Recently Viewed
Beiteddine and Deir el Qamar Tour: A Journey into Lebanon's Countryside with Historical Sightseeing
5.0
1 Rating
Beit ed-Dine
Discover the charm of Lebanon’s rural landscapes with a thrilling day trip from Beirut to the Chouf Mountain. Explore the historic Beiteddine palace from the 19th century, followed by a visit to Deir el Qamar to admire the city’s stone-built architectural wonders. This intimate group tour includes both lunch and entry fees.
Duration:
6 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 repurposed the palace 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.
- Deir El Qamar - Deir al-Qamar, meaning “Monastery of the Moon,” is a village situated southeast of Beirut, about five kilometers from Beiteddine Palace in the Chouf District of Mount Lebanon. In 1864, Deir El Qamar became the first village in Lebanon to establish a municipality 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 dispatched a French contingent to rebuild it, reaffirming France’s historical role as protector of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, as established by a 1523 treaty. In 1864, Deir el-Qamar elected the first municipality in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The village maintains a charming appearance with its typical stone houses and red tile roofs.
- Fakhreddine’s Mosque - Fakhreddine Mosque, featuring an 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 a church on the site over the ruins of an ancient Phoenician temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte, which was later destroyed by an earthquake in 859. According to the Maronite Heritage website, “the legend says that there was a Druze Emir in Baakline looking at the hill of Dar El Kamar. He saw a light emanating from the hill and ordered his soldiers to dig in the land the next morning. He instructed them: ‘If you find an Islamic symbol, build a mosque. If you find a Christian symbol, build a church.’ In the morning, the soldiers discovered a rock with a cross on it, and beneath the cross were the moon and Venus. This indicated that in ancient times, there was a temple dedicated to the moon and Venus, which later became a church.”
What's Included
- All entrance fees included
- Lunch provided
- Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
- Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Location
Beiteddine Palace
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
89assk
Dec 18, 2020
Great day out with Beirut daily tours - Great day out, small group tour with Beirut Daily Tours and Albert was a fantastic tour guide and the whole day was fun. Got to try unique pkaces and the day was not rushed and we ciuld take our time at each location. Lunch was great as well. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
More activities from this operator
