Baalbeck - Touristic Sites - LebGuide.com (Lebanon Guide)

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The site of Baalbeck dates back 4000 years, when the Canaanites built a temple to worship "Baal" the semitic God of thunders and storms. In the Hellenistic ages, Baalbeck was called Heliopolis "The City Of Sun" as it is known till nowadays, identified with the Greek Sun God "Helios".

Baalbeck is one of Lebanon's oldest cities, and one of the most important Roman sites in the Middle East. It was the home of the most marvelous ruins and temples of Roman Ancient Empire. Its gigantic acropolis presented one of the very unique projects conceived in the history of world architecture. In addition, it has the largest Freestone in the world: 21.5m long and 4.8m wide.

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Tourist from all over the earth were astonished by the remaining of Baalbeck greatest temples that took two hundred years to be built. The most famous are the following: The Temple Of Jupiter Heliopolitanus, was never fully completed, only six of the lofty columns remained. The Temple of Bacchus which is well preserved except for its roof, it is surrounded by 42 columns.

Outside the acropolis stands the circular temple of Venus, and the remains of a fourth temple dedicated to Mercury is close by. The temple complex was three centuries in building and never finished. These fabulous Hellenistic-Roman period ruins were the venue for the drama, music and dance performances at the Baalbeck Festival from 1956 to 1974.

Baalbeck holds every summer a wonderful International Music Festival. For more information on this event: www.baalbeck.org.lb.

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