If you are a traveler in Beirut and are interested in the history and culture of the city, there are many things to know before you set off. This article includes a map of Beirut, a look at some of the major landmarks, and some information on the Human Rights Watch report. Also included is a list of the top 10 things to do in Beirut.
Human Rights Watch report
A new Human Rights Watch report documents the human rights abuses that have been taking place in Beirut since the August 4 terrorist attack. The report states that Lebanese officials have been corrupt and have failed to tackle the massive political and economic crises facing the country. In the past year alone, the poverty rate in Lebanon has doubled.
The recent violence was triggered by protests by Hezbollah against the removal of a judge, Tarik Bitar, who was investigating an explosion at Beirut’s port on August 4, 2020. The resulting violence in Beirut reflects the fact that decades of political assassinations, street battles, and rampant corruption have gone unpunished. The Human Rights Watch report highlights the devastating results of such impunity.
Lebanon’s government has also made it increasingly difficult for journalists, activists, and political parties to exercise their rights. The government is increasingly threatening journalists and media workers, and officials often act with impunity. A recent assassination of prominent intellectual and Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim has led to a lack of progress in the investigation of the crime. In addition, women continue to suffer discrimination under 15 separate religion-based personal status laws. In the city of Beirut, for example, it is not legal for a woman to pass her nationality to her foreign partner.
Lebanese security forces continue to torture and intimidate civilians, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch. The government has failed to investigate allegations of torture committed by the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces. In March, a prominent actor who had been falsely accused of spying for Israel revealed that he was detained for six days in an unofficial detention facility by State Security. During this time, he was tortured by a group of men. In May, a military judge closed the case against him without investigating the allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
Map of Beirut
If you’re looking for a map of Beirut, you’ve come to the right place. This Middle Eastern city borders the Mediterranean Sea on the west, Israel on the south, and Syria on the east. You can explore satellite images of the city by using a free Google Earth program, which works on desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones. Its images are detailed enough to distinguish buildings, streets, and even people. It is also free and easy to use.
Beirut has 21 kilometers of streets, and there are four subway, tram, and bus stops in the city. The city’s area is 0 square kilometers, and its public green space is 0.001% of its total area. The city has a population of 1,252,000 people. Using a map of Beirut will make it easier for you to find what you need and get where you need to go.
The French Mandate contributed to Beirut’s modernization and population growth. The Place de l’Etoile (the “star of the east”) was built on the site of an Ottoman barracks. The building later became the seat of the French High Commission and the residence of the Prime Minister of Lebanon. The Serail sector (23), located in the Zuqaq El-Blat quarter, was named after the Grand Serail.
In addition to the city’s official boundaries, the map of Beirut can help travelers figure out where to eat, shop, and enjoy the city. The city’s neighborhoods are listed on a map created by the American University of Beirut Neighborhood Initiative. It lists notable buildings, shops, and restaurants. It also shows recommended walking routes and cultural activities.
Major landmarks in Beirut
Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. The city has a population of 2.4 million and is the third largest in the Levant region. It is located on a peninsula on the midpoint of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast. It is home to several important landmarks, including the Presidential Palace, the National Museum, and the Art Museum.
The Martyrs’ Square, which was built in 1931, is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Its design takes inspiration from the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul and features an elegant blue dome. This mosque offers prayer facilities for men and has a picturesque interior.
If you’re interested in history, the Beirut National Museum is a must-visit landmark. It houses more than 1,300 artifacts and features artwork from prehistoric times to the Mamluk period. Visitors can enjoy a movie every hour here while viewing the stunning displays.
Another popular landmark is the Pigeon Rocks, a natural monument that is a must-see. You can also see the Palace de l’Etoile, a historic building that was built in the 20th century by French architects. Other major landmarks include the Martyr’s Statue and the Jeita Grotto. The city also has numerous museums and art galleries.
Another major landmark in Beirut is the Byblos Castle. This ancient structure is located in the Beqaa Valley and is two and a half hours from the city. This ancient site houses one of the few remaining Roman temples in the world. It was built in memory of the Roman God of wine, Bacchus. It also houses the Baalbeck International Festival, a celebration of architecture and history.
Culture of Beirut
Culture of Beirut is a melting pot of traditions from the Middle East. The people here are friendly and welcoming. The country’s history stretches back to the Phoenicians. The Greeks and Romans later came to conquer the country. The Crusaders and the French also visited Lebanon. This diverse culture is evident in the variety of cuisines, dress, and languages.
Historically, Beirut consisted of two distinct cities: the old city and the suburbs. The old city was the home of the rich and middle classes. There was a market that drew shoppers from all over the world. In contrast, the suburbs were home to the poor Lebanese. These residents came into contact with the Palestinian refugees living in the city’s refugee camps. The influx of Palestinian refugees in the 1960s revolutionized the political situation in Lebanon. It also helped draw attention to the plight of the poor.
The 1960s were the most vibrant years for Beirut’s visual culture. It is often referred to as the ‘golden era’ of Arabic Modernism. In addition to the bustling Hamra commercial district, the city was also home to European fashions and the cosmopolitanism of Paris. Women wearing miniskirts and poets strolling Bliss Street were just some of the symbols of this city’s cosmopolitanism.
The visual culture of resistance also resonated with Palestinians in Lebanon. Palestinian artists who favored a non-colonial society often produced images commemorating Palestinian battles against Israel. For example, the art director of the Shi’r magazine in 1968 commissioned an exhibition of eleven solidarity posters to raise funds for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank. In addition, the novelist Elias Khoury wrote about how anti-Zionist art transformed Beirut into a massive exhibition. Anti-Zionist works depicted the heroic revolutionary struggle of kufiya-clad Palestinian fedayeen. They aimed to replace the narrative of victimization with one of struggle. Consequently, they used photomontage and abstracted figurative forms.
Post-civil war planning in Beirut
Despite the post-civil war promise of peace, planning in Lebanon has turned into a battlefield of sectarian war. Planners are positioned as technicians of a new regulating logic, and their agendas have shifted from urban planning as a tool for development to managing the peripheries of cities as front lines of sectarian conflict. This shift in planning practices challenges the common conception of planning as a means to order the present and debunks contemporary narratives about peace and progress.
Post-civil war planning in Beirut is largely a result of political and economic concerns. It aims to re-establish political dominance and the territorial imperative. The project also aims to avoid clashes between the warring factions. This means that reconstruction projects in the city centre are driven by competing economic and political interests.
In Beirut, successive post-civil war governments have focused on the reconstruction of the capital city, as a way to reinforce the hegemonic role of the city in national identity. By turning the city inward, the new gentrification projects have heightened the inequality within the city, which contributed to the outbreak of civil war.
Moreover, the peripheries in Beirut are primarily occupied by low-income families. This has led to the gentrification of the central areas, and a displacement of residents to the peripheral parts. The urban planning in the area has become driven by profit-making and foreign capital.
Despite these challenges, there is a strong possibility of an inclusive urban future in Lebanon. In fact, new movements are emerging in the country that might challenge sectarian political alliances and re-shape geographies of fear.
