Lebanon’s diverse patchwork of Mediterranean-lapped coast, rugged alpine peaks and green, fertile valleys is packed into a parcel of land some 225km (140 miles) long and 46km (29 miles) wide. Once known as the ‘Paris of the East’, Beirut commands a magnificent position, thrust into the Mediterranean. Behind the city are towering mountains, visible when the traffic haze settles down. The Corniche seafront boasts beaches, restaurants, theaters and a dazzling variety of shops and restaurants. Beirut suffered greatly from Lebanon’s 16-year civil war, but following an impressive and ongoing process of reconstruction, the city was poised to become one of the most popular tourist and business destinations in the Middle East. Outside of the capital, several UNESCO World Heritage Sites await, many of which reflect the country’s various ancient civilizations. Phoenician tombs, Roman temples, Crusader castles and Mamlouk mosques can be found in the cities and ruins of Baalbeck, Byblos and Tyre. The town of Aanjar in the Bekaa Valley contains an Umayyad site from the 8th century - a unique historical example of a commercial center that was inland. Within the mountainous interior of the Kadisha Valley, ancient monasteries and churches can be seen, including a chapel built into the rock face. Geography Lebanon lies to the east of the Mediterranean, sharing borders to the north and east with the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the south with Israel/Palestinian Territory. It is a mountainous country and between the two mountain ranges of Jebel Lubnan (Mount Lebanon), Mount Hermon and the Anti-Lebanon Range lay the fertile Bekaa Valley. Approximately half of the country lies at an altitude of over 900m (3,000ft). Into this small country is packed such a variety of scenery that there are few places to equal it in beauty and choice. The famous cedar trees grow high in the mountains, while the lower slopes bear grapes, apricots, plums, peaches, figs, olives and barley, often on terraces painstakingly cut out from the mountainsides. On the coastal plain, citrus fruit, bananas and vegetables are cultivated, with radishes and beans grown in tiny patches.
Location: Middle East. Area: 10,452 sq km (4,036 sq miles). Population: 3.9 million (CIA estimate 2007). Population Density: 375.6 per sq km. Capital: Beirut. Population: 1.17 million (2003). Government: Republic. Language: The official language is Arabic, followed by French as the second language. English is widely spoken. Armenian is spoken by a small percentage of the population. Religion: Islam and Christianity are the main religion. Islam (predominantly Shiite) accounts for approximately 59.7% of the population’s beliefs. Christian denominations, mainly Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian and Protestant, account for another 39%. Other religions account for the remainder (including a very small Jewish community). Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Electricity: Electrical current is 110/220 volts, 50HZ. The European round two-pin plug is standard, as is the two-pin flat blade plug, two-pin flat blade plug with 3rd round pin, two-pin round plug with male receptacle pin and the 'Schuko' plug
Lebanese people are known for their hospitality. Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. It is acceptable to give a small gift, particularly if invited home for a meal. As far as dress is concerned, casual dress is suitable for daytime wear, except in main towns where dress tends to be rather formal. Smarter hotels and restaurants often require guests to dress for dinner. Since Lebanon is almost evenly divided between those adhering to the Muslim faith, and those adhering to the Christian faith visitors should dress according to the custom of the majority in the Individual places being visited. Smoking is common and acceptable unless specified otherwise.
Beirut once known as the ‘Paris of the East’, Beirut commands a magnificent position, thrust into the Mediterranean. Behind the city are towering mountains, visible when the traffic haze settles down. The Corniche seafront boasts beaches, restaurants, theaters and a dazzling variety of shops and restaurants. Beirut suffered greatly from Lebanon’s 16-year civil war, but following an impressive and ongoing process of reconstruction, the city is once again one of the most popular tourist and business destinations in the Middle East. The so-called ‘Green Line’ which, during the war, divided the city into East and West, has now gone, and two competing centers have grown up several kilometers apart. One is Hamra in West Beirut, where the American University is located along with the majority of hotels. The other is Achrafieh in East Beirut, home to the Université St Joseph and an increasing number of smart shops and expensive restaurants. Beirut’s Central District, known as Solidere (the company in charge of the reconstruction program), is seeing a spectacular number of modern buildings and office blocks springing up everywhere. After massive landfill, two new marinas, a new seaside promenade and a green park are also planned. While many of the new buildings look very modern, Beirut’s old souks (covered markets) are being reconstructed in an authentic way. The Turkish bath at Al-Nouzha provides another glimpse of the old Beirut. The Beirut National Museum has been rehabilitated and is constantly updating its interesting collection. On the western tip of Beirut, Raouche is an increasingly popular district with a lively seaside promenade. Its famous landmark, the Pigeon Rocks, is huge formations standing like sentinels off the coast. Jeita Grotto (new 7 wonders) around 20km (13 miles) north of Beirut, the spectacular Jeita caverns are a popular tourist attraction. The caverns are on two levels, and the lower gallery includes an underground waterway which can be visited by boat (but may be closed during winter). Tripoli The country’s second city, Tripoli is Lebanon’s most Arabian city and retains much of its provincial charm. Its history dates back to the eighth century BC, and the town center, though surrounded by modern housing developments and beach resorts, has preserved its character. There are two parts – the