Beiteddine Palace
33°41′46.39″N 35°34′47.76″E / 33.6962194°N 35.5799333°E
| Beiteddine Palace | |
|---|---|
| Native name قصر بيت الدين ( Arabic) | |
 Beiteddine Palace - Inner Courtyard | |
 | |
| Location | Beiteddine, Lebanon |
| Built | 1788-1818 |
| Architectural style(s) | 18th century Lebanese architecture |
Beiteddine Palace (
History
Emir
In 1943, the palace was declared the president's official summer residence. During the Lebanese Civil War it was heavily damaged. Parts of the palace are today open to the public while the rest is still the president's summer residence.[2]
A gathering of troops here for an incursion into Syria under Ibrahim Pasha is recorded in the notes to Letitia Elizabeth Landon's poetical illustration The Gathering of the Chieftains at Beteddein to an engraving of a painting (showing the palace) by William Henry Bartlett in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839.[3]
UNESCO gave the palace enhanced protection during the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon to safeguard against damage; it was one of 34 cultural sites to receive enhanced protection.[4]
Description
The Beiteddine Palace is recognized as a fine illustration of
The palace's main entrance leads to a 107x45 meter courtyard. Along the right side of this court is a two-story wing, Al-Madafa, which was once used for receiving guests.
The entrance to the central section of the palace, Dar El Wousta, is from a double stairway at the far western end of the courtyard. From this point on, the impressive but austere appearance of the outside court and buildings gives way to the delightful architecture featuring beautiful arcades, mandaloun balconies, fountains, facades, rooms with carved and painted cedar wood embellished with Arabic calligraphy, antique furniture, inlaid marble and fine mosaics.[5] These rooms served as offices and receptions salons.
At the far end of this courtyard rise the private apartments, Dar el Harim, composed of a large and richly decorated façade, the Upper Harem, the selamlik, the Lower Harem and the kitchens.
At the northern edge of the Dar El Harim section is the
Beyond the hammam is the tree-shaded tomb of Emir Bashir Shehab II and his first wife.
Gallery
-
Latticework balcony closed in by intricate woodwork -
Carved cedar wood -
Internal Hall -
Baths -
Interview of the Revd. Lewis Way, with the Emir of Mt. Lebanon, by Albert Way (1823) -
Beteddein, Palace of the Prince of the Druses, Artist:W. H. Bartlett- Engraved by: W. Floyd (1838)
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5381-2043-9.
- ^ Beiteddine Palace
- ^ Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1838). "picture". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839. Fisher, Son & Co.Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1838). "poetical illustration". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839. Fisher, Son & Co.
- ^ "Cultural property under enhanced protection Lebanon". Archived from the original on 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ^ The central section of the palace
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