Tour'N Lebanon

Summer Vacationing and Tourism in Lebanon

Summer Vacationning

God created Lebanon and endowed it with exclusive fabulous qualifications intending it to be a marvel and to all those seeking an enchanting recreation. Lebanon’s summer is the most radiant of its seasons; hence, people have for so long come to Lebanon to enjoy their summer vacations in an atmosphere of peace and mirth. Summer vacationning is a human instinct driven by the swelting heat of the coastal areas. During the high summer dog days the people to rush to the cooler heights to enjoy their refreshing air. These people settle in different summer resorts each according to his needs and budget. All to return with the coming of the fall fresh with accumulated energy to resume their daily duties in a cool breeze awaiting the first drops of rain. As a result of what has become a tradition, many customs evolved which will become clear to the reader as this chapter progresses. Summer vacationning in Lebanon, which as mentioned above has been a tradition, was for a long time confined to specific geographical locatons due to the facilities available and the conditions of transportation and the road network. In the past, most of the people who could afford a summer vacation belonged to the upper rich social classes. Other coastal inhabitants would set up tents on the shores or stay at monasteries and convents in the mountains where the expenses proved affordable.

The Beginning and Development of Summer Vacatoning in Lebanon: A brief survey of the history of summer vacationing in Lebanon proves to us that the Lebanese have been familiar with this tradition since the ages of the Phoenicians. Thence, every coastal region had its corresponding summer resort. All this is a proof of the high standard of living attained then. Moreover, among the most important Lebanese summer resorts in the Roman age, historians cite; “Deir Al-Qal’aa” in Beit Meri. This summer resort was exclusive to the Roman nobility and their army leaders, who were then residents of Beirut the center of progress and development. On the other hand, during the age of the Crudagers, Deir al-Balamand (the beautiful mount) situated on a hillock between Anfeh and Qalamoon, overlooking the city of Tripoli, was one of the most beautiful and renown summer resorts. Some say that this convent was built in A.D. 1157 for the Frank princes who ruled Tripoli at that time. Others attest that it was built much earlier; however, it is most probably a Crusade construction judging from its magnificent remains. Besides, Saleh Bn Yahya, a Tannoukhi prince, states in his history book that his relative princes who ruled the South of Lebanon for a long period during the nineteenth century used to spend winter in the coastal region between Beirut, Chweifat, Khalde Damour, and others; but would spend the summer season in Obay, ‘Aytaat, ‘Ain Ksoor, ‘Aramoun, Kfarmatta, and other summer resorts in the western mountains.

The Tannoukhis were succeeded by the Maani and Chehabi princes and other rich feudal lords each of which chose a summer resort that suited his needs, circumstances, and capacities. For instance, Emir Fakhr Eddine used to spend winter in Sidon and Beirut, but would spend the summer in his castle in Deir Al-Qamar; Emir Melhem as wel as his son Emir Youssef followed the same tradition. After Emir Beshir built the palace of Beit Eddine, he made it both his summer as well as his winter residence. Whereas his relateive princes had each his own winter and summer seats; just like other feudal lords. During the age of the Mutassarrifiyah, the rulers had their own winter and summer resorts in Baabda and Beit Eddine respectively. And as they shifted locations, all the legal papers and staff went along. Moreover, orders were given to crowd the largest number of people along the roads taken to hold celebrations and festivities in the honor of the crossing ruler.

A New Era of Summer Vacationning:

Summer vacationning remained a rather primitive tradition until the construction of asphalted road networks. The oldest road was the Beirut Damascus road constructed by a French company in 1859, on which ‘diligence’ vehicles crossed to ensure transportation between the two countries. The road was 112 km in length and 7 m wide. Even the Mutassarrifine who ruled Lebanon between 1861-1918 had their contributions in expanding the road network which enhanced summer vacationning. Next to the Beirut - Damascus road, a road was constructed in the year 1863 during the rule of David Pacha, between Bhamdoun and Btater, by the famous French silk merchant Fortune Bortalis. The road was seven kilometers long and constructed by famous French engineers. It was considered for a while a private property of the French merchant who, it was said, had bought all the land through which the road passed with money donated by the French government to those afflicted. At his death in 1880, his heirs donated it to the Lebanese government. During the reign of Franco Pacha, new roads were built namely, Hazmieh - Baabda, Warhanieh - Batloun, and Deir Al-Qamar-Beit Eddine-Baaqline. The citizens always resisted the road profects proposed by Roustom Pacha, ignorant of their benefits, but surrendered at the insistance of the governer. the road network expanded during the reign of Wassa Pacha, and florished ever since, when the people have become aware of the benefits. With the outbreak of the first world war in 1914, the roads built in Lebanon have equalled 1105000 km, mostly in the Shoof and Metn regions enhancing summer vacationning in the resorts concerened.