Lebanon lies to the east of the Mediterranean, sharing borders to the north and east with the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the south with Israel/Palestinian Territory. It is a mountainous country and between the two mountain ranges of Jebel Lubnan (Mount Lebanon), Mount Hermon and the Anti-Lebanon range lies the fertile Bekaa Valley. Approximately half of the country lies at an altitude of over 900m (3,000ft). Into this small country is packed such a variety of scenery that there are few places to equal it in beauty and choice.

The famous cedar trees grow high in the mountains, while the lower slopes bear grapes, apricots, plums, peaches, figs, olives and barley, often on terraces painstakingly cut out from the mountainsides. On the coastal plain, citrus fruit, bananas and vegetables are cultivated, with radishes and beans grown in tiny patches.

Beirut is Lebanon's capital and largest city with a population of 1.4 million. Before the war (1975-92), It was known as the Paris of the East, but after 17 years of conflict its motto is now "the city that wouldn't die". The city is home to numerous international organizations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is headquartered in Downtown Beirut while the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) both have regional offices in Beirut covering the Arab world. The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) is also headquartered in Beirut.

History

From 1516 to 1918 Lebanon was under the administrative rule and political sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. In 1920, the territory defined by the present-day boundaries became a state called “Grand –Liban” (Great Lebanon) by decree of General Gouraud, head of the French troops in the Levant. The state remained under French Mandate until November 26,1941. A constitution was adopted on May 25, 1926 establishing a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. Effective political independence of the Republic occurred on November 22, 1943 (Independence Day). In 1945 Lebanon became a founding member of the League of Arab states, then of the United Nations. Departure of the foreign troops then on the Republic’s territory was completed on December 31, 1946.

Over the next 30 years, Lebanon became a melting pot with a diverse cultural heritage. The instability in surrounding countries caused Lebanon to experience large waves of immigration from neighboring countries and attracted thousands of skilled laborers, entrepreneurs and intellectuals. The economic force of the Republic has mainly revolved around its entrepreneurs. In addition, Lebanon’s democratic traditions, attachment to freedom of speech and expression and its educated population enabled the Republic to become the cultural, academic and medical center of the region.

Beirut’s position as a major financial and commercial centre for the Middle East was lost during the 16-year civil war from 1975 to 1991 that destroyed the economy. Since then, both Lebanon and its capital have re-established themselves.

Agriculture now accounts for about 10% of GDP. There are no significant mineral resources, but the manufacturing industry is growing rapidly. Banking and transit trade (both of which were almost wiped out during the civil war) have recovered reasonably well.

The 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel led to a collapse in the tourist industry and severely affected Lebanon’s economy. In 2006, the economy contracted by 5% and the national debt reached a record level of US$40.4 billion. Grants and loans of nearly US$8 billion pledged at the Paris.

The official language is Arabic, followed by French as the second language. English is widely spoken. Armenian is spoken by a small percentage of the population.

French is understood by mostly business people, government officials and university educators or graduates of The French Schools. Armenian and other Caucasian languages are understood and spoken by their respective communities residing in Lebanon with minority schools teaching these languages, along side Arabic and English.

Unlike most other Arab countries, Lebanon is characterized by great religious and cultural diversity. At the time of independence Christians formed a slight majority of the population, the largest single community (nearly 30% of the total) being the Maronite Christians, who mostly inhabited the north of Lebanon and the capital, Beirut.

Other Christian groups included Greek Orthodox communities, Greek Catholics and Armenians. The Muslim groups were the Sunnis (living mainly in the coastal towns of Tyre, Sidon and Beirut), the Shi´as (a predominantly rural community in southern Lebanon and the northern Beka´a valley) and the much smaller Druzes, an ancient community in central Lebanon.

Lebanon enjoys an essential Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and longer warm summers. The country is rain free between June and October. Visitors can count on 300 sunny days every year. However, mountains are cold and snowy in winter. Average annual rainfall is about 1,000 mm in Beirut (40 inches), but much higher in the mountains.

Required Clothing: Warm clothes are essential in the winter. Lowest temperature may be as low as -4ºC in the mountains, and 10ºC on the coast.

Currency:
Lebanese Pound (LBP; symbol £) = 100 piastres. Notes are in denominations of £100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of £500, 250, 100 and 50.

Currency Exchange:
There are a large number of banks in Beirut where international currencies can be exchanged. Numerous licensed exchange shops also operate and some hotels offer exchange services. US Dollars are best and do not need to be exchanged as they are accepted even in small shops.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs:
All major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widely available in Beirut and larger cities.

Banking Hours:
Mon-Fri 08:30-16:00, Sat 08:00-13:00.

• Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October)
• Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz
• Country code: 961

The following goods may be imported into Lebanon by residents and non-residents over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 800 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 1,000g of tobacco
• 2L of champagne, whisky or cognac (or any other similar products) or a maximum of 4l of other alcoholic beverages.
• 1L of eau de cologne and 100g of perfume.
• Personal belongings not exceeding £2,000,000.
• Prescribed dosages for medicine.

Prohibited Imports: Arms, ammunition, narcotics, immoral publications and recordings.

Prohibited Exports: Arms, ammunition, narcotics, archaeological pieces and currencies. Antiques without an export licence.

Getting Around By Air: The national airline is Middle East Airlines (MEA).

Getting Around Towns and Cities: Public bus services are available in Beirut, where bus services have recently been expanded, although service taxis remain the most widely used option.

