At the municipal level, several historical themes take centre stage: the Sea Citadel reflects medieval defence and later alterations; Debbane Palace and Khan el-Franj introduce further aspects of architectural and cultural history. For travellers, this distinction helps put the themes into context rather than viewing them as a single type of attraction.
Sea Citadel: Defence and change
In the Middle Ages, the Sea Citadel defended the city of Sidon together with the Land Citadel. It was part of the defence system of Sajet, the medieval name for Sidon, and of the northern border of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was also one of the last Crusader fortresses in the Orient. Its history therefore goes beyond the function of a single building and reflects Sidon’s defence and border location at the time.
Its architecture also tells a story of several historical layers: the Mamluks and Ottomans restored parts of the Sea Citadel and added new elements to its original architecture. Its medieval defensive role and subsequent structural changes are therefore equally part of its history. Those interested in fortress architecture can consider these two aspects separately: its place in the defence system and the building’s transformation.
Palace and Khan el-Franj
The Debbane Foundation, established in 1999, restored the palace and opened a public museum. Alongside the history of the fortress, the restoration of a palace and the opening of a museum thus form a distinct cultural and historical focus.
Khan el-Franj took its present form in the 17th century under Emir Fakhreddine II. This date refers to its present form; it adds another specific historical reference point to the histories of the Sea Citadel and the palace. Together, the three themes offer different perspectives: defensive architecture, restoration and a museum, and the development of a building’s form.
In South Lebanon Governorate: archaeology, crafts and landscape
South Lebanon Governorate is home to the World Heritage site of Tyre, which consists of two separate areas: the site on the headland of the present-day city and the El Bass necropolis on the mainland. The city site includes remains of Roman baths, two palaestras, an arena, a Roman colonnaded street and a residential quarter. It also includes the remains of a cathedral built by the Venetians in 1127 and parts of the walls of an old Crusader castle.
The Tyre El Bass area includes the remains of a necropolis and a wide monumental road overlooked by a Roman triumphal arch dating from the 2nd century AD. Comparing the two areas reveals different archaeological focal points: the headland features various remains of city buildings, while the mainland is centred on the necropolis, road and triumphal arch.
Another cultural theme of South Lebanon Governorate is traditional soap-making. The Soap Museum of the Audi Foundation presents it in a vaulted room with old tools; exhibits on bathhouses are also on display. The Jezzine Waterfall is a landscape attraction. It lies 904 metres above sea level and is considered the fifth-highest waterfall in the world and the highest in the Middle East. The wider destination therefore offers different perspectives: archaeological remains in Tyre, soap-making and bathhouses in the museum, and the waterfall’s elevation and status in Jezzine.
Discover more destinations: Hlaliye
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