port area and the city proper – which are divided by acres of fragrant orange plantations. Tripoli’s old medieval center at the foot of the Crusader castle has a number of interesting mosques, including the Al-Muallaq Burtasiyat Madrassa, Al-Qartâwiyat Madrassa, Great Mosque and Taynâl. The old souks (covered markets) provide interesting shopping. Tripoli is famous for its sweets and traditional olive oil-based soap. The port area, known as Al Mina, has numerous seafood restaurants and fish markets; most hotels can be found in the modern beach resorts along the coast. Just off Tripoli, numerous small islands can be visited, the largest of which, the Island of Palm Trees, has been listed by UNESCO as a nature reserve for green turtles and rare birds. Tyre Tyre was founded at the start of the third millennium BC and still bears impressive traces of its ancient origins today. Tyre’s archaeological sites are divided into three areas: area one is located on what was the Phoenician Island and contains ruins of the large district of civic buildings, public baths and mosaic streets; area two contains an extensive network of Romano-Byzantine roads and other installations; area three is most notable for containing one of the largest Roman hippodromes ever found. Byblos Byblos is reputed to be the oldest town in the world, with excavations unearthing artifacts dating back to Neolithic times as well as from Canaanite, Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman and Crusader periods. Fishing boats and pleasure craft ply the old harbor. Today, Byblos is a thriving modern town, with the old town center being the most interesting part for the visitor to explore. Elsewhere A small port city between Beirut and Tyre, Sidon has a sea castle built of stone from Roman remains and it offers well-stocked markets. Beiteddine, in the Chouf Mountains, is the site of the palace built by the Amir Basheer in the 19th century. The courtyard and state rooms are well worth a visit. Near the Syrian border, Baalbek contains one of the best-preserved temple areas of the Roman world still in existence. It is, in fact, a complex of several temples behind which soar the columns of the Temple of Jupiter. Besharre, to the northwest, is best known as the birthplace of the famous Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, author of The Prophet, and there is a Gibran museum. The town is also a gateway to the mountainous region, famous for its many cedar trees.
Lebanese cuisine is widely acknowledged to be the finest in the Middle East. The country’s gastronomic tradition is characterized by the use of an extremely wide variety of locally produced, and therefore extremely fresh, vegetables served in all forms and shapes with an abundance of fresh herbs (mostly coriander, parsley and mint). A meal is always concluded with a wide range of fresh fruit, including melon, apples, oranges, persimmon, tangerines, cactus fruit, grapes and figs, which are all grown locally. Excellent Lebanese food is available everywhere. Beirut also offers a large choice of international restaurants which offer dishes from all over the world. Things to know: Alcohol is not prohibited and may be purchased from any market,shop... National specialties: • Kebbeh (lamb pounded to a fine paste, often rolled into balls and fried). • Mezza, a range of up to 40 small dishes served as hors d’oeuvres with arak. • Tabouli (salad made with cracked wheat, lemon, mint and tomatoes). • Mtabbal (dip made with baked aubergines and garlic). • Baklava (the Lebanese version of these Middle Eastern pastries uses pistachio nuts and rose-water syrup). National drinks: • Arak, a wine traditionally produced and aged for five to 10 years before being redistilled with anis seeds. • Coffee is served strong, thick and heavily sweetened. It is often flavored with cardamom. Legal drinking age: 18. Tipping: In hotels and restaurants, a tip of between 5 and 10% of the bill is expected. Nightlife Nightclubs spice up the evenings in Beirut and mountain resorts. Entertainment ranges from solo guitarists to orchestras and floor shows. Many British-style pubs can be found in Beirut. There are many cinemas presenting the latest films from all over the world. The internationally renowned Casino du Liban in Maameltain is equipped with lavish gambling halls, luxurious restaurants and a cabaret.
Golf Lebanon has five golf courses, the best and most popular of which is The Golf Club of Lebanon. Situated on the outskirts of Beirut, the club offers an 18-hole 71 par course, with scenic views of the mountains on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. The club offers guest membership to visitors. Caddies and club rentals are available and special group green fees may be arranged. The course is playable all year. The club also includes a sport and leisure complex with facilities for tennis, squash, swimming and snooker as well as dining areas. Water sports Scuba diving and Snorkeling is available. The waters near the ancient city of Tyre offer some interesting underwater archeological ruins, which divers may explore. Swimming is generally popular and many beaches offer full facilities, with guest memberships and freshwater pools provided to supplement the sea. Other water sports that can be practiced in Lebanon include water-skiing and sailing. Boats may be rented by anglers along the coast, but most local anglers prefer to fish in the deep waters by the shore. Other Despite its Mediterranean setting, skiing is possible in Lebanon and is actually quite popular. Mountain resorts such as Bakish, The Cedars, Faqra, Faraya, Laklouk and Zarour offer excellent accommodation and facilities. These mountains and gorges also present excellent terrain for hiking. There is a wide selection of tennis courts in major towns and resorts. Horse riding is also popular, and Lebanon’s Equestrian Federation now includes six riding clubs with excellent Arab horses available.
Lebanon has a typically Mediterranean climate. There are four seasons. Summer (June to September) is hot on the coast and cooler in the mountains. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant. Winter (December to mid March) is mostly rainy, with snow in the mountains.