Model of Eastern Architecture

Forty-eight km from Beirut stands this magnificent palace built at the beginning of the 19^th century by the Emir Bechir, who reigned over Lebanon for more than 50 years. With its arcades, galleries and rooms decorated by artists from Damascus, this building is a model of eastern architecture. Today the palace houses a museum of feudal weapons, costumes and jewelry as well as a new archeological museum and a museum of Byzantine mosaics.