Tour E:

 Beyrouth - Deir El Kamar - Beiteddine – Moussa castle - Barouk.

Our tour start in Beirut, capital of Lebanon & heart of the Middle East, rises again from the ashes. We visit the National Museum, the city centre with its huge construction sites and renovation works in addition to all the archeological finds, A visit that will confirm the Lebanese will to make their capital again the economic, touristic, cultural & commercial centre of the Middle East.

Deir El Kamar, typical Lebanese village where we visit the Kayssarieh, Notre Dame Churh, Fakhreddine Mosque and Marie Baz museum.

At a small distance, we visit Beiteddin, Palace of Emir Bechir (1788 - 1840) and summer palace of the Lebanese Presidents from 1943 till 1983.

Then we will visit Moussa castle.

The tour also includes the Barouk Reserve.

Description

Beirut

Beirut was built on a rocky promontory, a site also occupied by prehistoric man. In ancient times it was overshadowed by more powerful neighbors, but when the city- states of Sidon began to decline in the first millennium B.C, Beirut acquired more influence. It was not until Romans times, when Beirut became a roman colony in about 15 B.C, that it became an important port and cultural centre. During the roman and Byzantine eras it was distinguished for its law school, whose professors helped draft the famous Justinian code.

Beirut was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 551 A.D. a century later it was conquered by the Moslem Arabs and in 1109 it fell to the crusaders. The city remained in crusader hands until 1291, when it was taken by the Mamluks. In 1516 the 400- year ottoman rule began. Later, in the 17th century, Beirut knew a period of great prosperity under the government of emir Fakhreddine II. Then with the break –up of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the World War I, the city became the capital of modern Lebanon. Beirut, with nearly a million inhabitants, remains the cultural and commercial centre of the country. Today the war- ruined city centre is being reconstructed under a 25-year project that envisages a new modern city that will also retain its familiar oriental flavour .such landmarks as martyrs’ , the souks and the parliament building ,are part of the design, which covers 1.8 million square meters. In extensive archeological investigations, historical periods ranging from Canaanite (3,000- 1200 B.C) t ottoman (1516-1918 A.D) have been revealed.

Deir EL Kamar

Once the capital of Mount Lebanon, Deir El Kamar, 35 kms from Beirut is now a typical Lebanese village with its historical center, souk, museum, mosque & churches.

Beiteddine

Forty -three kilometer from Beirut stands this magnificent palace built at the beginning of the 19th century by the Emir Bechir II, who reigned over Lebanon for more than 50 years. With its arcades, galleries and rooms decorated by artists from Lebanon, Damascus and Italy, this building is a model of eastern architecture.

Today the palace houses a museum of feudal weapons, costumes and jewelry as well as an archeological museum and a museum of Byzantine mosaics.

Moussa castel

On the northern outskirts of Deir El Qamar, on the road leading to Beiteddine you will notice a modern construction resembling a mediaeval castle. Moussa's Castle is named after its owner and constructor. The inside of this eccentric castle is a wax museum showing scenes of traditional everyday life in the Lebanese Mountains.

The Lebanese traditions incarnated in Moussa castle located in the little town dominating the valley where flows a tributary of Nahr el Damour. It is the real place where we can touch the typical and traditional Lebanese customs gathered & protected all trough the years.

Barouk

Barouk village, situated at the base of mount mount Barouk is covered with a magnificent Cedar forest. This pleasant summer town at 1170 meters altitude is well known as an abundant source of waters, restaurants and open-air cafes.restaurants.