With a reputation as “The Switzerland of the Middle East”, Lebanon was a trendy tourist destination among the glitterati of Europe, North Africa and indeed, parts abroad, in the decades before the country’s ruinous civil war from 1975 to 1990. Fifteen years of devastation saw the tourism industry grind to a virtual halt, from 20 percent of gross domestic product before the war to less than 3 percent at the apex of sectarian violence.
While conditions in Lebanon, from radical quarters of the capital Beirut to border areas near Israel, are far from ideal, there has been a sharp reversal of the tourism decline in recent years. From 450,000 foreign visitors in 1995 to more than double that in 2005, there are definite signs of optimism in Lebanon. And why not? With a rich culture, pristine Mediterranean coast, ski resorts, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and vast network of historic towns, the country has a lot to offer.
Beqaa Valley is one of the premier jewels in Lebanon’s crown. The fertile valley is without a doubt, the country’s most important agricultural region. As a result, the lush landscape represents one glorious tourism destination. Here are ten great reasons to head to Beqaa.
Lebanon’s only man-made lake was the result of a hydroelectric dam built in 1959. With future plans to use the lake to irrigate nearby farmland, Qaraoun now serves as a preeminent recreation spot, with myriad watersports and superb seafood restaurants up and down the shore.
Notable for clean, fragrant air and a rich culinary heritage, Zahle is the “Bride of the Beqaa Valley”. With more than 100,000 inhabitants, the town ranks third in Lebanon in population terms. For mezze, the powerful spirit arak and wine, Zahle is ground zero in Lebanon.
Just east of the Litani River, the town of Baalbek plays a vital role in national tourism. Home to beautiful temple ruins that hint back to a time when the town, then Heliopolis, was a major sanctuary in the Roman Empire. The colossal network of impressive ruins received UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 1984.
The town of Anjar, whose small population is for the most part Armenian, boasts several critical archaeological sites that date back to antiquity. Built in the 8th century by the Umayyad Caliphate, the second community of Muslim leadership after the death of Muhammad, the ruins that stand today in Anjar are remarkable.
A mere 10 km north of Mount Hermon, the conservative Sunni Muslim town of Kherbet Rouha is notable for fabulous mosque architecture that features a minaret spire that soars above 100 m.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat is why the vast majority of tourists come to this small Beqaa Valley town. Since the discovery of a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary in a deep cave in 1741, Bechouat has become a major pilgrimage site in the Christian world. A church now sits on top of the cave.
Phoenician ruins in Kamid al lawz
German excavations that began here in 1963 and took place over a period of twenty years unearthed a peerless network of ruins from the Chalcolithic or Copper Age. The vital discovery was a signal that as early as 4,000 B.C., there were traces of human civilization in the Beqaa Valley town of Kamid al lawz.
About 20 km south of Zahle, the town of Kab Elias features spectacular Roman and Druze ruins, agricultural festivals and a network of pristine natural springs, especially popular with Beirut residents. Most inhabitants of Kab Elias are farmers in one form or another and as a result, the town offers superb cuisine.
A vital UNESCO biosphere reserve, the Aammiq is a peerless refuge for endemic bird life and marsh flora. The important ecosystem also supports vast animal life, from jungle cats to otters, porcupines to wild boars.
Long before France and Italy, there was wine production in Lebanon. The Phoenicians were pioneers in this regard and spread the concept of viticulture throughout the immense Mediterranean region. The clement climate of the Beqaa Valley makes it ideal for grape growth and wine production and as such, visitors to the area clamor for tours at a handful of notable vineyards.
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