|
|
|
|
|
Business
&
Community
Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
road
to
Beiteddine
leaves
the
coastal
highway
17
kilometers
beyond
Beirut,
just
a
few
kilometers
after
the
town
of
Damour.
From
there
it
climbs
quickly
along
the
beautiful
Damour
river
valley
for
26
kilometers
to
an
elevation
of
850
meters
at
Beiteddine.
The
most
spectacular
view
of
the
palace
and
its
surroundings
is
from
the
village
of
Deir
El
Qamar
(Monastery
of
the
moon),
five
kilometers
before
Beiteddine.
The
Beiteddine
palace
complex,
Lebanon's
best
example
of
early
19th
century
Lebanese
architecture,
was
built
over
a
thirty
year
period
by
Emir
Bechir
El
Chehab
II,
who
ruled
Mount-Lebanon
for
more
than
half
a
century.
Beiteddine
-
Surrounded
by
history
In
the
Middle
Ages
Lebanon
was
divided
up
into
fiefs
governed
by
emirs
or
hereditary
sheikhs.
But
in
the early
years
of
the
17th
century,
Emir
Fakhr
Ed
Dine
II
Maan
(d.
1635)
succeeded
in
extending
his
power
throughout
these
princedoms
and
eventually
ruled
an
area
corresponding
to
present-day
Lebanon. |
|
Dar
El
Harim
façade
|
His
first
capital
was
at
Baaqline
but
because
of
a
chronic
water
shortage,
he
was
forced
to
move
to
Deir
El
Qamar
where
there
were
copious
springs.
When
the
Maan
dynasty
died
out
at
the
end
of
the
17th
century,
the
land
was
inherited
by
the
emirs
of
the
Chehab
family.
It
was
Emir
Bechir
Chehab
II
who
decided
to
leave
Deir
El
Qamar
and
to
construct
his
own
palace
at
Beiteddine
(House
of
faith),
a
druze
hermitage
which
today
is
part
of
the
palace.
In
1812,
Emir
Bechir
obliged
each
of
his
able-bodied
males
subjects
to
provide
two
days
of
unpaid
labor
in
order
to
ensure
a
plentiful
supply
of
water
at
his
new
seat
of
government.
Within
two
years
the
project
was
completed.
The
palace
remained
the
emir's
residence
until
his
forced
exile
in
1840.
After
the
Ottomans
suppressed
the
emirate
in
1842
the
building
was
used
by
the
Ottoman
authorities
as
the
government
residence.
Later,
under
the
French
Mandate
following
World
War
I,
it
was
used
for
local
administrative
purposes.
The
General
Directorate
of
Antiquities
carefully
restored
Beiteddine
to
its
original
grandeur
after
it
was
declared
a
historic
monument
in
1934.
Beginning
in
1943,
the
year
of
Lebanon's
independence,
the
palace
became
the
summer
residence
of
the
president.
Bechara
El
Khoury
was
the
first
president
to
use
Beiteddine
and
he
brought
back
the
remains
of
Emir
Bechir
from
Istanbul,
where
he
had
died
in
1850.
Today
Beiteddine,
with
its
museums
and
its
gardens,
is
one
of
Lebanon's
major
tourist
attractions.
Qualified
guides
are
available
for
your
tour
through
this
monument,
which
is
open
daily.
A
visit
to
Beiteddine
is
ideally
combined
with
nearby
Dei
Al
Qamar.
V
I
S
I
T
I
N
G
T
H
E
P
A
L
A
C
E
Dar
El
Baraniyyeh,
The
outer
section
of
the
Palace.
On
the
approach
to
the
palace
a
large
parking
area
offers
some
of
the
best
views
of
the
buildings
and
grounds.
The
main
entrance
leads
to
a
107x45
meter
courtyard,
Al-Midan,
where
horsemen,
courtiers
and
visitors
used
to
meet
for
various
gatherings.
From
here,
too,
the
Emir
would
leave
with
his
retinue
in
solemn
procession,
either
for
war
or
for
the
hunt.
On
the
ground
floor
is
a
museum,
inaugurated
on
May
1,
1991.
Through
photographs,
documents
and
manuscripts,
it
tells
the
life
story
of
Kamal
Jumblatt,
member
of
Parliament,
cabinet
minister
and
Druze
leader.
Along
the
right
side
of
this
court
is
a
two-story
wing,
Al-Madafa,
which
was
once
used
for
receiving
guests.
it
was
the
custom
that
anyone
of
rank
would
keep
open
house
for
passerby
and
that
a
visitor
would
not
be
asked
for
his
identity
or
the
purpose
of
his
journey
until
he
had
been
there
for
three
days.
