(Roman
Temples
and
skiing
60
km)
Faqra,
approached
through
a
labyrinth
of
limestone
formations
known
as
“houses
of
ghosts,”
is
known
for
its
temples
and
its
good
skiing.
The
temple
site
is
also
the
venue
of
a
summer
cultural
festival.
The
temples
of
Qalaat
Faqra
at
1,550
meters
are
the
most
extensive
Roman
ruins
of
all
Mount
Lebanon.
The
site
is
dominated
by
a
huge
tower
15
meters
square,
which
originally
had
a
third
story
and
a
pyramid-shaped
roof.
An
interior
staircase
leads
up
to
top.
A
Greek
inscription
on
the
north-east
corner
of
the
tower
and
another
above
the
door
indicate
that
the
building
was
restored
by
the
Roman
Emperor
Claudius
in
43
AD.
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About
50
meters
north-west
of
the
tower
is
a
large
altar,
probably
associated
with
the
tower
itself.
Not
far
away
is
a
colonnaded
altar.
The
main
temple,
dedicated
to
a
“very
great
god,”
is
a
rewarding
place
to
investigate,
with
its
restored
columns
and
the
remains
of
an
altar.
It
had
a
square
courtyard
which
was
surrounded
by
a
colonnade
on
three
sides.
Continuing
down
the
slope
you
reach
the
small
temple,
dedicated
to
“the
Syrian
goddess,”
a
local
form
of
the
goddess
Atargatis.
Also
note
the
basin
in
the
floor
and
the
benches
along
the
side
wall.
This
temple
was
made
into
a
church
in
the
4th
century
AD.
The
ski
trails
of
the
Faqra
Club,
located
south
of
Ouyoun
es-Siman
(Faraya-Mzaar)
at
1,750
meters,
overlook
the
sea
and
the
bay
of
Beirut.
Members
only,
but
special
arrangements
are
available
for
tourists.
Also
in
the
Faqra
area
is
the
Jisr
el
Hajar,
or
natural
bridge
carved
over
the
centuries
by
wind
and
water.
The
34-meter
bridge
is
so
perfect
it
is
hard
to
believe
it
was
created
by
nature.
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