Beirut Corniche Walking Tour

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1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - Beirut Corniche Walking Tour A seaside promenade in Beirut is as much about watching the Mediterranean and breathing the air, as it is about exploring the coastline. Among the sights included in this tour is the only natural landmark of Beirut - the Pigeons' Rock. Walk and discover the Corniche of Beirut in its full beauty. Guide Location: Lebanon» Beirut # of Attractions: 8 Tour Duration: 3 hour(s) Travel Distance: 6.0 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "Beirut Map and Walks" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Beirut Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Beirut. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Rafik Al Hariri Memorial B) Corniche C) Lee Observatory D) Post Hall (A.U.B Archaeological Museum) E) American University of Beirut F) Old Lighthouse G) New Lighthouse Al Manara H) Raouche's Pigeons' Rock Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Rafik Al Hariri Memorial The Memorial pays tribute to the former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri. He was assassinated on this spot in 2005 in a car bomb attack, which also took the lives of 22 civilians. The Memorial is located near St George's Hotel and features a statue of Rafik Hariri, a sculptural piece, and a torch. Following the tragedy, the street has been renamed after the late Prime Minister. Address: Rafic Al Hariri Memorial, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of Flickr and Alexei2009 B) Corniche (must see) The Corniche Beirut is a seaside promenade. Lined with palm trees, this waterfront boulevard offers visitors a magnificent view of the Mediterranean and the summits of Mount Lebanon to the east. The Corniche is a popular destination for walkers, joggers and bikers. Push cart vendors offer an array of local snacks and drinks. Many a trunks of the Corniche palm trees are pockmarked with bullet holes left by the Lebanese Civil War. In the summer of 2007, the distinctive blue railings were replaced, due to severe rusting, with a sleeker-looking aluminum railing modified so as to make it more difficult for thrill-seekers to dive off. The Corniche encircles the Beirut promontory from the Saint George Bay on the northern coast of the city, turning west into Place Rafik Hariri, then into Avenue de Paris, Raouché, and finally into Avenue General de Gaulle. Address: Corniche, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Heretiq. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - C) Lee Observatory The Lee Observatory is the first and the oldest astronomical observatory in the Middle East. It is located on the campus of the American University of Beirut and was opened in 1873, pioneered by Dr. Cornelius Van Dyck. The name "Lee" refers to Henry Lee, a wealthy British merchant from Manchester, who made a significant donation to help finance the project. The Observatory had a twin role, sky gazing and meteorological forecasting for the Middle East. Address: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of Flickr and Firas Wehbe. Sight description based on wikipedia D) Post Hall (A.U.B Archaeological Museum) The Archaeology Museum of the American University of Beirut is the third oldest museum in the Near East after Cairo and Constantinople. The museum was formed in 1868 after Luigi Palma di Cesnola gifted a collection of Cypriot pottery to the newly formed American University of Beirut. Between 1902 and 1938 the Museum acquired collections from all around the Middle East. The museum remained closed during World War II and re-opened in It expanded in the 1950s and doubled its floor space with a refurbishment under curator D.C. Baramki which opened to the public in The museum remained open during the years of crisis between 1975 and 1990 and underwent another complete renovation in 2006 under the present director. A Mezzanine level was added that increased the space by one fifth using funds secured from the Joukowsky Family Foundation. Operation hours: Winter: Monday Friday: 9 am - 5 pm; Summer: Monday Friday: 10 am 4 pm Address: Post Hall (A.U.B Archeological Museum), Beirut, Lebanon Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and BlingBling10. Sight description based on wikipedia E) American University of Beirut (must see) Th American University of Beirut is a private, independent university. Degrees awarded at the American University of Beirut (AUB) are officially registered with the Board of Education in the State of New York. The university is ranked as the number one university in Lebanon by UWR and among the top 300 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings. AUB is also ranked as the first American university located outside of the U.S.A. The campus is composed of 64 buildings, including a Medical Center (420 beds), 5 Libraries, 3 Museums, and 7 Dormitories. Address: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Soman. Sight description based on wikipedia F) Old Lighthouse The Old Lighthouse is located in the Al Manara district of Beirut. This octagonal tower, with a lantern and a circular observation room, is about 25 meters (82 ft) tall. The lighthouse is painted in white and black parallel bands. It has been inactive since 1998, serving only as a tourist attraction. Address: The Old Lighthouse, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of indalo Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

6 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - G) New Lighthouse Al Manara The New Lighthouse replaced the old one - in service for 147 years - in This modern lighthouse stands over 60 meters tall. It displays two white flashes every ten seconds. The lighthouse features a lantern and an observation room. Address: Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of Flickr and Ayman Raad H) Raouche's Pigeons' Rock (must see) Raouché is a residential and commercial neighborhood in Beirut, renowned for its upscale apartment buildings, numerous restaurants, cliff-side cafés and the wide seaside sidewalk, the Corniche, where strollers and joggers crowd the pavements in the evenings and weekends. Off the coast of Raouché is a natural landmark called the Pigeons' Rock (also known as the Rock of Raouché). Located at Beirut's western-most tip, the two huge rock formations, standing like gigantic sentinels, are a popular destination for locals and visitors. Raouche's Pigeons' Rock has recently been featured on the front page of Microsoft's Bing. Address: Raouche's Pigeons' Rock, Beirut, Lebanon Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Heretiq. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -