Beirut is the capital of Lebanon, its largest city. Its area is only 20 km2, on which there are a huge number of attractions. Beirut is called the "Paris of the Middle East". It was part of France and retained European views on life. At the same time, the capital is colorful, everything here reminds of the magnificent Arab traditions.

The ancient city is 80 km from Beirut Baalbek. It was inhabited even before our era, and its temples were built and rebuilt for 2000 years. Their creation is attributed to extraterrestrial civilizations or heroes of biblical legends: such incredible sizes and structures of buildings. The most interesting for tourists are terraces made of blocks weighing up to 1000 tons, the temple of Jupiter and the temple Bacchus, which is very well preserved.

X thousand years ago there were the first settlements on the territory of Byblos, and in the III thousand BC the city was an important religious and commercial center. Since then, people have never left it. On the territory of the city you can see ancient churches, a Roman theater, an archaeological complex, a fortress. In Byblos you can feel the atmosphere of one of the oldest cities in the world, a mixture of cultures and traditions.

The city is 58 km from Beirut. There is an assumption that in place Anjara was once the ancient Iturian city of Chalcis. The city itself has not been found, but archaeologists have discovered the remains of a majestic palace complex. Its ruins and adjacent territories are included in the UNESCO Heritage List. Modern Anjar was founded in 1939, it is inhabited by 2,400 people, most of whom are Armenians.

This is an incredible natural attraction that you must see. It is a tunnel – an exit from an underground river. Karst limestone caves stretch for almost 9 km, but tourists are shown only 600 m. Also in one of the caves found the remains of a foundry. In ancient times, people made weapons here. Every year a unique music festival takes place in the cave.

This is a monument built in the city Junia, 20 km from Beirut. It was cast in France, and then transported to Lebanon and placed on the hill of Harissa, whose height is 650 m. Therefore, the 20-meter statue of the Virgin Mary can be seen from anywhere in the city. You can climb up to it by cable car, having examined the area at the same time. There are also many attractions at the foot of the mountain.

To understand the rich and intricate history of Lebanon, you need to visit the National Museum of Beirut. It has a collection of more than 100 thousand artifacts, which is constantly being updated. This museum is one of the richest in the Middle East. It has incredible mosaics, valuable sarcophagi, including the sarcophagus of King Ahiram and excavation sites.

A frequent museum housed in a beautiful old house owned by Nikola Sursok. According to the will, after his death, the house was turned into a museum. There are more than 5,000 exhibits and a large library on display. The museum presents both ancient objects and examples of modern art. The ancient jug, the first printed Koran and the ancient Bible are of the greatest interest.

This is the heart of old Beirut. There are many attractions around it, and the adjacent streets are fraught with many secrets and a long history. There are even several Christian shrines among the buildings. With the coming of darkness, the square becomes the center of Beirut's nightlife. There are many cafes and bars that locals love.

Back in the 30s of the last century, a monument was erected on the square to the Lebanese who died in the fight against the Turkish occupiers. Since that time, the square has received its name. During the war, the so-called "Green Line" also passed through it, which divided Beirut into two parts: Muslim and Christian. There is a beautiful mosque near the square Mohammed Al-Amina.

The mosque was built for 5 years, from 2002 to 2007 near the Martyrs' Square by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. After his death, he was buried next to her. The area of the mosque exceeds 10 thousand km2. The yellow stones of the walls contrast with the blue dome with gold features. It is a masterpiece of religious architecture in Beirut. Local residents hold political demonstrations near it.

The temple is located at the foot of the mountain Harissa, on which the statue of the Virgin Mary is placed. It was built in 1962. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Lebanon, a vivid example of Byzantine architecture. Worship in the temple is conducted according to the Byzantine rite, and it belongs to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The cathedral has an unusual appearance and rich decoration.

North of the city Batrun is a medieval fortification – fort Msaila. It rises on a long and narrow limestone terrace above the river Nahrel-Yauz. The fortress was built by Emir Fakhruddin II in the XVII century. The fort is guarded by walls 1.5 – 2 meters thick made of sandstone. You can enter the fortress through the gate, inside it there is a triangular courtyard and an entrance to the towers.

The fortress is located on the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. In the past, she defended the port of the city of Sidon, which once flourished. The fortifications that have come down to our days were created in the XIII century by the Crusaders. Tourists can explore the massive defensive towers of the fortress. In the western one, which is better preserved, you can see the remains of ancient weapons.

The Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles is located in Tripoli. It is named after the Count of Toulouse, the commander of the Crusaders. He began building it on top of a hill in 1103 to protect it from attacks. This is a powerful structure with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70. Besides the fact that the fortress gives an excellent idea of the historical events of Lebanon, it offers beautiful views.

Castle Mousses are called the fortress of love. It was built by a poor villager for his beloved. He began construction at the age of 14 and continued to build the castle for the next 25 years. The saddest thing is that he never won the heart of his beloved, but he achieved the great love of the locals. Tours of the castle are conducted by Moussa himself. He shares his story with everyone.

The river got its name because of the legend of a dog guarding the banks. But it is interesting not only for this. Numerous military campaigns were carried out along it, and the history of Lebanon was made, because of which you can see many commemorative plaques. It is an important landmark of the country. It carries information about the fateful events that influenced the future of the country.

It is the largest nature reserve in Lebanon. Its area is 550 km2, which is about 5% of the entire territory of the country. The main protected value of the reserve is the Lebanese cedar. Some of them are up to 2 thousand years old. The reserve is home to 32 species of mammals and about 200 species of birds. Not far from the reserve are the fortresses of Kab-Ilias and Kalat-Ninha.

The valley is located in the east of Lebanon, 30 km from Beirut. It is an important agricultural area that lies between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges. The largest cities of the valley are Zahre and Bekaa. There are many interesting places in the valley. The temple complex located on its territory is included in the UNESCO Heritage List. Also, the valley gained a sad fame after the Lebanese War.

It is a valley located in the districts of Bichir and Zgarta. Its name translates as "Sacred". This is due to the fact that there were once many Christian shrines on its territory, and there was a monastic community. Because of this, it is taken under UNESCO protection as one of the earliest places of formation of monastic settlements.

It is a natural wonder of Beirut. Pigeon Rocks are two small islands that are located near the shore in the Mediterranean Sea. They got their name because of the large number of pigeons that build nests and have been living here for hundreds of years. This place will be interesting for photographers. At sunset, you can take beautiful pictures while sitting in a cozy restaurant on the shore.

Among the numerous cafes, restaurants and bars, shops and hotels located near the bay Junii, there is a huge "Casino du Liban". It was opened in 1959. Its area is 34 thousand m2. It is a vibrant tourist attraction that includes more than 60 poker tables, roulette and halls with 400 slot machines, a showroom and five restaurants.

The Mediterranean has gathered a wide variety of resorts near it and attracts a huge number of tourists every year. Lebanon owns 225 km of coastline, the main resorts on which are Beirut, Sidon, Nabatea, Tripoli, Tyre. The coast of the latter is considered the cleanest. Most of the beaches are paid, but the price includes sun beds, umbrellas, showers and even a visit to a cafe.

Waterfall Baatara is located near the city Tannorin. It was discovered in 1953 by researcher Henry Koif. Its name translates as "The Cave of Three Bridges". It is given to the waterfall because of the three caves through which its waters pass. The height of the waterfall is 225 meters, which makes it very spectacular, powerful and picturesque. The waterfall is popular with tourists.