The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. The Republic of Lebanon accepted the convention on 30 October 1990. There are six World Heritage Sites in the country, with a further eight on the tentative list. It has served five terms on the World Heritage Committee
Anjar
Baalbek
Byblos
Rachid Karami International Fair
Tyre
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Location of World Heritage Sites in Lebanon. Red dots represent cultural sites, while the purple dots represent sites of the Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab).All of Lebanon's heritage sites are cultural. All but one of the World Heritage Sites in Lebanon were inscribed in 1984. The only site which is considered as "in danger" by UNESCO is the Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli; it is also the only site not inscribed in 1984, instead being the most recently inscribed, in 2022.
World Heritage Sites
UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.
† In danger
| Site | Image | Location (Governorate) | Year listed | UNESCO data | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anjar | Beqaa Governorate | 1984 | 293; iii, iv (cultural) | Established in the early 8th century, the city of Anjar was quickly abandoned following the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate, leaving behind ruins of walls, towers, palaces, mosques and baths, constituting an example of Umayyad period town-planning. | |
| Baalbek | Baalbek-Hermel Governorate | 1984 | 294; i, iv (cultural) | Previously known as Heliopolis, the Phoenician city of Baalbek hosts some of the largest and best preserved Roman temples, including the Temples of Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus. | |
| Byblos | Mount Lebanon Governorate | 1984 | 295; iii, iv, vi (cultural) | Continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Era, Byblos was one of the oldest cities of Phoenician origin. It has since witnessed Persian, Roman, Crusader and Ottoman occupation, each exerting influence upon its architecture. Byblos also played a significant role in the diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet. | |
| Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab) | Mount Lebanon Governorate | 1984 | 850; iii, iv, vi (cultural) | Continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Era, Byblos was one of the oldest cities of Phoenician origin. It has since witnessed Persian, Roman, Crusader and Ottoman occupation, each exerting influence upon its architecture. Byblos also played a significant role in the diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet. | |
| Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli | North Lebanon Governorate | 2022 | 1702; ii, iv (cultural) | Located in northern Lebanon, the Rachid Karameh International Fair of Tripoli was designed in 1962 by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer on a 70-hectare site located between the historic centre of Tripoli and the Al Mina port. The fair was the flagship project of Lebanon's modernization policy in the 1960s. Now, it is threatened by lack of funds for maintenance due to the Lebanese liquidity crisis, urban development, and "its alarming state of conservation". | |
| Tyre | South Lebanon Governorate | 1984 | 299; iii, vi (cultural) | The ancient Phoenician city of Tyre was one of the foremost maritime powers in the eastern Mediterranean and reportedly where purple dye was discovered. Extant archaeological remains mainly date back to Roman times, including baths, an arena, a colonnaded road, a triumphal arch, an aqueduct and a hippodrome. |
Tentative list
In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Lebanon lists nine properties on its tentative list.
| Site | Image | Location (Governorate) | Year listed | UNESCO criteria | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Centre of Saida | South Governorate | 2019 | iii, iv (cultural) | Consisting of various medieval, and Ottoman buildings which are defended by two citadels, Saint Louis Castle, and Sidon Sea Castle, the historic centre of Saida is located 40 kilometres south of Beirut. The northern border is defined by a fishing port, it is bordered by a Tell in the south. Saida is the capital of the Southern Governate. Its name may have been derived from canaan, the eldest son of Noah. the Since the Chalcolithic period, it has been inhabited by a human populace. In the Brotherhood, an archaeological site southeast of Saida, a temple and bronze necropolis have been discovered. | |
