An elevator leads to the bronze statue of the Virgin Mary in the tower of Our Lady of Zahle and Bekaa. The statue is nine meters high and was created by the Italian artist Pierotti. Check whether the elevator is currently operating before your visit.
Zahle: Festival and Literary History
In Zahle, the city’s cultural history extends beyond this structure. Traditionally, the Festival of the Vine takes place here every September; for several weeks, the program includes daily concerts, plays, readings and art exhibitions. If you want the festival to shape your visit, check the dates for the relevant edition. Fifty poets and writers were born in Zahle in the past century. The festival brings together different kinds of events, while the city’s literary history offers a perspective of its own.
Anjar: Fortified City and Urban Planning
The excavated fortified city of Anjar was surrounded by walls flanked by forty towers. Its rectangular area measures 385 × 350 meters. Anjar is considered an outstanding example of urban planning under the Umayyad Caliphate in the 8th century. The main axis runs from north to south; together with the less prominent east-west axis, it divides the city into four equal quarters. The southeast quarter contains the Caliph’s Great Palace and the mosque, both on the highest part of the site. To understand Anjar’s layout, you can distinguish between its outer extent and its internal organization: walls and towers define the perimeter, while the axes and main buildings explain its structure.
Aammiq and the Landscape of the Bekaa Valley
The Aammiq Swamp lies at an elevation of about 865 meters on the western side of the central Bekaa Valley, at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Barouk Mountains. This setting offers a clear contrast with the built structures of Anjar and Zahle: Aammiq draws attention to the landscape of the valley region.
Bekaa in Lebanon
Within the broader destination of Lebanon, Bekaa can be placed within a sequence of four main geographical regions. From west to east come the coastal plain, the Mount Lebanon range, the Bekaa Valley and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains; the four regions differ in topography and climate. The dry Anti-Lebanon Mountains rise east of the Bekaa Valley and form part of Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria. Lebanon joined the Ramsar Convention in 1999.
More Sides of Lebanon
Within the broader destination of Lebanon, Byblos offers another historical perspective. Its walled old town features medieval walls, a cathedral, a castle and a keep; it was later transformed into an Ottoman-style town with souks, khans, a mosque and houses. This makes it possible to compare different periods and urban forms: Anjar is considered an outstanding example of 8th-century Umayyad urban planning, while Byblos combines medieval fortifications with a later Ottoman urban form.
A separate example within the broader destination of Lebanon is the Mzaar Ski Resort. It has ski slopes for different ability levels and offers skiing and snowboarding. Snow and lift operations depend on the season and conditions; check these before planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Zahle, Baalbeck, Aanjar, Nabatieh, South Lebanon Governorate, North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon.
Go to the main travel overview: Lebanon.
