The
Kharj
Barracks
is
a
massive
structure
built
by
Fakhreddine
II
in
1616
as
a
munitions
warehouse
and
barracks.
It
was
remodelled
under
Bechir
III
Chehab
(1840
-
1842)
and
became
a
food
storehouse,
mainly
for
soldiers.
Now
restored,
this
monument
is
the
stunning
setting
of
the
French
Cultural
Center.
The
Palace
of
Emir
Ahmad
Chehab
(George
Baz
Palace),
located
east
of
the
midan,
was
built
by
the
Emir
for
his
wife
in
1755.
After
Emir
Ahmad’s
death,
his
widow
sold
it
to
George
Baz,
an
important
political
figure
of
the
time.
The
architecture
of
this
two-story
structure
is
the
khan
type,
featuring
a
central
courtyard
and
basin.
Around
the
courtyard
are
bedrooms,
apartments
and
baths.
The
impressive
portal
is
made
of
alternating
stones
of
different
colors.
The
Serail
of
Emir
Fakhreddine
II
Maan
(now
the
Emile
Baz
Palace)
located
behind
the
souks,
was
built
with
a
central
courtyard
that
opens
onto
rooms,
apartments
and
kitchens.
The
palace
is
also
the
site
of
Marie
Baz
Wax
Museum
featuring
effigies
of
men
and
women
who
played
a
part
in
Lebanon’s
history.
Behind
the
Emile
Baz
Palace,
is
the
Residence
of
Nicolas
Turq
(1763
-
1828),
court
poet
of
Emir
Bechir
II.
Built
in
1895
in
the
khan
style,
it
was
restored
in
1955
-
1962.
A
gallery
of
three
arcades
links
the
two
sections
of
the
buildings
and
on
the
south
façade
are
three
arched
windows.
The
Hall
of
the
Column
gets
its
name
from
the
massive
column
in
its
center,
although
the
vaulted
construction
is
also
supported
by
a
number
of
pillars.
A
part
of
the
Palace
of
Melhem
Chehab
(1729
-
1754),
it
later
served
as
a
residence
of
Emir
Bechir
II
Chehab.
The
Serail
of
Emir
yousef
Chehab,
which
today
houses
the
town’s
mayoral
offices,
was
built
for
Emir
Fakhreddine
I.
Later
enlarged
by
Emir
Melhem
Chehab
(1729
-
1754),
it
was
then
occupied
by
Emir
Yousef
Chehab.
Finally,
Emir
Bechir
II
Chehab
stayed
there
before
the
palace
at
Beiteddine
was
completed.
The
entrance
is
through
a
magnificent
door
decorated
with
two
lions,
symbol
of
the
Chehab
dynasty.
Two
other
sites
are
a
short
distance
from
the
midan.
The
Mausoleum
el-Kobbeh
is
the
resting
place
of
Emirs
Ahmad
Maan
(1662
-
1697)
and
Haidar
Chehab
(1706
-
1732).
Saydet
et-Talleh,
or
the
Church
of
our
Lady
of
the
hill,
has
been
destroyed
and
rebuilt
may
times,
although
the
structure
we
see
today
dates
to
Bechir
II
Chehab.
The
church
has
an
old
door
decorated
with
a
half-moon
under
a
cross
-a
reference
to
the
name
“Deir
el-Qamar”
(Monastery
of
the
Moon).
On
the
first
Sunday
of
August
the
Feast
of
the
Virgin
is
celebrated
here.
In
the
area
of
Deir
A-Qamar
not
far
from
Kfarhim,
a
sign
marks
the
right
turn
to
Jahiliyeh.
Once
in
the
village,
a
path
leads
to
the
riverside,
where
water
flows
down
the
mountain
in
a
series
of
cold
pools
and
waterfalls,
specially
refreshing
in
the
hot
summer
months.
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