Downtown Beirut is not what you would normally expect of the center of an old town. The reason for its modern, almost sterile atmosphere - with minimal traces of its past - dates back to the period after the Civil War. In 1990, the government of Rafiq Hariri consolidated all properties of this severely damaged area by offering the several hundred thousand owners shares in the privately owned construction cooperation for the development of downtown (Solidere). This is how the government received almost 100% control of the area, making it possible to homogenize the area. Only religious sites and the St George Hotel - the owner of the latter refusing to give away its property - were excepted from this. Until now, over 2000 buildings have been removed and replaced by modern and chic real estate buildings, yet not without struggle. Owners that fled the country a long time ago were hard to trace and the area turned out to be full of archeological ruins. Reconstruction in downtown is far from finished, with new buildings continuously erected. Yet, the remaining (partly) ruined historical houses still give an impression of what pre-Civil War downtown looked like.

Another creation of Solidere is Saifi Village, ‘Quartier des Arts’. Located in the main area of the Green Line, this modern commercial and residential area with boutiques and galleries is an attractive...

In the beginning of 2000, the popularity of the newly constructed downtown buildings proofed less than expected and many buildings remained empty. Consequently, as a solution to the vacancy, popular businesses...

Downtown

“The Green Line stuck in time” - Ronnie Chatah

The huge Holiday Inn hotel was only opened one year before the start of the Civil War. From the biggest and luxurious Holiday Inn in the Middle East, decorated...
Downtown

Although no more than a piece of concrete with a large number of parked cars on it, Martyrs Square is of big emotional importance. Until the early 20th century, the square was called Place des Canons,...
Downtown

Although no Jews are left in Beirut - the last one, known as ‘Liza the Jew’, passed away in 2009 - Beirut has an old Jewish quarter, concentrated around Wadi Abu Jmil Street and now consisting of new...

The new luxury waterfront area of Zaituna Bay, opposite the chic Phoenicia Hotel and next to St George Yacht Club and Marina, reminds most of the atmosphere of a Côte d’Azur yacht club. 

It is an attractive...

 

Check the map below for an overview of all Cultural locations across Lebanon.