamou'h (Obelisk) is a 26-meter high stone tower capped with a pyramid, which can be spotted from miles away, located on a hilltop some 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from Hermel in Bekaa. Its exact significance has yet to be ascertained. Some say it was raised in memory of a Syrian prince who had a passion for hunting in Lebanon and others say its purpose was to mark the route the Canaanites once followed. The tower is decorated with stone carvings of various hunting scenes. A splendid view can be seen from the hilltop which includes Hermel with its hills and gardens, the lake of Homs disappearing into the horizon, the Orontes river of Al-Assi (a north-flowing rebel), and the caves of the Raheb (the Monk) also known as Mar Maroun.

Bint Jbeil district

Tebnine

Tebnine Castle

Some 30 kilometers from Tyre, in the south, the Tebnine Castle is at the top of an 870-meter mountain. It was built during the Crusader period in 1104 by Hughes de Saint Omer, the governor of Tabaraya. Saladin occupied the castle after the battle of Hattin in 1187. His brother, King Adel, stayed there until 1229. The castle occupies a steep hill, in fact a Bronze Age tel, or mound, north of the village of Tebnine. It once had 12 rectangular towers, one of which had a dungeon. The castle, razed in 1266 by the Mamluks, was rebuilt 500 years later in the mid-18th century by a local Shiite sheikh during his struggle against Ottoman rule. He used the ruins of the medieval walls as a basis for his rebuilding campaign and thus the castle today mainly appears as an Ottoman construction. The fortress contains 9 towers and its architectural design is well preserved. The supporting wall and 4 towers are square or semi-circular in shape. The main entrance and temple's vaults remain, as does eastern side of a large tower with halls and supporting pillars. Its western front overlooks all the surrounding area. Tebnine is in the UNIFL zone. Foreign visitors will need to obtain a pass from general security.

Hasbaya district

Hasbaya

Al Chehabi Castle - Hasbaya Citadel

Located in the south, Hasbaya, the capital of Wadi Al-Taymi, is an attractive town full of history. A good deal of this history transpired at the huge citadel that is today Hasbaya’s chief claim to fame. Owned by the Chehab emirs, the citadel forms the major part of a Chehabi compound, which is a group of buildings surrounding an unpaved central square. Several medieval houses and a mosque make up the rest of the compound. The citadel is situated on a hill overlooking the river. The known history of the structure begins with the Crusaders, but it may go back even earlier to an Arab fortification or a Roman building. Won by the Chehabs from the Crusaders in 1172, the fortress was rebuilt by its new owners. Since then it has been burned many times in battle and was often the scene of bloody conflict. In the 20th century, it was struck by rockets during the Israeli occupation of south Lebanon. For almost all of the eight centuries since it fell to the Chehabs, the citadel has been occupied by members of the same family.

Nabatieh district

Arnoun

Beaufort Castle

On a hilltop overlooking the southern part of the Beqaa Valley are moss-covered remains of the Crusader Beaufort Castle. In Arabic, the historic site is referred to as Shaqif Arnun, the word "shqif" being Syriac for high rock. Although it looks inaccessible, this rocky fortress can be reached from the village of Arnun, which lies about seven kilometers (four miles) southeast of Nabatieh. The castle, which is mostly in ruins, is surrounded by a moat and the archeological remnants of an ancient village of similar architecture. Shqif is a syriac term meaning high rock. Western travelers called it Belfort or Beaufort. At first sight, it seems inaccessible, but it can be easily reached from the village of Arnun. In front of the fortress the visitor will see a large water cistern and the ruins of an ancient village contemporary with the citadel. There is no direct evidence of the building date or the builder of this castle. According to William of Tyre, it was erected by the Crusaders, but some scholars are of the opinion that it is older. It has been suggested that the monument was already standing when the Crusaders arrived. It has also been argued that it was first built in the Late Roman or Byzantine period, later restored and enlarged by the Arabs. The Crusaders restructured and fortified it and it became the most important fortress in Lebanon. The Crusader king, Foulques d'Anjou, conquered it from the ruler of Damascus and gave it to the Crusader rulers of Sidon in 1138.Salaheddin besieged it for two years and was able to storm it in 1140.The Crusaders regained control of the citadel in 1190 after they had signed an agreement with Al Salih Ismail, ruler of Damascus. In 1260, it was bought by the Templars from the Sidonian prince and it remained their property until its conquest in 1268 by the Mameluke Sultan, Al Zahir Baybars. The Templars built there a small fort called Château Neuf. Fakhreddin restored and fortified it at the beginning of the 17th century, but the governor of Damascus, Hafez Pasha, besieged it and partly destroyed it with his artillery. The restoration of the monument was initiated by the Lebanese Directorate of Antiquities in the late1970's but it soon had to stop because of repeated Israeli bombardments. The Crusader castle has been under Israeli occupation since 1982. The fortress lies on a 700 m high rocky mound. Its plan had to follow the relief and topography of the site and resulted in a quasi-rectangular shape. To the east, it overlooks the 300m deep Litani River valley. On the other three sides, it is surrounded by a moat. In spite of its very bad state of preservation, some of its elements are still standing and easy to identify. On both ends of its well-preserved southern wall rise two beautiful towers. The wall is built on top of a glacis covered with flat stones and covering all the rocky platform on which the fort stands. The monument originally had three stories, but the third one has been totally destroyed. The main entrance leads to the ground floor and is located on the eastern side of the building. It is protected by three towers, on top of which a large number of fighters could stand. In the southeastern corner is a second entrance leading to the upper floor and, finally, a third entrance in the southwestern angle sur-mounted by machicolations leads to the center of the main courtyard. Inside, the castle is almost completely ruined and only the eastern wall, entrance and staircase of a big tower in the middle of the western side survive. On the eastern side is a 13th century vaulted building, either a church or an assembly hall. On the northern side are the remains of two towers and of a large cistern which occupies part of the moat surrounding the fortress. &nbsp;

