The Palace of Beiteddine is one of the masterpieces of 19th-century Arab architecture — a sprawling complex of terraced courtyards, marble fountains, vaulted halls, and richly decorated rooms set on a saddle in the Chouf mountains. Built between 1788 and 1818 by Emir Bashir II, designed by Italian architects and constructed by local artisans, it shows a remarkable fusion of Ottoman, Arab, and European Renaissance styles.
The standard visit takes around two hours. Highlights include the Dar al-Wasat middle courtyard with its fluted columns; the hammam with three chambers and a star-vaulted dome; the harem quarters with their intricately painted ceilings and stained-glass windows; the grand reception hall lined in mother-of-pearl; and the Byzantine mosaics museum housed in what were the palace stables, displaying floor mosaics rescued from Lebanese coastal churches.
The palace also contains the tomb of Sit Shams, Bashir's beloved wife. Since 1943 it has served as the official summer residence of the President of the Republic, so during state functions parts of the complex may close.