DISCOVER LEBANON MUSEUMS 2016
THE MUSEUMS OF BEIRUT
THE SURSOCK MUSEUM - ASHRAFIEH Sursock Museum is one in a series of architecturally stunning mansions which once housed Beirut’s aristocracy, the majority are still privately owned. But on his death in 1951, wealthy arts patron Nicholas Ibrahim Sursock bequeathed his 1912 Italianate mansion to the City of Beirut, stipulating that it be a museum. The Museum is finally reopened in October 2015 after 7 years of renovation. Opening Hours Tuesday Closed Wed/ Fri-Mon: 10h00 am till 06h00 pm Thu: 12h00 pm till 09h00 pm
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BEIRUT - MATHAF
The principal museum of archeology in Lebanon. The museum has collections totaling about 100,000 objects, most of which are antiquities and medieval finds from excavations undertaken by the Directorate General of Antiquities. About 1300 artifacts are exhibited, ranging in date from prehistoric time to the medieval Mamluk period. Opening Hours Monday & National Holidays Closed Tue-Sun: 09h00 am till 04h00 pm
BDL MONEY MUSEUM - HAMRA
Banque Du Liban Lebanon’s currency museum for old and rare banknotes. Discover the Lebanese currency history, how it evolved, how the designs changed over the years. Lebanon’s first banknotes were issued by the Bank of Syria and Greater Lebanon (Banque du Syrie et Grand-Liban) in 1925. In 1939, the Lebanese currency was officially separated from that of Syria. Opening Hours Monday & National Holidays Closed Tue-Fri: 09h00 am till 01h00 pm Sat: 09h00 am till 12h00 pm
CRYPT MUSEUM - DOWN TOWN
The museum is a crypt underneath the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in downtown Beirut where oil lamps, pipes, clay and terra cotta pots, miniature statues, and crosses found in various digs are displayed. Visitors can meander along a narrow metal walkway to 12 stops to view mosaics, burial chambers, engravings on stones and columns, and tombstones. Opening Hours Daily from 10h00 am till 06h00 pm
BYBLOS FOSSIL MUSEUM (MEMORY OF TIME) - BYBLOS Our exhibition can go back in time 100 million yearswith our largest collection of fossils extracted from Haqil, Hgula and Ennamoura, three villages internationally known for their rich quarries of fossils, fish, crustaceans and plants, and for their unique species highly conserved in the world. Opening Hours Daily: Winter: 09h00 am till 06h00 pm / Summer: 09h00 am till 08h00 pm
OPEN AIR SCULPTURE MUSEUM (THE BASBOUS BROTHERS HOUSE) - RACHANA Michel, Youssef and Alfred Basbous were all born in Rachana and never wanted to leave their hometown. Instead, they used their incredible talent as sculptors to turn Rachana into a village of Fine Arts by excellence. They created open-air sculptures and hosted in 1994 an international sculpture event where artists were asked to contribute to the ever-growing outdoor museum in Rachana.
THE MUSEUMS OF THE SOUTH
SOAP MUSEUM - SIDON
The Sidon Soap Museum traces the history of soap making in the region, its development and manufacturing techniques. Visitors can see a demonstration of how traditional olive oil soaps are made and learn about the history of the “hammam” (bath) traditions. Opening Hours Friday & National Holidays closed Mon-Sun: 09h00 am till 06h00 pm
THE DEBBANÉ PALACE - SIDON
The Debbané Palace is an 18th century house depicting the elements of an Arab Ottoman Dar with a main courtyard. The Debbané foundation restored the building with the goal of transforming it into a museum exposing the impact of the Ottoman Period on Saida’s rich architectural history. Opening Hours Friday & National Holidays closed Mon - Sun: 09h00 am till 06h00 pm
MLEETA RESISTANCE MUSEUM - MLEETA (NABATIEH)
The first site of its type narrating the history of a phase continuing to be lived in Lebanon, the country of culture, civilization, and history, Mleeta is a terrestrial and sub-terrestrial museum aimed at closely identifying the unique experience of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon against the Israeli enemy from the beginning of the occupation of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, in 1982. Opening Hours Daily: 09h00 am till 04h00 pm
