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Private Tour: Beiteddine Palace, Deir el Qamar Village & Moussa Palace Exploration
4.5
2 Ratings
Beit ed-Dine
Leave Beirut for a full-day tour to Beitddine Palace and to the picturesque village of Deir Elkamar with a stop at Moussa Castle. Take in the lush scenery of Lebanon countryside as you travel in a comfortable car or a minivan. Hear onboard commentary from the driver, along with tips for some free time.
Duration:
8 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 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 Al Kamar Municipality - 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. 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 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 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 appearance with 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 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 ordered his soldiers to dig in the land the next morning, instructing them to build a mosque if they found an Islamic symbol and a church if they found a Christian symbol. 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
- Tour Leader
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Comfortable Private Transportation
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Location
Beiteddine Palace
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(2 Ratings)
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1 star
19cristinah
Sep 29, 2023
Very reliable and compliant agency - Excellent agency for excursions. Before traveling, I contacted them and they always answered my emails and advised me on what could and could not be done. Once I arrived in Beirut, they fulfilled everything we had discussed and arranged.
The guides Mohamed and Nada were very punctual, very well prepared and with very good explanations. In addition, they advised me on which places I could go alone after the excursions.
I recommend Beirut daily tours 100%
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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