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Lebanon is
an Arab country. The official language is Arabic but English and French
are widely spoken. Lebanon obtained its independence on November 22,
1943. It's a founding member of the League of Arab States and of the
United Nations and played an important role in the drafting of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Lebanese
flag dates from the early days of independence and is composed of three
horizontal stripes: red on the top and the bottom and white in the
middle with a Cedar tree covering the central part of the white stripe.
The white stripe is equal in area to that of the two red stripes.
Between the
years 1975 and 1991, a most devastating armed conflict took place in
Lebanon. This conflict was described by the President, reflecting the
opinion of most Lebanese, as 'the war of others on our land'. This was
one of the most devastating wars in recent memory. About 150,000 persons
died, as many were seriously injured. The physical destruction alone was
estimated by International Organizations at $25 to $30 billion which
constituted close to 13 times the national income of the country at the
end of the war. For the United States, these numbers would translate to
15 million dead and $85 trillion of physical destruction.
The form of
government is a parliamentary democracy. The President of the Republic
is elected by the Parliament for six years. The Speaker of Parliament is
also elected by the Parliament but for four years, which is also the
length of the period between parliamentary elections. The President of
the Republic appoints the Prime Minister who forms a Cabinet of
Ministers. The Cabinet must have the approval of the majority of
deputies in Parliament.
The
precedent President, Mr. Elias Hraoui, was elected in 1989. His term was
extended for three years (i.e. until 1998) by the Parliament. The
Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berri, was elected to his post in 1992.
The precedent Prime Minister, Mr. Rafic Hariri, was appointed in 1993.
The current
Lebanese President, Gen. Emile Lahoud, was elected in 1998.
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LebanonTour
Here's a tour threw from many of the famous and known cities and
towns, from
A to Z, starting from:
AFQA
Adonis river, today called Nahr Ibrahim which poured in
the Mediterranean, at 6 km south of Jbeil. The valley of Nahr Ibrahim, a
wild greatness and vehement forms. This bucolic softness has in
compensation a mysterious side and a disturbing nature of its bold and
steep slopes. We are here in a sacred place and the civilized man of the
20th century, consciously or unconsciously cannot be insensible to that
mystical power, the religious inspiration and the birth of the
mythology.
ANJAR
Where you can meet the pathetic beauty of the history.
In fact the discovery of Anjar or more exactly the identification of the
ruins is the fortuitous conclusion of the Roman kingdom capital’s search
called Coelosyrie or Chalcis of Lebanon. Anjar ruins were first hold for
the relics of this mysterious capital but a more detailed examination
would appeared to be a fortified place founded in the in the second half
of the 7th century or the beginning of the 8th century. They searched,
they rebuilt, they straightened what it could be and then a wonderful
drawing of a town appeared that might be at the same time a princely
residence and an immense caravanserai for the rest of the caravans
coming from Damascus (east), and from Tyr or Sidon (West). Anjar, a
flourishing town where the streams grumbled between cafe, and in the
ponds blocked with aquatic herbs bordered with poplars, swarm a
multitude of trout, while the ruins of Anjar get burned further by the
sun.
BAALBECK
Admire the gigantic Roman ruins and temples north of
the Bekaa, this Little town have always caught the imaginations of its
visitors.
BECHARRE
This name reminds us the Cedars, the hermits of
nobility the cedars of God and Gibran Khalil Gibran, the famous Lebanese
mystical writer and poet.
"Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your
cedars!"
"The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon
which he planted."
"His legs are alabaster columns, set upon bases of gold. His
appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars".
"The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor the fir trees
equal its boughs; the plane trees were as nothing compared with its
branches; no tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty".
BEIT CHEBAB
The village that protected an age-old craft
industry : the weaving as the pottery and we cannot forget the bells
made in Beit Chebab which they can reach or exceed 500kg each,
the mixture of copper and tin in accordance to the proportions
transferred from father to son, these bells were outstandingly
recognized by people.
BEIT ED DINE
The old capital for the Lebanese Emirs. The
palace of Beit Ed Dine is a bright spot in a green tangle. Here you can
see the opposite attractions of greatness and charm, mildness, aridity
and purity.
BEKAA
The generous Bekaa enclosed between the eastern side of Lebanon
and the western side of Anti-Lebanon joining together its colorful
richness and its hostile aridity.
BEIRUT
Beirut was a part of Phoenician league. In 64 B.C, Beirut was
called COLONIA JULIA AUGUSTA FELIX BERYTUS and got the status as a Roman
city.
In 551, the city of Beirut was taken by the Arabs and from 1099 to
1291 the city was closely fought between Arabs and crusaders.I
n 1516, Beirut was dominated by the Ottomans and did not find again
the temporary prosperity before Emir Fakhreddine time 1585-1635 and
Bechir the second in 1781-1840.
In 1840 Beirut was under Mehemmet Ali power and was bombarded by the
Anglo-Austro-Turk. In 1920 Beirut was declared as the capital of ”Grand
Lebanon” and of course, under the French occupation.
From Beirut to CHOUF, a name rich in history. From Deir El Kamar, the
residence of Fakhreddine to Beiteddine, palace of Bechir the second, the
Chouf is the crib of the Lebanese unity, it presents a stunning variety
of attractions and a powerful human importance.
BYBLOS (JBAIL)
The oldest city in the world, this small rocky promontory, 40 km
north of Beirut dominated by its proud old historical ruins, surrounded
by the antiquated town and its picturesque Souks, leaves to the visitor
an open mound where you can easily live and see the incredible history
of BYBLOS.
FAQRA
Where you meet the wonderful Roman ruins are.
JEITA
Joining a festival of imaginations and further to
JEZZINE
A small landscape on a human scale. Peace without boredom which
anyone can feel it intensely in the light nights at the terraces of the
café and restaurants in a straight line along the roadsides.
JOUNIEH
We can see the big bay that deserves an attention, it’s an
admirable drawing! that bay is the most beautiful of all Lebanon. From
Jounieh you can watch HARISSA. The VIRGIN MARY of Lebanon shines over
the country.
LAKLOUK
Where you can enjoy the winter sports and
SAIDA(SIDON)
The richness of classical and biblical memories, there
you can dive deeply in the purple splendor of the Antiquity.
SOUR(TYR)
To MELKART temple.
TRIPOLI
The capital of the north.
ZAHLE
The capital of the Bekaa, where you can enjoy the taste
of the Lebanese food ( MEZZE) and drink ( ARAK).
What a range of different dishes contains the Lebanese kitchen! An
immense specialty is the Mezze, a large choice of hors d’hoeur-oeuvre
including around 80 different small dishes that you cannot avoid.
"Tabboule, Baba ghannouj, Hommous, Warak Enab, Mjadra, Kebbé, Fatayer,
Sanbousik, Mloukhieh and much more..”
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