Jezzine district

Jezzine

Farid Serhal Palace

A monumental building in the oriental style where an impressive collection of valuable antiquities is found.

Saida district

Saida

Sea Castle

Visible from the Corniche as one pulls into the center of Saida, in the south, The Sea Castle ( Al-Bahr Citadel ) was built by the Crusaders in the 13th century on top of a Phoenician temple, and while it has been badly damaged over the centuries in various clashes, the handsome ruins continue to front the coastal city, connected by a delightful causeway across the water built by the Malmuks. Today the castle consists primarly of two towers connected by a wall. in the outer wall Roman columns were used as horizontal reinforcements, a feature often seen in fortifications built on or near former Roman sites. the west tower is the better preserved of the two. Old prints of the fortress show it to be one of great eauty, but little remains of the embellishments that once decorated its ramparts. After the fall of Acre to the Mamelukes, all the sea castles were destroyed to prevent the Crusaders from re-establishing footholds on the coast.

Khan Al Franj

Located in the south, Khan El Franj is just down the street from the souks of Saida on the sea side corniche, and was built by Emir Fakhreddine in the 17th century. The name in English means a caravanserai, which is a roadside inn where travelers could rest from their day journeys. It was made to accommodate French merchants and goods in order to develop trade with Europe. Its architectural style is in the tradition of the urban khan, containing a rectangular courtyard and a central fountain surrounded by covered galleries, which are covered passages that are opened at one side.

Emir Fakhreddine Palace

Emir Fakhreddine built this two-story palace in the 17th century A.D. Parts of the first floor are still preserved. The upper floor was destroyed by a bombardment during the 1980s.

Debbaneh Palace

This gorgeous 18th century house has all the classical elements of an aristocratic Arab-Ottoman home. It has a generous, richly-ornamented central space via which the other rooms of the house are accessed. Beautifully preserved and cared for, the palace illustrates the impact of the Ottoman Empire on Saida’s history. Find the staircase leading up to this historical treasure in the dark heart of the ancient southern souk of Saida.

Hammam Al Sheikh

The traveler Abdul Ghinie Ennabulsi mentioned Hammam El Sheikh when he visited Saida in the 17th century. It is close to the Kikhia Mosque and its tiles and baths are beautifully ornamented.

Hammam Al Ward

The Hammoud family constructed this bath in 1730 A.D. Hammam Al Ward was built according to the Ottoman-Italian architectural style, and it is distinguished by its beautiful adornment and wide hall.

Batroun district

Hamat

Mseilha Fort

Heading towards Tripoli, 3 kilometers away from northern Batroun, lays the enchanting Mseilha Fort. A visitor can reach it by taking a right before the tunnel of Chekka and crossing a small bridge over Nahr El Jawz (River Of Walnut) or by crossing a narrow passage engraved in the rocks. This small fortress stands proudly on a mountain peak in a very strategic location that has been preserved for a long time. In the past, its picture was printed on the 25 Lebanese pound bill. The road to Tripoli used to curve around the huge Ras El Chakka. Its origin is unknown, and some historians claim that it dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Others claim that it dates back to the Mamluk era. However, others think that it is one of the accomplishments of Emir Fakhreddine from the 17th century. &nbsp;After climbing the stairs, the visitor reaches a flat area where the arched narrow entrance lies. After the parlour, there is a central hall with passageways leading to different parts in the tower. The walls are one meter and a half to two meters thick. Some of its parts that are dark and dangerous haven't been renewed yet.