Main Airports: Beirut International (BEY) (Rafic Hariri)is 8km (5 miles) south of the city ( journey time – 20 minutes). A bus service operates to the city centre and Taxis are also available.Tourist information desk, duty-free shops, post office, restaurants, bars, hotel reservations, bank/bureau de change, car hire and a VIP lounge are available in main airports in Beirut.

Getting Around by Road: Traffic drives on the right. Speed limit signs, traffic police and traffic lights are present but may not always be respected and driving, particularly in Beirut, can be quite unpredictable. As public transport is limited, roads in Beirut are over-congested. The worst times for traffic jams are 07:30-09:30 and 16:30-19:00. Best international routes are via Turkey and Aleppo–Homs and Lattakia in the Syrian Arab Republic along the north–south coastal road, and also the Beirut–Damascus trunk road. Bus services are available from Europe. For details, contact the Ministry of Tourism or the embassy.

• Bus: Intercity buses run by private companies are cheap and efficient. Many hotels also offer complimentary bus and other transport services.
• Taxi: Intercity taxis operate throughout Beirut and Lebanon. Travel is normally shared. Prices are negotiated in advance. Town taxis have red licence plates and an official tariff. There is a surcharge of 50% after 22:00.
• Car hire: Self-drive cars are available, but chauffeur-driven vehicles are recommended; check with the Ministry of Tourism. It should be noted that the price of petrol is very expensive in Lebanon.

Passports valid for 6 months are required by all except nationals of Syria arriving from their country with a valid national ID.

Visas are required by all, except for the nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE for stays of up to 3 months. Nationals of the European Community, Common Wealth, American Continent, Russia and Japan can obtain their visas on arrival at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry at the Lebanese border. Other nationals of East Europe and Asia should contact the consulate at the Lebanese Embassy for details about how to obtain their visa.Visitor or Business visas cost 50,000 Lebanese Pounds (US $33).

The Government of Lebanon refuses entry to holders of Israeli passports, holders of passports containing a visa for Israel, valid or expired, used or unused and passports with entry stamps to Israel.

Baalbeck, Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure, can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world. The largest and most noble Roman temples ever built, they are also among the best preserved.Baalbeck's monuments suffered from theft, war and earthquakes, as well as from numerous medieval additions. Fortunately, the modern visitor can see the site in something close to its original form thanks to work in the past hundred years by German, French and Lebanese archaeologists.

It is located on two main historic trade routes, one between the Mediterranean coast and the Syrian interior and the other between northern Syria and northern Palestine. Today the city, 85 kilometers from Beirut, is an important administrative and economic center in the northern Beqaa valley.

Aanjar, 58 kilometers from Beirut, is completely different from any other archaeological experience you'll have in Lebanon. At other historical sites in the country, different epochs and civilizations are superimposed one on top of the other. Aanjar is exclusively one period, the Umayyad. Today's name, Aanjar, comes from the Arabic Ain Gerrha means "The Source of Gerrha", the name Aerial view of the site of Aanjar of an ancient city founded in this area during Hellenistic times.

Aanjar has a special beauty. The city's slender columns and fragile arches stand in contrast to the massive bulk of the nearby Anti-Lebanon mountains is an eerie background for Aanjar extensive ruins and the memories of its short but energetic moment in history.

Tyre is home to many archaeological sites, and in 1979 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.

Area One is located the Phoenician island in Tyre, is a vast district of civic buildings, colonnades, The Roman Public Baths, Area, mosaic streets and a rectangular arena. Area Two also in Tyre is two blocks west. Its major point of interest is a Crusader cathedral.The lowest foundations and a few re-erected granite columns remain intact but these are nevertheless impressive. Area Three is a three-bay monumental arch and one of the largest Roman hippodromes ever found. The entryway to the complex is from the northwest through a large arc de triomphe, which nearly dwarfs the surrounding columns.

Palace of Emir Amine in Beiteddine was built for each of the emir's three sons, Qassim, Khalil and Amine. The palace of Emir Qassim, now in ruins, is perched on a promontory facing the great Palace.Today Emir Khalil's palace is used as the Serail of Beiteddine, the seat of local administration.As for the palace of Emir Amine, which dominates the Beiteddine complex, it was beautifully restored and converted into a luxury hotel by the Ministry of Tourism.

Within walking distance from Mir Amine Palace is the summer residence of the Maronite Archbishop of Sidon, formerly Emir Bechir's country house. Some of the original architectural elements remain, including a beautiful stone doorway covered with a pagoda-shaped roof.

The Sea Castle in Sidon is a fortress built by the Crusaders in the early 13th century on a small island connected to the mainland by a causeway. A climb to the top leads to the roof where there is a good view of the port and the old part of the city.

Today the castle consists primarily of two towers connected by a wall. In the outer walls Roman columns were used as horizontal reinforcements, a feature often seen in fortifications built on or near former Roman sites. The west tower is the better preserved, Old prints of the fortress show it to be one of great beauty, but little remains of the embellishments that once decorated its ramparts.All the sea castles were destroyed to prevent the Crusaders from re-establishing footholds on the coast.

According to Phoenician tradition, Byblos was founded by the God El, and even the Phoenicians considered it a city of great antiquity. Although its beginnings are lost in time, modern scholars say the site of Byblos goes back at least 7,000 years.It was the Greeks, some time after 1200 B.C.who gave us the city "Byblos"("papyrus" in Greek), because this commercial center was important in the papyrus trade.

Byblos today is on the coast 37 kilometers north of Beirut, is a prosperous place with glass-fronted office buildings and crowded streets. But within the old town, medieval Arab and Crusader remains are continuous reminders of the past. Nearby are the extensive excavations that make Byblos one of the most important archaeological sites in the area.