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Half-Day Scenic Tour to Beit El Din and Deir El Qamar: Discover Lebanese Countryside
Beit ed-Dine
Embark on a half-day scenic tour to Beit El Din and Deir El Qamar in Lebanon's Chouf region. Explore Beiteddine Palace and the charming village of Deir El Qamar while taking in the picturesque countryside views.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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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. It is the birthplace of many notable figures, including artists, writers, and politicians. The village was historically home to people of various religious backgrounds, featuring a mosque, synagogue, and Christian churches. In 1860, Deir al-Qamar was devastated 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. Originally 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 destroyed by an earthquake in 859. According to the Maronite Heritage website, a legend tells of a Druze Emir in Baakline who saw a light emanating from the hill of Dar El Kamar. He instructed his soldiers to dig at the site the next morning, saying, ‘If you find an Islamic symbol, build a mosque. If you find a Christian symbol, build a church.’ The soldiers discovered 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
- English Speaking Driver
- Hotel Pick up & Drop off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Experience the distinctive ambiance of the Chouf district in Lebanon’s rural areas. This half-day excursion from Beirut will take you to explore the grandeur of Beiteddine Palace and the quaint Deir El Qamar village. As you travel from Beirut, savor the verdant landscapes. A driver fluent in English and a private, climate-controlled vehicle will be provided for the tour.
Location
Beiteddine Palace
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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