| Sacred Mount Hermon and its associated cultural monuments | Beqaa Governorate | 2019 | iii, iv (cultural) | Located in the south of the Beqaa border, in between Syria and Lebanon, it is reachable from Rachaya. Etymologically, the name is derived from the root "ḥrm", meaning sacred. In Arabic, it is called Jabal al-shaykh, literally meaning "mountain of the chief". Being the highest point on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it rises to 2,814 metres (9,232 feet). The mountain has been considered as a sacred landmark by the Lebanese, it was mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Additionally, it was worshipped by the Romans. Under Moses and Joshua, it was the northwest bound of Israelite conquest. However, the first settlements date back to 200 BC. Mount Hermon was chosen by Jesus Christ to be the location of his transfiguration. In the Bible, it goes by a number of names: such as Hermon, by the Caananite worshipers of Baal in the Books of Kings; Sirion, by the Phoenicians; and Senir, by the Amorites. After 200 B.C., it was occupied by the Seleucids. Soon after, the Ituraeans created a principality in the area, which dissolved after the fall of Chalcis. After dissolution, the mountain came under the control of Agrippa I and Agrippa II, both of the Herodian dynasty. A joint control was established between the cities of Damascus, Sidon and Paneas after the end of the first century A.D. The site was inhabited continuously until the third century. Upon the summit sits an ancient temple. Qasr Antar, as it is known today, is, and was, the highest temple of the ancient world. There are various Greek-inscribed temples dating from 300 A.D. Upwards of 30 temples and shrines has been found in and around Mount Hermon, adding to its historical significance. Besides being a sacred place for the Christian and Muslim community, it is also important for the Druze. The two major sources of the Jordan River lie at its foot. | |
| Ras al-Qalaat promontory / Ras Al Natour promontory / Ras el-Mlelih Promontory | North Governorate | 2019 | iii, v (cultural) | ||
| Temple of Eshmun | North Governorate | 2019 | iii, iv (cultural) | ||
| The Ancient City of Tripoli | South Governorate | 2019 | iv (cultural) | ||
| The Archealogical Site of Nahr el-Kalb | North Governorate | 2019 | iii, vi (cultural) | ||
| The Historic Centre of the City of Batroun | North Governorate | 2019 | iv, v (cultural) | On Lebanon's southern coast, Batroun lies on a rocky promontory. It is located approximately 54 kilometres north of Beirut and has an area of 4.68 km2. It has been continuously inhabited since the Bronze Age. It has been part of Assyria, Macedon, Seleucids, Iturea, Banu Ammar, Mamluks and crusader states. The major historic buildings and the ancient souk of Batroun that can be seen today are built of sandstone quarried in the city. This is because of the city being rebuilt in the mid-19th century. The stores of the old souk open onto alleyways through doors topped with low arches. The houses above the stores open onto the same alleyways through balconies suspended on stone or wooden corbels. | |
| The castles of Mount Amel: Qalaat Al Chakif (Beaufoert castle), Qalaat Tibnin (Toron castle), Qalaat Chakra (Dubieh castle), Qalaat Deir kifa (Maron Castle) and Qalaat Chama' | South Governorate | 2025 | ii, iv (cultural) | These five castles, all built on high ridges, significantly exemplify the cultural exchange that took place in the Near East. Also, they document the evolution of architecture for nine centuries, being used until the end of the 19th century, including the development of fortified architecture architecture during the Crusades. The first castle to be built was the Qalaat Al Chakif (Beaufort castle). Circa 1137 A.D., the King of Jerusalem constructed the aforementioned castle. It would be expanded upon by the Ayyubid, Mamluks and Al Saabi, the local feudal governors. It has been acclaimed as a well-preserved examples of a medieval castle in the near east. The remaining four castles, Qalaat Tibnin (Toron Castle), Qalaat Chakra (Dubieh Castle), Qalaat Deir Kifa (Maron Castle), and Qalaat Chama', were all built to be crusader posts in the early 12th century. The Qalaat Al Chakif, now partly ruined, underwent further construction by the Ayyubids, Mamluks and the Al Asgheir, local feudal governors. Furthermore, features from the Byzantine period to the late 19th century are also retained. In the case of Qalaat Tibnin, there is evidence of details from the Bronze Age. All the castles are protected by the Lebanese Law of Antiquities no 166 LR of 1933. Further protections are applied to the Qalaat Al Chakif and the Castle of Tibnin. With the Urban-plan Decree for the former, general law and by special protection decision for the latter. |
See also
Explanatory notes
- This was originally called Centre historique de Saida on the UNESCO listing.
- This was originally called Temple d’Echmoun on the UNESCO listing.
- This was originally called L’ancienne ville de Tripoli on the UNESCO listing.
- This was originally called Le site archeologique de Nahr el-Kalb on the UNESCO listing.
- This was originally called Le centre historique de la ville de Batroun on the UNESCO listing.
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