Following a defeat in the 8th century, Anjar was damaged and subsequently abandoned. Yet, it is this short history which makes Anjar such an important site. For, every aspect of what remains – it’s carefully planned layout, the large arches and colonnades of the palaces which once stood there – can all be dated precisely to the Umayyad period.

Iterestingly, Anjar was never actually completed.

Anjar history

Founded under the rule of Caliph Walid Ibn Abd Al-Malak, Anjar was a vibrant trading hub at the intersection of 2 important routes: one between Beirut and Damascus, the other crossing the Bekaa and linking Homs with Tiberiade.

However, in 744 AD, Anjar’s prosperity came to an end when Walid’s son, Caliph Ibrahim, suffered a defeat and the city was destroyed and abandoned, leaving behind the shadow of an 8th century city to be uncovered centuries later.

The remains of Anjar were only excavated in the 1940s, revealing the fortified city walls dotted with 40 towers, encircling a strict urban plan. The ruins included monuments and freestanding arched columns originally part of the Umayyad palace that has 3 preserved levels.

From 1939 onwards, Anjar was repopulated by Armenian refugees from Musa Dagh in Turkey.

Anjar today

Today, Anjar is an archaeological site listed by UNESCO for being such an excellent example of Umayyad architecture and is open to visit. Framed by stunning mountain views, Anjar is a site well-worth spending a few hours wandering around, reading the informative signs that guide you through the city’s history along the main streets that divide the residential area from the palace and ‘hamams’ baths.

Getting to Anjar

Situated on the Lebanon-Syria border, Anjar is just off the highway 30 road, an hour and a half drive from the capital city Beirut.

The site was inscribed in 1984 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

History of Baalbek

Nothing is known of Baalbek prior to the Greek conquest of Syria. Initially a Phoenician settlement dedicated to the worship of the deity of the sun Baal, Baalbek was known as Heliopolis (City of the Sun) by the Greeks in the 4th century BC.

After Alexander the Great‘s conquest of Persia in the 330s BC, Baalbek formed part of the Diadochi kingdoms of Egypt and Syria. It then fell to the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, under which the town was called Heliopolis.

It was during Roman times that Baalbek reached especially grew, being annexed and thus becoming a Roman colony in 47BC under Julius Caesar. Over the next two centuries, the Romans would imbue Baalbek with the empire’s largest holy temples. By 150AD, it would be home to the vast temples of Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus.

The city passed into Byzantine hands and was then occupied by the Muslim army in 634 AD, coming under Arab domination in 637 AD.

The ruins of Baalbek first came to European attention in the 16th century. Though much of the area had been destroyed by earthquakes, between 1898-1903 a German expedition excavated the two Roman temples and began to reconstruct the ruins.

From the 20th century, the city was administered by various Muslim rulers of Syria. After World War I the French mandatory authorities included Baalbek in Lebanon. Reconstruction stagnated until the end of Lebanon’s civil war, with preservation and resultant tourism growing from the 1990s onwards.

Baalbek Today

Today, visitors to Baalbek can see the impressive ruins of the incredible structures that remain. This includes standing in the shadow of six of the original 54 columns of the Temple of Jupiter – the largest temple ever built by the Empire. Baalbek is also the place to see the extremely well-preserved Temple of Bacchus, the stairs of the Temple of Mercury, and a ceremonial entryway known as the propylaea.

There are also ruins from Baalbek’s time beyond Roman occupation. For example, the ruins of the Roman Temple of Venus show how it was incorporated into a Byzantine church. This and other sites tell of the time of the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius, who destroyed many of the Roman holy sites in favour of churches and basilicas.

Visitors can also see the remnants of a large 8th century mosque from the Arab conquest. Baalbek is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Getting to Baalbek

From the centre of Lebanon, Baalbek is a 50 minute drive via Zahlé – Baalbek Hwy. This is by far the best way to reach the site.

History of Beiteddine Palace

Designed by an Italian architect, the palace was built over the course of 30 years between 1788 and 1818. It was built for Ottoman-appointed governor of the region, Emir Bashir Chehab II. Its name translates to ‘House of Faith’, while its design reflects a mixture between Arabic and Italian baroque styles.

