Jounieh (Lebanon)
On the shores of Jounieh Bay, 20 km north of Beirut, there is a resort area of the same name. Sandy beaches with numerous hotels stretch along the coast of the bay, surrounded from the east by the high mountains of Lebanon. During the summer, Jounieh becomes the premier beach destination in the country. Jounieh hotels have a developed infrastructure, which attracts many tourists here. In addition, in the vicinity of the resort area there are various attractions.
According to weddinginfashion, Jounieh is dominated by the 600-meter Harris Hill, where a statue of the Holy Virgin Mary was erected in the early 20th century.. Harris Hill has been chosen as a sacred site for Catholics. Similar hills with statues are located all over the world: In the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and Europe. A cable car is laid to the top of the hill, along which tourists are delivered. The statue of the Virgin Mary was made in French Lyon, it has a weight of 15 tons and a height of 20 m and is covered with white paint. At the base of the statue is an observation deck that offers a beautiful view of Beirut. and surroundings. Several dozen monasteries and churches are located on Harris Hill. In 1970, a modern cathedral was built behind the statue of the Virgin Mary, resembling a Lebanese cedar and a Phoenician boat in shape. Since 1991, religious processions have been departing from the cathedral, attracting many pilgrims. The famous “Casino du Luban” is also located in the vicinity of Jounieh., which is considered one of the best in the Middle East. The casino was opened in 1959 and at that time was a small gambling center. To date, the area of the casino is 34 thousand square meters. m. Gambling for every taste is offered here: 60 game tables for American roulette, poker, Black Jack, Punto Banco and other games, as well as more than 300 slot machines. In addition to the casino itself, the gaming complex includes concert venues where world celebrities perform and various world-famous shows, restaurants and nightclubs take place.
A little south of Jounieh, the Jeita Cave is interesting., which consists of two levels – Lower and Upper. The total length of the cave is 3500 m. Labyrinths and galleries stretch along its entire length, which were formed by the power of water. The lower level of the cave was discovered in 1836. It can only be traveled by boat, because its bottom is occupied by the river. A 120-meter lift leads to the Upper Level. It is worth noting that the Upper Level is open all year round, while the Lower Level may be closed to the public in winter. The walls of the galleries of the cave are covered with stalactites and stalagmites, and some of them reach incredible sizes – up to 10 m. All galleries are illuminated. There are restaurants and souvenir shops in the vicinity of Jeita Cave, and there is even a theater at the entrance to the Upper Level. Jebel is located 20 km north of Jounieh., known in antiquity as Byblos. It is believed that Byblos was founded in 5000 BC. It is one of the oldest still inhabited cities in the world.
Cedars (Lebanon)
In the northern part of the mountains of Lebanon, in the vicinity of the highest point in the country – Mount Cornet es Saud (3083 m) – at an altitude of 1950 m is the country’s highest mountain resort – Cedars. The ski season here is longer than in other Lebanese resorts (early November – late April). The resort has been operating since 1920 and now has the most developed infrastructure after Faraya-Mzaar. The resort village has hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and clubs. In addition, you can stay in the town of Bsharra, located 7 km from the resort. Most of the local slopes are perfect for unprepared skiers, there are also slopes for children. In addition, Cedars is one of the two resorts in Lebanon with routes of increased difficulty. During the summer, the resort becomes a great place for hiking, hang-gliding and mountain biking.
It got its name because of the ancient cedar forest surrounding it, the age of which reaches 2000 years. The forest grows on the slopes of Mount Makmel and consists of 400 trees, some of which are up to 35 m high and 14 m in diameter. Cedarswere used in ancient times very widely: for shipbuilding and the construction of houses, and under the Turks for heating at all. By the beginning of the 20th century, only a few areas of cedar forests remained on the territory of the country. Now the Lebanese cedar is a symbol of the country and is protected by the state. The history of this protected area goes back to 1877, when, by decree of the Turkish Sultan Rastum Pasha, 102 hectares of cedar forest were surrounded by a high stone wall. Today, about 3 km of hiking trails have been laid in the forest, the Maronite chapel of 1843 and the sculpture “Five Christs” created by the sculptor Rudy Rame from dead Lebanese cedar are interesting here. In addition to the protected forest in the vicinity of the Kedra resort , the city of Bsharre is interesting. The famous Lebanese writer, poet and artist Gibran Khalil was born and died here. In Bsharra, the Gibran Museum is open, where you can see his paintings, drawings and manuscripts. Also in the region it is worth visiting the highest mountain village of the country – Bka Kafra, which is located at an altitude of 1560 m, Tannurin and Horsh Eden cedar reserves and the Kadisha valley. Qadisha Valley from the 6th century CE was a refuge for the Maronites, here in the village of Diman since the 19th century there has been a summer residence of the patriarch of the Maronites, and in the vicinity you can see many Maronite monasteries carved into the rocks. In this regard, the valley is often called “Sacred”. The Kadisha valley with its caves, rivers, waterfalls, monasteries and original villages is a great place for hiking. In 1903, caves of the same name were discovered here, the walls of which are covered with stalactites and stalagmites. Under the caves is a picturesque waterfall.
35 km west of the resort of Cedars on the Mediterranean coast is the ancient city of Tripoli .
