Visit Beirut Walking

This a walking tour for the historic heart of Beirut, which is the main administrative district, including The Lebanese Government Palace, the Lebanese Parliament and Beirut city hall. It is now known as down town or Solidere, the name of the company which did the renovations after the war.

A- the tour starts in front of the Martyrs Monument, which is the symbol of the Lebanese Independances and which also sympolizes the Lebanese war since it was on the frontline. The restoration of the monument was decided after the end of the war, but the bullet traces were intrentionally kept for the memory;

B- Walk towards the sea and take Waygand street until you reach Samir Kassir place and statue. You'll have on the place and in Uruguay street many bars and restaurants if you want to have a drink or eat.

C-Continue on Waygand street until you reach the beautiful building of the Beirut's city hall. In front of the City hall you'll find Al Omari Mosque, initially a churche dedicated to St. John the Baptist of the Knights of St. John's Hospital (the Hospitals). It was built in 1113 on the site of a Byzantine church, itself erected on the ruins of an ancient pagan temple. Following the departure of the Crusaders in 1291, the church was turned into a Mosque and remodeled. A door was opened in the east apse, and a mihrab and minaret were added. Several Mosques in Lebanon and the Region were originally old churches, built on old Roman temples, and you can easilly notice from the inside and outside architectures.

D- Continue on Waygand street until you reach to your right Beirut Souks, a big shopping center which was rebuilt on the place of Beirut's old souks damaged during the war.

E- Continue on Waygand street until you Reach France Street. Take it and enjoy Saint Louis Church. Go around the church until you reach Capucine Street and the the suspended gardens.

F- Continue on Capucine street and enjoy the Roman archeological site of Beiurt Therms/Bathes.

G- Continue towards the Grand Serail (Governement Palace) and try to negotiate with the gard if you can visit the inner court which is beautiful. If you're lucky, they'll let you in. The Governement Serail is the Prime Minister's Head Office. Renovated in the 1990's, a third floor has been added to the original building with respect of the initial architecture.

H- Continue walking on the Army street until you reach Robert Mouawad museum. Discover this amazing 110 years old traditional palace, developped by Henri Pharaon and more recently bought and renovated by Robert Mouawad.
In addition to the beauty of the building and its outstanding decorative collection, you will be able to see one of the greatest collection of Jewellry in the world, including The Excelcior second biggest diamond in the world.

I- Walk down back to Emir Bashir street until you ReacH Saint George Maronite Cathedral, built in 1884. You can find in it a beautiful painting by DeLacroix representing Saint Georges. Just next to it you will find a brand new and monumental Mosque, although huge, but much less interesting than Al Omari Mosque.

I-bis- Come back to Al Maarad street and walk down towards the Place de l'étoile. Take the first Alley to the right an denjoy the view on the ruins of the old phenician and roman archeological ruins. It is believed that the famous Beirut Law University in the Antic world is here. You can also enjoy the view on both Saint George Cathedrals,the Maronite one with it's Neo-Classical style to the right, and the Greek Orthodox one with its Byzantine style to the left. It is to be noted that during your down town tour, you can find 13 churches (Maronite, Latin Catholic, Greek Orthodoxe, Greek Catholic, Armenian,...), and 5 mosques (Sunnni and Shia) and a bit further a Synaguogue which was recently renovated. It's the perfect example of Lebanon's diversity.

J- Finally, you will reach the Place de L'étoile with the Lebanese Parliament to the left, and Saint Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The current Cathedral was built in 1772, but recent archeological works put to light the basis of the 5th Century church and the several ones which were built at the same place before the Cathedral.

Finally, you can continue walking down towards the sea either by taking El Omari street or Habis El Ahdab street and walk around Foch Street and Allemby street where you have lot's of high end shopps and nice cafés and Restaurants.
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