During the French mandate, the palace was used for local administration, and after 1930 it was declared a historic monument. From 1943, Lebanon’s first post-independence president declared it as his summer palace.

During the Israeli invasion, the palace was extensively damaged, with up to 90% of its contents being lost. After the fighting ended, it was claimed by the Druze militia, who returned it to the government in 1999.

Beiteddine Palace today

Today, much of the palace has been extensively restored. Highlights include the stables, which used to be able to accommodate 600 horses and 500 foot soldiers, and now contain an extensive collection of Byzantine mosaics.

The upper floor houses the Rashid Karami Archeological and Ethnographic Museum, which contains items from the Bronze and Iron Ages, Roman glass, gold jewellery, lead sarcophagi, glazed Islamic pottery, and a miniature replica of the palace to provide visitors with an idea of the structure’s original form.

Since 1985, the palace hosts the Beiteddine Festival, one of the biggest annual music and art festivals in the Middle East.

Getting to Beiteddine Palace

Beiteddine Palace is situated in the town of Beit ed-Dine, in Lebanon, around 40 km away from the capital city of Beirut. It has an elevation of 850 metres, so you have to go by car!

Byblos history

Over time, Byblos would, amongst other things, become a Phoenician trading hub called Gublu, be taken by Alexander the Great in 333 BC, be ruled by the Greeks (this as when it acquired its current name) and then fall to Pompey, becoming a Roman city in the 1st century BC. In the 3rd century, the city gained an impressive theatre.

Byblos began to decline under the Byzantines, who took it in 399 AD. After which by the 12th century, Byblos had become part of the Crusader state of Tripoli, connected to Jerusalem. However, the town was taken by Saladin in 1187 and surrendered to the Mamluks, becoming part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until 1918.

Byblos today

Today, Byblos bears the marks of all of these civilisations. Stone Age, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age dwelling sit side by side with a royal Phoenician necropolis and Roman sites such as a theatre, a road and nympheum. There is also a 12th century Crusader Castle, a reminder of when Byblos was conquered in 1104.

In addition to its fascinating ruins, Byblos is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its contribution to modern language, connected with the Phoenicians’ development of the predecessor of our alphabet. There’s plenty to see at Byblos, some in its main archaeological site, other elements dotted around its medieval town centre.

Getting to Byblos

Situated on Lebanon’s coast, Byblos is an hour’s drive from Beirut via route 51M although you can explore the ancient city on foot easily enough.

History of Sidon Castle

The city of Sidon is located on the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon, and throughout its history which dates as far back as 4000 BC, has been of great religious, political, and commercial value.

Sidon Sea Castle was built in 1228 AD by the Crusader Knights of St John of Hospital and Jerusalem. Built on a small island in the Port of Sidon, it was used as a fortress of the holy land, and was connected to the mainland by a narrow 80m long roadway.

The castle primarily consists of two towers connected by a wall. In the outer walls, Roman columns were used as horizontal reinforcements, which is not uncommon for fortifications built on or near former Roman sites. There is also a large vaulted room scattered with old carved capitals and rusted cannonballs.

Old illustrations of the castle reveal the true beauty of the once significant building, since both war and destruction by the Mamluks has left the castle in a state of half-ruin, and despite efforts to rebuild it in the 17th century, what remains today is sparse compared to the grandeur that Sidon Sea Castle would have once commanded.

It is possible that the island on which the castle is built was the location of the Phoenician King’s palace and several other Phoenician monuments which were destroyed by Esarhaddon and natural earthquakes. The castle has also served as a shelter from inside attacks on the city.

Sidon Castle Today

Today, visitors can walk around the castle for around £3 a visit. It is recommended that visitors enjoy the castle as part of a tour. There are beautiful views of Sidon and out to sea from the castle, and nearby, the many small restaurants allow visitors to satisfy their eyes and stomachs alike.

Getting to Sidon Castle

The castle is a 45 minute drive from Beirut along the beautiful coastline, via Route 51M. Within Sidon itself, the castle is reachable in around 20 minutes by foot, via the Rafic El Hariri and Courniche El Baher road, which takes you along the coastline and with a long view of the castle itself.