Tripoli district

Tripoli

Saint-Gilles Citadel

The Citadel of Raymond de Saint Gilles, in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, is among the most impressive in the Middle East. It rivals those in Aleppo and Amman, for sheer size and preservation, but also for its exciting location, rising above a multitude of densely-populated Tripoli neighborhoods and sporting views of the sea and the mountains to the east. Named after one of the first major Crusaders in the region, the original battlements were built during the 12th century. It was burned in a devastating attack by the Mamluks in 1289, but was renovated and expanded in 1308 by the Crusader governor of what was at that time the County of Tripoli, and much of what remains today was built during this time. It was again renovated and expanded during Ottoman rule, and an inscription above the main gate commemorates these improvements as commissioned by the sultan. Today, very little remains of the citadel’s Crusader roots, though a few tombs of Frankish knights have been located. Beyond the site’s fascinating and complex history, visitors will be thrilled by the spectacular views, the labyrinthine tour, and the extraordinary sound of the city’s streets reaching up the ramparts into the rarefied air of the castle.

Rachaya district

Deir el Aachayer

Deir el Aachayer Roman Temple

A large Roman temple flanked by columns is situated in the village of Deir el Aachayer, in southeast Lebanon, between the border of Lebanon and Syria. The large temple has fine stonework and molded entrances framing the doorway. The temple is still intact inside and has retained its shape, regardless of its missing stairway and most of its porch.

West Bekaa district

Dakweh

Dakweh Temple

The small temple in Dakweh, in the Beqaa, is standing strong along with its altar and columns. It is a renovated temple set in its own yard. With its four walls intact up to its roof level and the corners of the pediment still on site, it is a great example of a temple in a nearly complete condition.

Habbariyeh

Habbariyeh Roman Temple

The area of Habbariyeh is located in Hasbaya in Southwest Lebanon. On the left side of its main road, there is a Roman temple that is 17m long and 9m wide. It used to have a façade supported by two columns, but today, sadly… only the foundations remain. The walls height persisted to be 8 meters! Moreover, there is an ionic pillar and a frieze, which is a flat central horizontal stone on the top, on the southern part. Inside, there are two niches and above them, there is a glittering horn. Above the upper eastern niche, there is a Greek inscription of six lines.

Chouf district

Deir el Qamar

Emir Ahmad Chehab Palace

The Palace of Emir Ahmad Chehab, now known as George Baz Palace, is located in south central Lebanon, in Deir el Qamar in the Chouf. Emir built the palace for his wife in 1755; she had it sold after his death to George Baz, a prominent political figure at the time. The two-story palace features a central courtyard and basin. Around the courtyard, there are bedrooms, apartments, and baths. The impressive portal, or entrance, is a mosaic of different-colored stones.

Moukhtara

Moukhtara Palace

The Palace of Moukhtara is located in the main square of the village, where the visitor can see the recently built "Emir Shakib Arslan" mosque at the entrance. The imposing palace embodies the long history of the Joumblatt family. As prominent sheikhs, landowners, politicians and intellectuals, the Joumblatts have throughout history played an important role in determining the political structure and governance of Lebanon. Subsequently, Moukhtara Palace was and remains central to historical and political events in the country, hosting dignitaries, heads of states, spiritual leaders as well as Arab and foreign politicians, and welcoming citizens from all walks of life.

Beirut district

Downtown

Grand Serail

Built in 1853 by the Ottomans as military barracks, the building eventually served as the headquarters of the French governor during the French Mandate and has been the headquarters of the prime minister and the president of the council of ministers since Lebanon’s independence. It is situated on a hill in downtown Beirut, just a few blocks from the Lebanese Parliament and the Hamidiyyeh Clock Tower stands next to it. The Grand Serail complex also includes the Ottoman Military Hospital, a huge building built in 1860. It subsequently housed the Palace of Justice from the beginning of the French Mandate until the 1960's, and today it serves as the headquarters of the development and reconstruction council.

Hammam al Jadid

Built by Asad Pasha Al-Azm of Damascus at the south entrance of the city, this stunning public bath is called the New Bath because it’s only 275 years old. It was still in use as late as the 1970s. As the largest hammam in Tripoli, in the North, it has an arched entrance with a zigzag and fleur-de-lis, a stylized decorative lily flower, sculptured relief inspired by earlier Crusader and Mamluk motifs. No expense was spared in building Hammam al Jadid, so eager was the pasha to please the city. Above the commemorative inscription set into the lintel, or horizontal support, is a stalactite cornice, which is a horizontal decorative molding that crowns a building, and a half-dome ceiling. A 14-link chain in two loops, carved out of a single stone block, is suspended under the top of the arch, while inside, glass roundels, or circular forms, in the dome roof let a sensual, dusky light down onto the marble-clad floor and fountains.

