Religious and Historical Sites-Lebanon

1-Saint Antonios, Qozhaya: Dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great, the monastery is commonly called Qozhaya, a Syriac name that means The Treasure of Life. It is one of the oldest monasteries of the Qadisha valley, known as the Valley of the Saints, with several hermitages attached to it. It served as the Maronite See in the 12th century and has been in use ever since, passing over in 1708 to the newly formed Lebanese Maronite Order.

2-Harissa-Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon: The shrine belongs to the Maronite Patriarchate who entrusted its administration since its foundation in 1904. It is one of the most important shrines in the world honoring Mary, Mother of Jesus. The shrine is highlighted by a huge, 15-ton bronze statue. It is 8.5 m high and has a diameter of five meters. The Virgin Mary stretches her hands towards Beirut. The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon draws millions of faithful both Christians and Muslims from all over the world.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?3- Jeita Grotto: Dramatic caverns at Jeita were nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Natural World. The caves are on two levels: an upper series of caverns where monstrous mineral animals crouch in shady corners; and a lower river level, which offers a unique tour by flat-bottom boat passing “weeping willows” and giant “stone flowers” ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

4-Qadisha Valley “Valley of Saints": The long narrow gorge of the Qadisha Valley is a site of great natural beauty, offering beautiful mountains vistas, and wonderful opportunities for hiking. The valley is also the resting place of Khalil Gibran and the location of a museum dedicated to the author. UNESCO has listed the Qadisha Valley as a World Heritage Site on account of the presence of monastic communities dating from the earliest years of Christianity, and as one of the last surviving groves of Cedar Trees, Lebanon’s national symbol.

5-Sidon: Sidon is mentioned in the Bible and noted for its attractive Crusader sea-castle and thronging maze-like covered souqs. The city was one of the great Phoenician city-states, and though little of the ancient city survives, this is more than compensated for by the city’s attractive medieval core where you may enjoy many scenes of daily activity in shops and alleys. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

6-Tyre: Tyre was one of the great trading centers of early antiquity.?The town’s fortunes were a product of trade, and in particular, the sale of a purple dye made from the murex shell – a color called Tyrian purple. The city is now noted for its wonderful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman ruins. These are the harbor and an inland site that contains the city’s necropolis and the best-preserved hippodrome in the world. ??????????????????????????

7-Baalbak: It is one of the most important Roman sites in the world and was dedicated to the triad of Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury. The site is entered via a monumental stairway and then proceeds through the Propylaea and two impressive marble courtyards to the Temple of Jupiter – one of the largest temples ever built. To the south, the Temple of Bacchus is one of the most beautifully decorated Roman temples in existence. The building is in an excellent state of preservation, and while small in comparison to the temple of Jupiter, is still larger than the Parthenon in Athens. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

8-Byblos: Byblos is reputedly one of the oldest inhabited settlements and is also said to be where the alphabet was invested. At the heart of this attractive town where history goes back more than 5000 years, is a picturesque fishing harbor, lined by superb tavern-style restaurants and dominated by a Crusader castle. Behind this are the beautifully restored cobbled lanes and stone houses of the medieval city.?????????????????????????????

09-Beirut: One of the most vibrant and fascinating cities in the Middle East, Beirut was once known as the ‘Paris of the East, and while very modern in outlook, features many beautiful Ottoman and French Mandate period buildings at its heart. The Lebanese capital has always been very sophisticated and chic and is known for its cafes, fine restaurants, nightclubs, and luxury hotels. The city’s National Museum contains a superb collection of antiquities. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????10-The Cedars of God: Located in the Qadisha Valley of Bsharri is one of the last vestiges of the extensive forests of the Lebanon Order that anciently thrived across Mount Lebanon. All early modern travelers' accounts of the wild cedars appear to refer to the ones in Bsharri, the monks in the Qadisha Valley venerated the trees for centuries. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????11-Bekaa Kafra: It is a Lebanese village located in the Bsherri District, North Lebanon. Bekaa Kafra is located in front of the village of Bsherri across the Qadisha Valley. It is the birth town of Saint Charbel; it has an altitude ranging from 1500 m to 2000 m at its highest point, making it officially the highest village in the Middle East.

12-The Monastery of Saint Maron (Annaya): It is the Monastery of the Lebanese Maronite Order and the place that arouses the curiosity of all visitors from all over the world. This Monastery houses the tomb of Saint Charbel, a Lebanese monk whose miracles are still manifesting all over the world. It is a true source of inspiration for all beliefs and religions.