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

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Zahle is known as the bride of the Beqaa, and is much appreciated for its healthy climate, red-roofed houses and its good food. It is considered as the capital of the Beqaa, and is the seat of government for the Beqaa. All amenities are available here, with hotels, good shopping and souvenir shops. Zahle's many beautiful old houses can be appreciated on a leisurely walk around the town.

The main attraction, however, is the Bardaouni River, which flows out of Mount Sannine through a wooded gorge shut in between tall perpendicular rocks, down to Zahle. Along this branch of the Litani River there is one open air restaurant after another. All are protected from the sun by awnings and leafy trees, while streams, fountains and pools cool the air. Zahle is home of the Mezza and of Arak and it lies at the heart of an area that has been making wine since early antiquity.

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In this pleasant spot, one can enjoy a typical Lebanese pastime: the long leisurely lunch. The Bardaouni is just as popular in the evenings where dinners can become quite festive. In Winter, most of the riverside restaurants are only open on weekends. A walk in the hills overlooking Zahle, leads you to Iron and Bronze Age towns. In Wadi El Arayesh are Byzantine and Roman sarcophagi.