Lebanon
Asia · Western Asia
Overview
Lebanon lies in the Middle East, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between Syria and Israel. The country was a central territory of historical Phoenicia, from where the Phoenicians conducted trade and seafaring activity that spanned the entire Mediterranean and played a key role in spreading the alphabet. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943, then endured a civil war between 1975 and 1990, whose effects remain visible today in the country's political system, built on power-sharing among religious communities. The official language is Arabic, though French and English are also widely used, and the population is religiously diverse, with significant Muslim and Christian communities both well represented.
Baalbek, a Roman-era temple complex in the Bekaa Valley, with the monumental columns of the Temple of Jupiter, represents one of the grandest religious structures of the Roman Empire and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984. Beirut, the capital, once often called "the Paris of the Middle East," has undergone significant rebuilding following the civil war and the 2020 port explosion, with historic old town districts and a lively nightlife. Byblos, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with layers from Phoenician, Roman, and Crusader periods, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient ruined city of Tyre, once a center of Phoenician purple dye production, with its Roman-era hippodrome and ruins, is on the UNESCO list.
The cedar forests of the Lebanon Mountains, mentioned in the Bible and featured on the country's flag, have been significantly diminished by centuries of logging, though the remaining stands, such as the Cedars of God forest, are now protected. The Kadisha Valley, with its deep gorge and early Christian monasteries built into cave openings on the hillside, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, particularly around Beirut and Byblos, offers seaside recreation, while the mountain ski resorts form one of the region's lesser-known winter sports destinations. Local cuisine is built around mezze, a tradition of small shared dishes, with hummus, tabbouleh, a parsley and bulgur salad, and kibbeh, spiced bulgur and meat dumplings, as signature dishes.
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Browse all UNESCO sites →Tyre
According to legend, purple dye was invented in Tyre. This great Phoenician city ruled the seas and founded prosperous colonies such as Cadiz and Carthage, but its historical role declined at the end of the Crusades. There are important archaeological remains, mainly from Roman times.
Baalbek
This Phoenician city, where a triad of deities was worshipped, was known as Heliopolis during the Hellenistic period. It retained its religious function during Roman times, when the sanctuary of the Heliopolitan Jupiter attracted thousands of pilgrims. Baalbek, with its colossal structures, is one of the finest examples of Imperial Roman architecture at its apogee.
Anjar
The city of Anjar was founded by Caliph Walid I at the beginning of the 8th century. The ruins reveal a very regular layout, reminiscent of the palace-cities of ancient times, and are a unique testimony to city planning under the Umayyads.
Byblos
The ruins of many successive civilizations are found at Byblos, one of the oldest Phoenician cities. Inhabited since Neolithic times, it has been closely linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Byblos is also directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet.
Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)
The Qadisha valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world. Its monasteries, many of which are of a great age, stand in dramatic positions in a rugged landscape. Nearby are the remains of the great forest of cedars of Lebanon, highly prized in antiquity for the construction of great religious buildings.
Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli
Located in northern Lebanon, the Rachid Karameh International Fair of Tripoli was designed in 1962 by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer on a 70-hectare site located between the historic centre of Tripoli and the Al Mina port. The main building of the fair consists of a huge covered hall in the shape of a boomerang of 750 metres by 70 metres, a flexible space for countries to install exhibitions. The fair was the flagship project of Lebanon's modernization policy in the 1960s. The close collaboration between Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of the project, and Lebanese engineers gave rise to a remarkable example of exchange between different continents. In terms of scale and wealth of formal expression, it is one of the major representative works of 20th century modern architecture in the Arab Near East.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Lebanon?
The capital of Lebanon is Beirut.
What is the area of Lebanon?
The area of Lebanon is 10,452 km².
What is the population of Lebanon?
The population of Lebanon is 5,805,962.
What is the currency of Lebanon?
The currency of Lebanon is Lebanese pound (LBP).
What is the official language of Lebanon?
The official language of Lebanon: Arabic, French.
What side of the road does Lebanon drive on?
Lebanon: Right-hand traffic.
Is Lebanon a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Lebanon is a member of the United Nations.