Beit Al Dine

Beit Al Dine is closely associated with Beiteddine Palace: ochre-colored stone, geometrically arranged arcades, spacious courtyards and fountains define its architecture. The palace was built on a hill in Beit ed-Dine, 750 meters above sea level. In the wider destination of Mount Lebanon, it is considered an outstanding cultural heritage site and an example of the architectural revival of the 19th century.

The palace’s architecture and history

The history of Beiteddine Palace combines architecture with political significance. After its construction, Emir Bashir Shihab II moved the seat of government there. A canal built between 1812 and 1815 carried water from the springs of Nahr al-Safa to the palace. In 1934, the building was classified as a historic building and included in the general register of historic and archaeological buildings. These details give the place several historical facets: its architecture, its role as the seat of government and the waterworks of the past.

Museums and festival

Two museums are also associated with Beiteddine Palace. The Byzantine Mosaic Museum is associated with mosaics from the 4th and 5th centuries. The Ethnographic Museum covers Phoenician pottery, Roman glass, traditional costumes and jewelry. Together, these collections offer insights into different forms of material culture, providing a different focus from the palace’s courtyards, fountains and arcades.

Another cultural highlight is the Beiteddine Festival. Every year in July and August, it presents performances by internationally renowned stars and artists from Lebanon. Here, the enduringly visible palace architecture meets a seasonal program of events. If the festival is important to your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant edition.

Other nature and culture themes in Mount Lebanon

The wider destination of Mount Lebanon also encompasses its own landscape and local histories. In El-Werhaniyeh, forests cover 35 percent of the area. They include hundreds of centuries-old oak trees, some more than 200 years old, as well as mulberry trees, hawthorns, pines and other tree species. The area has abundant water resources and freshwater springs. One part of the village is called El-Ayoun, “The Eyes,” because of its many springs. The Werhaniyeh-Freidis-Barouk Forest Trail starts in El-Werhaniyeh and is used by hikers and nature enthusiasts. Traditional Lebanese architecture is also preserved there, and the Assaf Museum is officially recognized as a national museum.

Further historical themes can be found in Maasser Beit el-Din, also known as Ain El-Maasser. The village’s sights include a historic 19th-century silk factory; ancient olive presses can be found on Ram Hill. Every year, the village also celebrates the feast of Saint Elias, its patron saint. The celebration includes a solemn Mass in the village church, a communal dinner and an exhibition.

Majdel Maoush and Barouk-Freidis also have their own local and festival traditions in Mount Lebanon. The Church of Our Lady in Majdel Maoush was built in 1609 by Patriarch Jean Makhlouf; the old Church of Saint George there dates back to Patriarch Douaihy. Every year, Majdel Maoush celebrates the Assumption of Mary with a solemn Mass and an arts festival. Barouk-Freidis hosts its annual Apple-Day Festival in late September. The Shabrouh Dam is also located in the Mount Lebanon Governorate and has a capacity of eight million cubic meters of water.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When choosing a holiday apartment in Beit Al Dine, you can first consider which themes you want your trip to focus on. The palace offers concrete points of interest: architecture, history, museums and seasonal festival performances. The forests, springs and village traditions of other places are distinct themes within the wider destination of Mount Lebanon.

Discover more destinations

Dhour Choueir, Chtaura, Kafrā, Beirut, Jiyeh, Zahlé, Ḑahr Al Ḩarf, Jounieh

For the wider travel overview: Lebanon.