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Beirut Full-Day Tour: Explore Beiteddine, Deir El Qamar and Moussa Castle

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Beit ed-Dine

Embark on a full-day tour from Beirut to Beiteddine, Deir El Qamar, and Moussa Castle. Explore the charming streets of Deir el Qamar, visit the impressive Beiteddine Palace, and discover the unique Moussa Castle surrounded by nature.

Duration: 8 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Beiteddine Palace - Beiteddine Palace, also known as the ‘House of Faith,’ is a 19th-century palace located in Beiteddine, Lebanon. It is the venue for the annual Beiteddine Festival and houses the Beiteddine Palace Museum. The palace was constructed by Emir Bashir Chehab II, who later ruled the Mount Lebanon Emirate, between 1788 and 1818. Post-1840, the Ottomans used it as a government building, and during the French Mandate, it served as a local administrative office. In 1943, it was designated as the president’s official summer residence. The palace suffered significant damage during the Lebanese Civil War. Today, parts of it are open to the public, while the rest remains the president’s summer residence. - Moussa Castle - Qasr Moussa, or Moussa Castle, narrates the story of a man who chased his dream of building his own castle. Situated on a hill between Deir El Kamar and Beiteddine in Lebanon, the castle reflects the beliefs and ideas of its builder, Moussa Al Maamari, who was born on July 27, 1931. He conceived the idea of building a castle at the age of 14 to impress a local girl he loved. - Deir el Qamar - Deir al-Qamar, meaning ‘Monastery of the Moon,’ is a village located southeast of Beirut, about five kilometers from Beiteddine Palace in the Chouf District of Mount Lebanon. Deir El Qamar was the first village in Lebanon to establish a municipality in 1864 and is the birthplace of many notable figures, including artists, writers, and politicians. The village was home to people of various religious backgrounds and featured a mosque, synagogue, and Christian churches. In 1860, Deir al-Qamar was destroyed during the civil war between Druze and Christians, during which the town was set on fire. Napoleon III sent a French contingent to rebuild it, reaffirming France’s historical role as the protector of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, as established by a treaty in 1523. In 1864, Deir el-Qamar elected the first municipality in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The village retains a picturesque charm with its typical stone houses and red tile roofs. - Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque, with its octagonal minaret, is located in Deir el Qamar, Lebanon. Built in 1493 and restored in the 16th century by Fakhreddine I, it is the oldest mosque in Mount Lebanon. - Saydet El Talle Church - The Church of Saidet et Tallé, translated as Our Lady of the Hill, is one of the most significant historical and religious sites in Deir el Qamar, dating back to the 15th century. Monk Nicolas Smisaati constructed the church on the ruins of an old Phoenician temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte, which was later destroyed by an earthquake in 859. According to the Maronite Heritage website, a legend states that a Druze Emir in Baakline saw a light emanating from the hill of Dar El Kamar. He instructed his soldiers to dig in the land the next morning, saying, ‘If you find an Islamic symbol, build a mosque. If you find a Christian symbol, build a church.’ The soldiers found a rock with a cross on it, and beneath the cross were the moon and Venus, indicating that the site had once been a temple dedicated to the moon and Venus before becoming a church.

What's Included

Private transportation
Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
In-vehicle air conditioning

What's Not Included

Lunch
Gratuities

Additional Information

A brief car journey from the vibrant city of Beirut will take you to the Chouf region. Our visitors always enjoy walking around the ancient town that dates back to the middle-ages in Mount Lebanon. Take a journey through the wonderful lanes and passages of Deir el Qamar village, and come across Moussa Castle, an exceptional castle nestled among pine and oak trees. Additionally, you’ll encounter some of the most distinctive amalgamations of Italian architectural styles in Lebanon when you visit Beiteddine Palace.

Location

Beiteddine Palace

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

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