A
staircase
leads
to
the
upper
floor,
which
was
entirely
restored
in
1945
using
old
documents
as
a
guide.
Before
the
recent
war
in
Lebanon
this
wing
housed
an
important
museum
of
the
feudal
period.
today
it
is
the
location
of
the
Rashid
Karami
Archeological
and
Ethnographic
Museum.
The
large
collection
includes
pottery
from
the
Bronze
and
Iron
Ages,
Roman
glass,
gold
jewelry,
lead
sarcophagi
and
glazed
pottery
from
the
Islamic
period.
In
the
first
room
on
this
floor
is
a
complete
model
of
Beiteddine,
which
will
help
the
visitor
visualize
the
size
and
configuration
of
the
buildings.
More
rooms,
devoted
to
ethnographic
subjects,
contain
a
collection
of
ancient
and
modern
weapons,
as
well
as
costumes
of
the
feudal
period. |
|
|
Back
to
top |
The
courtyard
of
Dar
El
Wousta |
|
Dar
El
Wousta,
the
middle
section
of
the
Palace.
The
entrance
to
the
central
section
of
the
palace
is
from
a
double
stairway
at
the
far
western
end
of
the
courtyard,
where
a
bust
of
Kamal
Jumblatt
stands.
From
this
point
on,
the
impressive
but
austere
appearance
of
the
outside
court
and
buildings
gives
way
to
the
delightful
architecture
and
greenery
that
has
given
Beiteddine
its
nickname
of
Lebanon's
Alhambra. |
From
the
main
entrance
of
this
wing
a
vaulted
passage
at
the
top
of
the
double
staircase
turns
to
the
right,
towards
the
apartments
of
the
Hamade
Sheikhs
of
the
Shouf
who
were
responsible
for
the
protection
of
the
Palace.
A
turn
to
the
left
brings
you
to
the
offices
of
the
Emir's
Ministers.
The wing
opens
out
onto
an
elegant
courtyard
whose
fountains
accent
the
graceful
arcades
on
three
sides
of
the
court
is
completely
open
in
order
to
provide
full
enjoyment
of
the
countryside. |
|
Dar
El
Kataba
façade |
|
The
luxurious
rooms
along
this
court,
the
corners
of
which
are
occupied
by
wooden
balconies
or
kiosks
called
comandaloune,
are
richly
decorated
with
mosaics
and
marquetry
and
fitted
with
the
best
of
traditional
oriental
furnishings.
These
rooms
served
as
offices
and
receptions
salons
for
the
emir's
minister,
secretaries
and
members
of
his
court.
One
of
the
rooms
is
attributed
to
the
emir's
Minister,
Boutros
Karami. |
The
walls
and
ceilings
are
covered
in
intricately
carved
and
painted
wood,
embellished
with
Arab
calligraphy.
The
marble
fountains
and
panels
were
ingeniously
designed
to
cool
the
surroundings
in
summer,
while
brass
braziers
stood
ready
to
warm
the
chilly
stone
interiors
in
winter.
the
northern
side
of
this
court,
Dar
Al
Kataba,
served
as
offices
for
the
secretaries. |
|
|
|
|
Dar
El
Harim,
the
private
apartments.
At
the
far
end
of
this
courtyard
rises
the
Dar
El
Harim,
composed
of
a
large
and
richly
decorated
façade,
the
Upper
Harem,
the
reception
room
or
salamlik,
the
Lower
Harem,
the
kitchens
and
the
baths.
The
monumental
archway
opens
on
the
left
to
the
reception
wing,
which
is
made
up
of
a
waiting
room
and
a
hall.
These
are
by
far
the
most
ornate
room
in
the
palace.
The
waiting
room
has
a
single
column
supporting
the
vault
and
is
known
as
"the
room
of
the
column".
The
reception
hall
itself,
or
salamlik,
is
built
on
two
levels,
the
first
notable
for
a
fine
mosaic
floor
and
walls
covered
with
carved
marble,
sculptures
and
inscriptions.
One
of
these
inscriptions
reads:"
The
homage
of
a
governor
towards
God
is
to
observe
justice,
for
more
than
a
thousand
months
of
prayer."
Emir
Bechir
sat
on
the
raised
platform
at
the
bay
end
of
the
room,
smoking
his
long
pipe
or
narguileh,
as
he
dispensed
justice
with
dignity
and
absolute
power.
Here
the
emir
held
court
and
carried
out
the
business
of
his
emirate.
On
the
right
of
the
entry
door
is
the
Upper
Harem,
with
the
so-called
"Lamartine's
room"
and
another
important
room
called
"Mahkamat",
or
tribunal.