THE MUSEUMS OF THE NORTH THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (AISHTI) - JAL EL DIB
The Aïshti Foundation is part of a 35,000 square-meter complex that includes fashion boutiques, bookshop, restaurants, a spa... It includes one of the largest contemporary art museums in the region: works by Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Giuseppe Penone and Michelangelo Pistoletto and a large collection by famous artists such as Christopher Wool, Gerhard Richter, Franz West, Richard Prince, etc. Opening Hours Monday & Tuesday Closed Wed-Sat: 11h00 am till 08h00 pm Sun: 12h00 pm till 08h00 pm
WONDERS OF THE SEA - JDEIDEH
Unlock the secrets of the aquatic world with a visit to “The Wonders of the sea”. Join us for an educational voyage of discovery to the mysteries and magic of marine life. 10 minutes from the heart of Beirut, set within a traditional Lebanon house and its garden, “The Wonders of the sea” museum offers an instructive and cultural experience to children and adults alike. Opening Hours Mon-Fri: 08h30 till 13h30 pm Sat-Sun: 15h00 till 19h00 pm July & August Mon-Fri: 08h30 till 13h30 pm
THE LEBANESE MARINE AND WILDLIFE MUSEUM - JEITA
With 2000 species and over 5000 specimens of marine wildlife, the Lebanese Marine and Wildlife Museum boasts the largest collection of mummified sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, fossils, mammals and so much more. Opening Hours Mon-Sun: 08h00 am till 07h00 pm
GIBRAN MUSEUM - BCHARRE
The Monastery of Mar Sarkis St. Sergio in Gibrans’ native town Bsharreh has been transformed into a museum in 1975. The contents of Gibrans studio in New York, including his furniture, his personal belongings, his private library, his manuscripts and 440 original paintings are present in the Museum. Nowadays, the hermitage of the Monastery, an old cave, became Gibran’s grave. Opening Hours Summer: Mon - Sun: 10h00 am till 06h00 pm Winter: Monday & National Holidays Closed/ Tue till Sun: 09h00 am till 05h00 pm
MACAM (MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM) - ALITA (BYBLOS)
MACAM is a cultural institution dedicated to exhibiting, documenting, and preserving art in Lebanon. 400 Sculptures, 55 Artists - The largest ever exhibition of sculptures in Lebanon. Opening Hours Monday & National Holidays Closed Fri-Sun: 12h00 pm till Sunset Tue-Wed & Thu on appointment
BYBLOS WAX MUSEUM - BYBLOS The Historic Wax Museum in Byblos takes visitors back to the Phoenician era and guides them all the way to modern times and into Lebanon’s recent history, including independence in 1943. The museum, which was originally opened in 1970, also provides exhibits showcasing Lebanese rural life. Opening Hours Daily: 09h00 pm till 06h00 pm
THE MUSEUMS OF MOUNT LEBANON & BEQAA LEBANESE MILITARY MUSEUM - YARZEH
The Lebanese Military Museum is part of the Lebanese Armed Forces and dedicated for the preservation of old Lebanese military antiques. The old weapons constitute a major element in the museum, with swords and axes hanging on the walls. In addition the place includes old pistols, photos and paintings, with some dating back to the Ottoman rule.
SILK MUSEUM - BSOUS - ALEY
Silk production in Lebanon goes back to the Middle Ages and in the nineteenth century. It became the main activity for a large section of the population, creating great social and economic change in the lives of the Lebanese. The Silk Museum has become an important reference of ecological, cultural and economic history. Opening Hours May to September Monday closed Tue-Sun: 10h00 am till 06h00 pm
MARIE BAZ MUSEUM - DEIR EL KAMAR
The Seraglio of the Emir Fakhreddine II Maan, this beautiful palace today houses the Marie Baz wax museum. The Baz family together with the “Grevin museum” in Paris; founded this small museum in which are exhibited more than 70 wax models or sculptures representing some of Lebanon’s historical personalities. Opening Hours Summer: Mon-Sun: 09h00 am till 08h00 pm Winter: Mon-Sun: 09h00 am till 06h00 pm
MOUSSA CASTLE - DEIR EL KAMAR
