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Backpacking Lebanon? The 25 Things You Need to Know; Steph; Big World Small Pockets

Let’s be honest, Lebanon is definitely not yet a well-known backpacking destination, but I reckon it soon will be, because this place is pumping! Yes now enjoying my third trip to this gorgeous country, Lebanon is a destination I expected nothing from, but one which instantly grabbed me – a total surprise I can tell you! Because sometimes that’s the beauty isn’t it – those countries we know little about or have few expectations of, often turn out to be the real gems! That’s not to say knowing nothing about them isn’t a little daunting though. I knew hardly anything…

Source: Backpacking Lebanon? The 25 Things You Need to Know

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Lebanon is home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites!; Grace H; The 961

Lebanon has more than 5,000 years of history.

Source: Lebanon is home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

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10 Epic Things to Do In Lebanon; Steph; Big World Small Pocket

Lovely, lively, lush, large-hearted Lebanon. Honestly, if I could think of more superlative adjectives beginning with L, I’d be likely to go on and on about this Middle Eastern gem of a country situated along the Mediterranean Coast. The treasures that lie in store in this small nation are honestly astounding and a real testimony to the human spirit and its desire to heal, recover and regrow after years of war.

Source: 10 Epic Things to Do In Lebanon

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Discover Lebanon’s 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Grace H; The 961

Lebanon is an open air museum!

Source: Discover Lebanon’s 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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This Quirky Hermit Lives In Lebanon’s Holy Valley; Abby Sewell; National Geographic

Lebanon – Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)

This Colombian monk set up residence in a mountain sanctuary 17 years ago in the Middle East.

On the sun-dappled terrace of a centuries-old chapel chiseled into a cliffside overlooking Lebanon’s Qadisha Valley, the hermit was lecturing one of his daily visitors on his choice of body art.

Father Dario Escobar, an 83-year-old Maronite monk from Colombia, has become something of a niche tourist attraction since he set up residence in the mountainside enclave 17 years ago. On this hot mid-September day, three hikers from Beirut arrived late in the afternoon hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Initially, it seemed that they would be disappointed, as Escobar was hidden away in his chambers.

But some 20 minutes later, the hermit emerged to close the heavy wooden gate leading into his compound for the night. He paused to chat with his visitors in a mix of English, Arabic, and French.

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5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Lebanon!; Grace H; The961

Lebanon – Anjar

Lebanon, a Mediterranean jewel, is the home of many historical wonders. In fact, Lebanon is a country that has thousands of years of history which makes it one of the world’s oldest countries. UNESCO inscribed 5 World Heritage Sites in Lebanon!

Discover the 5 World Heritage Sites of Lebanon!

#1 Anjar

Anjar got established during the Umayyad period by Caliph Walid I at the beginning of the 8th century. The ruins of Anjar are the walls of the Umayyad palace and many pillars which include some elements of the Roman architectural style.

#2 Baalbek

The Temple of Bacchus is one of the largest Roman temple ruins in the world. Also, it is so well-preserved that carvings of lions and bulls are still visible.

#3 Byblos

Byblos is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world which was first inhabited between 8,800 and 7,000 B.C.

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10 lost cities of the world; Bradt Travel Guides

Lebanon – Baalbek

From crumbling Persian empires to colossal Roman cities, here are some of our favourite ruined civilisations from around the world.

When you think of ‘lost cities’, the vast inca ruins of Machu Picchu and the Hanging Gardens of Bablyon are probably the first sites that come to mind. But there are so many others to explore, from crumbling Persian empires to colossal Roman cities. Here is a selection of some of our favourites from around the world.

Persepolis, Iran

This ancient city in Iran embodies all the glory – and the demise – of the Persian Empire. It was here that the Achaemenid kings received their subjects, celebrated the new year and ran their empire before Alexander the Great burnt the whole thing to the ground as he conquered the world.

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4 of the World’s most ancient cities are Lebanese; Beiruting

Lebanon – Tyre

20. Varanasi, India

When did the earliest inhabitants settle? 1,000 BC

When did the earliest inhabitants settle? 1,000 BC Situated on the west bank of the Ganges, Varanasi – also known as Benares – is an important holy city for both Hindus and Buddhists. According to legend, it was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva 5,000 years ago, though modern scholars believe it to be around 3,000 years old.

Mark Twain (American author): “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

19. Cádiz, Spain

When did the earliest inhabitants settle? 1,100 BC

Found on a narrow spit of land jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Cádiz has been the home of the Spanish navy since the 18th century.

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Where Was Ancient Byblos’ Harbor?; Elizabeth; History Things

Lebanon – Byblos

The city of Byblos is considered by the UNESCO World Heritage Foundation to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. For thousands of years, Byblos, in Lebanon, was famous for shipping the country’s ceders all over the world, especially to ancient Egypt, Israel, and Babylon. According to the Bible, Lebanon’s cedars were used in the construction of Solomon’s temple.

The trouble is, nobody actually knows where the ancient, original port of Byblos is.

Lebanese archaeologist Dr. Martine Francis-Allouche and French Egyptologist Nicolas Grimal began their search where marine-archaeology-pioneer Honor Frost began it, in the 1960s. The project is called “Byblos and the sea”, and they’re attempting to trace all the evidence back to the original location of Byblos’ port.

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