The
corridor
leads
to
the
Lower
Harem
with
the
private
apartments
of
the
emir
and
his
family
set
around
a
courtyard
enclosed
on
four
sides.
Two
liwans
on
the
sides
of
this
court
allowed
the
family
members
to
enjoy
the
fresh
air.
On
the
angle
of
the
Upper
and
the
Lower
Harems
are
the
kitchens
where
servants
prepared
the
daily
meals
for
more
than
500
people.
The
food
was
taken
from
there
to
the
reception
and
living
areas
where
it
was
placed
on
trays
set
in
front
of
the
divans
of
the
notables
and
their
visitors.
From
the
balconies
of
the
Dar
El
Harim,
which
look
out
across
a
vast
terraced
valley,
can
be
seen
the
most
spectacular
view
of
the
palace's
surroundings. |
|
|
|
Hammam,
or
Baths
At
the
northern
edge
of
the
Dar
El
Harim
section
is
the
"hammam",
one
of
the
most
beautiful
in
the
Arab
world.
Following
a
tradition
dating
to
Roman
times,
these
baths
comprise
a
cold
room
or
frigidarium,
used
for
undressing
and
for
relaxation
before
and
after
the
bath.
In
this
reception
room
one
could
discuss
politics
or
literature
or
listen
to
the
latest
rumors.
The
second
section
of
the
baths
comprise
the
lukewarm
room,
or
the
tepidarium.
This
was
used
for
massages
and
served
as
a
transition
between
the
cold
and
warm
sections.
The
third
part
comprised
the
warm
rooms
or
caldarium.
The
paving
stones
of
the
baths
were
supported
by
brick
pillars
and
vault
with
heated
air
passing
underneath.
Beyond
the
baths
is
the
tree-shaded
tomb
of
Sitt
Chams,
the
first
wife
of
the
emir.
She
is
buried
in
a
domed
tomb |
|
Hammam:the
cold
room |
surrounded
by
cypress
trees
in
the
corner
of
the
gardens.
When
the
ashes
of
the
emir
were
brought
back
from
Istanbul
in
1947
they
were
placed
in
the
same
sepulcher. |
|
|
|
|
The
Stables
and
the
Mosaic
Exhibition
Dar
El
Wousta
and
Dar
El
Harim
are
built
over
a
series
of
recently
and
beautifully
restored
vaulted
stables
that
used
to
accommodate
600
horses
and
their
riders,
as
well
as
the
500
foot-soldiers
of
the
emir's
guard.
Today
these
stables
hold
an
extensive
collection
of
Byzantine
mosaics.
The
largest
of
them
come
from
the
ruins
of
a
Byzantine
church
in
the
coastal
city
of
Jiyyeh,
south
of
Beirut.
the
Greek
inscriptions
appearing
on
the
mosaics
date
them
to
the
5th
and
6th
centuries
A.D.
Mosaics
from
other
sites
are
displayed
in
these
stables
and
the
adjacent
gardens.
Near
the
mosaic
museum
is
the
hermitage,
or
Khalwa,
a
place
of
religious
seclusion
for
the
Druze.
This
large
room
in
existence
long
before
Emir
Bechir
built
the
palace,
has
been
restored
and
is
open
to
visitors. |
|
Mosaics
of
colored
marble |
|
|
|
Back
to
top |
Palace
of
Emir
Amine |
|
Palace
of
Emir
Amine
A
palace
was
built
for
each
of
the
emir's
three
sons,
Qassim,
Khalil
and
Amine.
The
palace
of
Emir
Qassim,
now
in
ruins,
is
perched
on
a
promontory
facing
the
great
Palace.
Today
Emir
Khalil's
palace
is
used
as
the
Serail
of
Beiteddine,
the
seat
of
local
administration.
As
for
the
palace
of
Emir
Amine,
which
dominates
the
Beiteddine
complex,
it
was
beautifully
restored
and
converted
into
a
luxury
hotel
by
the
Ministry
of
Tourism.
Now
called
the
Mir
Amine
Palace,
most
of
the
hotel's
24
rooms
open
onto
private
terraces
and
a
hanging
garden. |
Within
walking
distance
from
Mir
Amine
Palace
is
the
summer
residence
of
the
Maronite
Archbishop
of
Sidon,
formerly
Emir
Bechir's
country
house.
Some
of
the
original
architectural
elements
remain,
including
a
beautiful
stone
doorway
covered
with
a
pagoda-shaped
roof.
This
elegant
doorway
is
reached
by
a
high
circular
staircase
easily
visible
from
a
distance. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|