Palace of Beiteddine, one of the best examples of early 19th Century Lebanese architecture, was built over a 30 year period by Emir Bechir El Chehab II, who ruled Mount-Lebanon for more than 50 years. The palace was later occupied by the Ottomon Empire and then the French.
One of the several arched pathways in the palace.
One of the several arched pathways in the palace.
Beautiful doors are made of wood on the inside and iron on the outside.
Mosaics are found in many of the gardens.
Boutrous Karami Room with it's marble mosaics and scultured wood and copper walls and ceilings. In this room the Emir received complaints from his subjects.
Another meeting room in the palace.
The Hammam or "Baths".
In one of the courtyards, children on a field trip discovered some Americans. The girl in the purple spoke French to us, so we could communicate a bit. The boy in front proudly spoke a few words of English and we all knew how to smile, hug and say our names.