| TO SEE IN LEBANON - Beiteddine - |
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Perched on a 850 meters elevation, Beiteddine or
house of faith, is the best example of early 19th century Lebanese archi-tecture.
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Known for its Beiteddine palace complex, with its mu-seums
and gardens, it's one of Lebanon's major tourists attractions.
The Palace complex is built over a thirty period by Emir Bachir Chehab II, who
ruled Mount-Lebanon for more than half a century. |
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A FEW HISTORIC MARKS |
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In
the Middle Ages,
Lebanon was governed by emirs. Emir Fakhreddine II Maan ruled in the early 17th
century, an area corresponding to present-day Lebanon. By the end of the 17th
century, the emirs of Chehab family took over the land. Emir Bechir Chehab II
decided to leave The Moon Monastery (Deir el-Qamar) in order to raise his own
palace in Beiteddine.
The Ottomans repressed
the Chehab emirate in 1842 and transformed Beiteddine into a government residence.
After World War I,
when Lebanon was under the French Mandate, the palace was used for local administrative
functions.
Beiteddine was declared an historic monument in 1934 and was carefully restored
by the General Directorate of Anti-quities. In 1943, the year of Lebanon inde-pendence,
the Palace became the President summer residence. |
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3 RESTORED SECTIONS |
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The Outer Section
or Dar el-Barraniyyeh represents the main entrance to the Palace and includes
a 107 x 45 meters courtyard, Al-Midan where horsemen and visitors used to meet.
The Kamal Jumblatt Museum
is situated on the ground floor, counts the life story of the famous Druze leader,
through photographs, documents and manuscripts.
The Middle Section or Dar el-Wousta
where apartments of the Hamade Sheiks of the Shouf responsible for the protection
of the palace. |
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The Stables of the Palace recently resto-red, hold
an exten-sive collection of Byzantine mosaics.
The largest of them comes from the ruins of a Byzantine Church in Jiyyeh, south
of Beirut.
Three additional palaces were built by Emir Bechir Chehab II for his 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. Emir Amine's Palace was converted into a luxury
hotel an is now known as Mir Amine Palace. |
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