A realized dream 1945-2006 of a single-handed Lebanese artist: Moussa Maamari. A middle-aged like castle and a museum exhibiting hydraulic and mobile statues sampling Lebanese heritage and traditions as well as a unique large collection of weapons. Opening Hours Summer: Mon-Sun: 08h00 am till 08h00 pm Winter: Mon-Sun: 08h00 am till 06h00 pm
TERBOL MUSEUM - ZAHLE
The museum is an old farmhouse belonging to the Rami family. This liwan type house is built from sundried bricks coated with clay and marl, then whitewashed. The roof is made of wooden beam covered with reeds and tamped clay. A wide collection of old tools are exposed, formerly used by Lebanese farmers. Opening Hours May to November Mon-Sun: 10h00am till 06h00 pm
DISCOVER SOME OF THESE MUSEUMS WITH WILD DISCOVERY BEIRUT & ITS AUTHENTIC MUSEUMS (6 HOURS)
Visit of the below Museums: The National Museum of Beirut / BDL Money Museum / Crypt Museum / MIM Museum Every Tuesday & Thursday @ 08h30 - (Minimum of 2 persons)
$75 per person Including Transportation; Guide & Entrance fees
PALACES & MUSEUMS TOUR (8 HOURS)
Visit of Sidon old souks, Soap Museum & DebbanĂŠ Palace. Lunch on your own expenses. Continue to the Chouf, visit of Beiteddine Palace & Marie Baz Museum Every Wednesday @ 08h30 - (Minimum of 4 persons)
$100 per person Including Transportation, guide & Entrance fees
WEEKEND ESCAPE TOUR (2 DAYS / 1 NIGHT)
Day 1: Saturday - In the morning, visit of The Sursock Museum in Ashrafieh. Continue to visit of The Lebanese Marine and Wildlife Museum in Jeita & MACAM Museum (Modern and Contemporary Art Museum) in Alita-Byblos. Lunch & dinner on your own expenses. Overnight at the hotel in Byblos Day 2: Sunday - Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of Byblos Wax Museum & Byblos Fossil Museum. Continue to Rachana and visit of The Open air Sculpture Museum. Lunch on your own expenses. On the way back to Beirut, visit of The Museum of Modern Art (Aishti). Valid till end of 2016 (Excluding Summer & Holidays: New Year, Easter, Fitr, Adha, Christmas & Valentine) (Minimum of 4 persons) Half Double room
Single room
$215 per person
$245 per person
Including Transportation, guide, Entrance fees & 1 night in Byblos with Breakfast
MIM MUSEUM - MINERAL MUSEUM - SODECO
Considered to be one of the world’s paramount private collections for the variety & quality of its minerals. The museum offers a total of 1480 minerals (300 species) from 60 different countries, over 1300 m² of 9 galleries. Opening Hours Monday & National Holidays Closed Tue-Sun: 10h00 am till 01h00 pm / 02h00 pm till 06h00 pm
AUB MUSEUM - HAMRA Founded in 1868, the American University Museum is one of the oldest museums in the Middle East. It holds an important collection of objects coming from Lebanon and neighboring countries, covering the period from the Early Stone Age to the Islamic era. Opening Hours Saturday, Sunday & National Holidays Closed Mon-Fri: 09h00 am till 05h00 pm
USJ PREHISTORY MUSEUM - SODECO The Lebanese Prehistory Museum exhibits artifacts collected since the end of the XIXth century by the Jesuit fathers. The collection relates to the evolution of the prehistoric societies who lived on the Lebanese territory from the Paleolithic to the Chalcolithic. Opening Hours Monday, Thursday, Sunday & National Holidays Closed Tue-Wed/Fri-Sat: 09h00 am till 03h00 pm
ROBERT MOUAWAD PRIVATE MUSEUM - ZOKAK EL BLAT
A mixture of Oriental and Occidental cultures, the museum is an Arab Palace built in 1891 by Mr. Henri Pharaon, that hosts Robert Mouawads’ collection of books and preserved manuscripts, ceramics, pottery, unique carpets, icons, Chinese porcelain, sophisticated jewelry pieces, mosaics, metal and wooden panels. Opening Hours Monday & National Holidays Closed Tue-Sun: 09h00 am till 04h00 pm
PLANET DISCOVERY (THE CHILDREN’S SCIENCE MUSEUM) DOWNTOWN
The science museum was founded in 1999 as the first permanent children’s museum in Lebanon. It offers hands-on learning and edutainment opportunities to youth of all age ranges through diverse live experiences. It is also used as an innovative dynamic space that helps providing education to kids and widening their scientific knowledge, in an attractive and entertaining atmosphere. Opening Hours Mon-Fri: 09h00 till 06h00 pm Sat-Sun: 10h30 till 07h00 pm
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