Beirut Trip Overview
Get a true taste of Lebanon’s authentic wine combining it with a visit to Baalbek Roman Empire, one of the remarkable landmarks in the history of Lebanon. On this full-day wine and culture tour departing from Beirut, delve into the history and discover the famous majestic temples of Bacchus, Jupiter and Venus, then get the chance to taste different kinds of Lebanese wine while visiting two wineries in the Beqaa valley.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 hours
Starts: Beirut, Lebanon
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Beirut, Lebanon, Lebanon
Get a true taste of Lebanon’s authentic wine combining it with a visit to Baalbek Roman Empire, one of the remarkable landmarks in the history of Lebanon. On this full-day wine and culture tour departing from Beirut, delve into the history and discover the famous majestic temples of Bacchus, Jupiter and Venus, then get the chance to taste different kinds of Lebanese wine while visiting two wineries in the Beqaa valley.
Stop At: Baalbek, Lebanon
Baalbek, is home to the Baalbek temple complex which includes two of the largest and grandest Roman temple ruins: the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter. It was inscribed in 1984 as an UNESCO World Heritage site.
This Phoenician city, where a triad of deities was worshipped, was known as Heliopolis during the Hellenistic period. It retained its religious function during Roman times, when the sanctuary of the Heliopolitan Jupiter attracted thousands of pilgrims. Baalbek, with its colossal structures, is one of the finest examples of Imperial Roman architecture at its apogee.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Temples of Baalbek, Baalbeck Lebanon
The complex of temples at Baalbek is located at the foot of the south-west slope of Anti-Lebanon, bordering the fertile plain of the Bekaa at an altitude of 1150 m. The city of Baalbek reached its apogee during Roman times. Its colossal constructions built over a period of more than two centuries, make it one of the most famous sanctuaries of the Roman world and a model of Imperial Roman architecture. Pilgrims thronged to the sanctuary to venerate the three deities, known under the name of the Romanized Triad of Heliopolis, an essentially Phoenician cult (Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Baalbek Roman Ruins, Baalbeck Lebanon
Baalbeck roman ruins, 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.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Lebanon, the Roman Ruins in Baalbek are a must for any tourist. Originally a site of Phoenician worship, the temples were taken over by the Romans after their colonization. What was once the home of Astarte became the home of Venus, the Goddess of Love. The same site also endured the Christian and Islamic eras to become what it is today. Walk the historical steps as you marvel Baalbek’s towering structures.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Jupiter, 2643+MGG, Baalbek, Lebanon
The Temple of Jupiter is a colossal Roman temple, the largest of the Roman world, situated at the Baalbek complex in Heliopolis. The temple served as an oracle and was dedicated to Jupiter Heliopolitanus.
It is not known who designed the temple, nor exactly when it was constructed. Work probably began around 16 BC and was nearly complete by about ad 60. It is situated at the western end of the Great Court of Roman Heliopolis, on a broad platform of stone raised another 7 m (23 ft) above the huge stones of the foundation, three of which are among the heaviest blocks ever used in a construction.
It was the biggest temple dedicated to Jupiter in all the Roman empire. The columns were 30 meters high with a diameter of nearly 2.5 meters: the biggest in the classical world. It took three centuries to create this colossal temple complex.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Bacchus (Roman god of wine), Baalbek, Lebanon
The Temple of Bacchus is part of the Baalbek temple complex located in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. The temple complex is considered an outstanding archaeological and artistic site of Imperial Roman Architecture and was inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. The Temple of Bacchus is one of the best preserved and grandest Roman temple ruins; its age is unknown, but Its fine ornamentation can be dated to the second century CE.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Venus, 2644+9GR, Baalbek, Lebanon
The Temple of Venus was built in the third century. Built on a horseshoe-shaped platform, it consists of a circular shrine with a square entrance that is almost as big. The outer façade of the shrine is graced by five niches, which means that there is not a single square wall. In the niches are representations of doves and shells, which has been taken as evidence that the shrine was dedicated to Venus.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Stone of the Pregnant Woman, Lebanon
The Stone of the Pregnant Woman is a worked Roman monolith in Baalbek, Lebanon. Together with another ancient stone block nearby, it is among the largest monoliths ever quarried. The two building blocks were presumably intended for the nearby Roman temple complex, and are characterized by a monolithic gigantism that was unparalleled in antiquity.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Chateau Ksara, Ksara, Zahle Lebanon
Château Ksara is a wine company in The Beqaa Valley Lebanon. Founded in 1857 by Jesuit priests. Château Ksara developed the first dry wine in Lebanon. Château Ksara produces approximately 3 million bottles annually. Its wines are exported to over 40 countries.
Duration: 1 minute
Stop At: Chateau St Thomas, Kab Elias Road 6km. from Chtaura, Zahle Lebanon
Established in 1990 on a hill overlooking the Bekaa valley, this winery produce high quality wine due to the fertility of Beqaa soil where located its vineyards.
Duration: 1 hour
