Baalbek is a Lebanese city in the Bekka Valley, which is also known as the Al-Biqa’ region. About 85 kilometres north east of Beirut, the city dates back around 5000 years. Baalbek, like Byblos, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is quite small and you could easily get a grasp of it by walking around. During my trip to Baalbek, I went with a guide who gave us historical background on all the sites we visited, which was exhaustingly informative but worth every penny. There was no incessant stopping to look up details and she also provided insight in the political significance of Baalbek, which is information that you wouldn’t necessarily come across in a standard travel book.
Roman Ruins
Historically, Baalbek was of little commercial or strategic relevance, but the Phoenicians - who settled there around 2000 BC - constructed the first temple to the Baal, the Sun God, after whom the city is named. During Roman times, the town retained its religious importance. Over a period of two centuries, the Romans built a temple complex, which included: Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus. A fourth but separate temple was built in honour of Mercury. The temple of Jupiter Baal is generally considered to be the greatest of the three main temples. The temples were built on top of the existing religious structures, which makes for an amazing archaeological and architectural melange that is considered to be the largest temples ever built by the Romans, as well as the best preserved.
If you enter Baalbek from the south, you pass the quarry in which the stones used for the temples were cut. There remains a huge carved stone, Stone of the Pregnant Woman, measuring 21.5 meters long and weighing an estimated 1,000 tons. It is considered to the largest hewn stone in the world. In case you miss the magnitude of the work that went into the temples, this stone will help you out.
Other Historical Sites
The Great Mosque is situated next to the entrance of the acropolis. It dates from the 7th-8th century, built during the Omayyad period. The mosque, like the temples, is a mix of existing architecture, using Roman and Byzantine columns. You should also try and visit the Bustan El Khan, which are the remains of the public baths. Ras El-Ain is an ancient spring, which has been incorporated into the city.
Baalbek International Festival
The Baalbek International Festival is an annual event that takes place during July and August, the festival prides itself as being one of the oldest and most prestigious of its kind in the Middle East. The event happens in the Roman Acropolis and has done so since 1955. The festival is a mix of classical music, dance, theatre, opera, jazz and contemporary music from all over the world. It draws around 40,000 spectators each year.