Baalbek has the best Roman ruin outside of Rome.
Baalbek might not be a hidden secret, but many people do not know these Roman ruins exist. You will be blown away when you visit it—absolutely one of the finest examples of Imperial Roman architecture. Traveling from Beirut to Baalbek might be challenging, but it is worth it.
Baalbek
The journey to Balbek can be challenging if you travel by public transport. You show up at the bus stations and find the minibus that will go to your destination. It might take some time before the bus leave because the driver wants to fill up the bus before he leaves. The buses are generally not in good condition, but you must keep an open mind when you want to travel like the locals. Expect at least two hours to reach the destination.
The “modern” town of Baalbek can be missed; not much to see there. But, you soon forget that when you start to see the ancient town. It was known as Heliopolis during the Hellenistic period. I was standing there gasping, looking at all these massive buildings up to twenty meters high. Since I had already been to Tyre on this trip, I considered dropping Baalbek. However, I was told Baalbek was much more spectacular, and I am glad I made an effort to come here.
Temple of Jupiter
Only six of the original 54 columns of the Temple of Jupiter remain today, but it gives no doubt about the grandeur of ancient Rome. They are the tallest Roman columns in the world at 22 meters high and measuring 2.2 meters wide. In the courtyard, some fallen columns and details from the loft show further evidence of Rome’s fine craftsmanship.
Temple of Bacchus
This monument to Bacchus is one of the best preserved and grandest Roman temple ruins and has the finest ornamentation imaginable. The temple of Jupiter was slightly more significant than this, but the biggest difference is that this temple is still standing, and to walk through the main gate is just breathtaking.
UNESCO has protected the whole of Baalbek ancient park, and thankfully, it was not damaged during the war. Preservation of the site began in the 1990s, following the war’s end. This site must be all archeologists’ wet dream; wherever you look, it is so much excellent art and in good condition.
Final words from Lebanon
I have said many nice things about my trip to Lebanon; however, this day at Baalbek was the most impressive. I want to share this with you and hope many of you consider making the trip to Lebanon. Of course, it is not the same as traveling to the south of Europe, but it has so much to offer, and the people are so happy that the tourists are coming back. Tourism always has at least two sides, of course, but if we try to think about sustainable travel, and find a balance, look up new destinations.