Gibran Khalil Gibran Garden

Facing the new United Nations building and Riad Al Solh Square in downtown Beirut, the 6,000 square meter Gibran Khalil Gibran Garden is dedicated to the author of the internationally renowned book “The Prophet” whose main character was also a prominent poet and philosopher. Inside its green plots, the garden comprises an abstract sculpture that represents Gibran's chest, a fountain surrounded by trees, and six obelisks.

Jbeil district

Machnaqa

Machnaqa Roman Temple

The Machnaqa Roman Temple is located northeast of Beirut, in the village of Machnaqa in Mount Lebanon. A wide, rectangular hall marks off the sacred walls of the Machnaqa sanctuary. At the center of the hall lie the remains of a Roman temple survived by four pillars and the foundations of its two altars. These used to be furnished as it was fit for religious rites and rituals. Interestingly enough, this temple did not have any doors, but the remains of its once-strong pillars and some construction tools lie strewn about the place. Crypts and tombs for the burial of the dead line the cliff overlooking this forgotten site.

Martyrs' Square

Martyrs’ Square is located is downtown Beirut and is often referred to as the very heart of Beirut. Originally called Burj Square and later named Place des Canons by the French Mandate, Martyrs’ Square takes its current name from the hanging of Lebanese nationalists and intellectuals by the Ottomans in 1916. The original monument, which was in the area, honoring the 1916 martyrs was done by Youssef Al-Howayek. It depicts two women, a Christian and a Muslim and is currently on display at the Sursock Museum in Beirut. In 1960, it was replaced with a Marino Mazzacurati sculpture of martyrs holding a torch and leading the way for future generations. The damage it suffered during the war years is still plainly visible.

Smar Jbeil

Smar Jbeil Citadel

Smar Jbeil Castle is located on an honorable hill in the town of Smar Jbeil. It is a fortified military fortress containing traces of defensive divisions and fortifications, and it rises about 500 meters above sea level. The history of its construction goes back to the Phoenician kings of Byblos, who were famous for their palaces and castles carved out of rock. Then it was inhabited by the King of Babylon “Bakhtasar” who carved a drawing of him and the queen on its northern wall. The remains of this castle today are one of the most important and most beautiful archaeological areas in the city of Batroun, as it is visited by tourists from all over the country, wishing to learn about the Phoenician civilization.

Jbeil / Byblos

Byblos Castle

Byblos Castle is one of the most beautiful historical monuments in Mount Lebanon, and one of the most famous and oldest castles in Lebanon. It is characterized by its designs that combine ancient European architecture and Persian arts that are aware of its general character. It is considered one of the most beautiful tourist places in Mount Lebanon, and the history dates back to Byblos Castle in Lebanon to the twelfth century, as it was built by the Crusaders, and was used during their reign and in the era of the various empires and kingdoms that ruled Lebanon for defensive purposes, and Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the most prominent who used it, and today it is one of the largest tourist attractions in the country and visited by hundreds of thousands annually from foreign tourists.

Tyre district

Deir Kifa

Deir Kifa Castle

Deir Kifa Castle, located in Jabal Amel, is a crusader castle which was built on top of a Phoenician fortress at the beginning of the 12th century AD by the crusader commander Meron. The castle was conquered and demolished by the Mamluk army in 1289 AD. It was restored in the middle of the 18th century AD by Sheikh Abbas Muhammad Al Nassar Al Waeli, ruler of Tyre. The castle was severely damaged by Israel's barbaric bombardments during the 70's, the 80's and the 2006 war. The castle's area is 17,000 sqm, and consists of 6 to 12 meters height walls, 7 defensive towers, 365 wells, 4 water sources, as well as remains of houses, stables, storage rooms, and prison structures.

Chaqra

Doubiyeh Castle

Iskandarouna

Scandelion Castle

Scandelion Castle is a Crusader castle located in the city of Iskandarounah in South Governorate, Lebanon. It was built in 1124&nbsp;AD and became a strategic high ground that used to defend Tyre and its surroundings.

Tower of the Lions

One of the few remaining structures built to protect Tripoli, &nbsp;during Mamluk rule. The Tower of the Lions is a small fortress located at the far end of the harbor. It was named after the relief decorations of lions that once lined the facade. Roman columns are incorporated horizontally into three of its walls. The tower is an exceptional example of military Mamluk architecture, with interlocking bands of black-and-white stone adorning the portico, which is a porch with a roof supported by columns leading to the entrance of a building. The ground floor is constituted of a single large room that was decorated with armorial, carvings and paintings, traces of which can still be seen.

Ain Harcha

Ain Harcha Temple

Located in the village of Ain Harcha in the Rashaya District and south of the Beqaa Governorate, Ain Harcha Temple is an ancient Roman temple dating back to the 2nd century&nbsp;AD.