Beiteddine Palace

A 19th-century palace complex in the Chouf mountains built over three decades by Emir Bashir Shihab II, combining Arab, Ottoman, and Italian architectural elements in a hilltop setting with views across terraced mountain slopes toward the Mediterranean coast. The interior courts and stables are notable for their elaborate mosaic floors, many salvaged from Byzantine sites, and the carved stucco interiors of the formal reception rooms. A museum within the palace preserves a collection of Byzantine mosaic panels alongside archaeological finds from the Chouf region. The palace hosts a summer arts festival in its main courtyard.