Last week we decided to celebrate our anniversary while exploring a new area in Lebanon. You can read all about our hotel review here Family Staycation at Hotel Layali Al Sham .
Our destination was ANJAR area, and it was our first time we visit this beautiful city and explore one of its famous ruins.
Our destination was ANJAR area, and it was our first time we visit this beautiful city and explore one of its famous ruins.
Anjar (from the Arabic "Ain Gerrah") the name of an ancient city founded in this area in Hellenistic times. It's believed that the city was founded in the early 8th Century AD.
Anjar is located approximately 60 km from Beirut and just a short distance from the Litani River. It is labeled as a historical site in Lebanon due to its extensive ruins dating back to the Umayyad area. Anjar’s glory did not last long because of the Umayyad’s short-lived 100-year rule in the 8th century.
Today, a large Armenian population lives around Anjar, which incidentally means “unresolved or running river.”
Anjar is located approximately 60 km from Beirut and just a short distance from the Litani River. It is labeled as a historical site in Lebanon due to its extensive ruins dating back to the Umayyad area. Anjar’s glory did not last long because of the Umayyad’s short-lived 100-year rule in the 8th century.
Today, a large Armenian population lives around Anjar, which incidentally means “unresolved or running river.”
Umayyad Ruins of Anjar
We visited the site on a Friday Morning. They opened at 10:00 a.m
Entrance fees:3,000 / Adults and Kids for Free. We decided to explore the place on our own and without amy guide's assistance so we can take our time with our children and enjoy the place at a slow pace.
What striked us at first was the very great condition of the exterior fortification which surrounds the old city! We loved the round guard posts built into the wall all around the perimeter!
The interior ruins, which you enter along the Western Wall, are very typical Roman as there is a main Colonnade with arches along both sides.
We entered the site through its northern gate and headed in a straight line up to main street to the far end of the site. You'll come across some of the shops that have uncovered in the upper part & again at the midpoint of this commercial street,there is a second major street which cuts across it at a right angle and it's full of shops. Total uncovered 600 shops made this place be considered 1st shopping mall in the Umayyad period.
Moving on through this iconic site which once housed 3 Grand Palaces, remains of a mosque, Roman inspired public baths,residential areas, and huge forests. The architectural scheme adds beauty and charm to this place with with perpendicular streets and alleys that intersect at the city center.
The Umayyad city was under Caliph Walid Ibn Aabd el-Malek however the city only enjoyed a brief existence. In 744, Caliph Ibrahim, son of Walid, was defeated and the partially destroyed city was abandoned.
Entrance fees:3,000 / Adults and Kids for Free. We decided to explore the place on our own and without amy guide's assistance so we can take our time with our children and enjoy the place at a slow pace.
What striked us at first was the very great condition of the exterior fortification which surrounds the old city! We loved the round guard posts built into the wall all around the perimeter!
The interior ruins, which you enter along the Western Wall, are very typical Roman as there is a main Colonnade with arches along both sides.
We entered the site through its northern gate and headed in a straight line up to main street to the far end of the site. You'll come across some of the shops that have uncovered in the upper part & again at the midpoint of this commercial street,there is a second major street which cuts across it at a right angle and it's full of shops. Total uncovered 600 shops made this place be considered 1st shopping mall in the Umayyad period.
Moving on through this iconic site which once housed 3 Grand Palaces, remains of a mosque, Roman inspired public baths,residential areas, and huge forests. The architectural scheme adds beauty and charm to this place with with perpendicular streets and alleys that intersect at the city center.
The Umayyad city was under Caliph Walid Ibn Aabd el-Malek however the city only enjoyed a brief existence. In 744, Caliph Ibrahim, son of Walid, was defeated and the partially destroyed city was abandoned.
After 2 full hours of exploring this wonderful place and imagining how it once was!
We passed by the gift shop for some souvenirs before we continued on with our family day exploring the beautiful city of Anjar.
We passed by the gift shop for some souvenirs before we continued on with our family day exploring the beautiful city of Anjar.
There are lots of restaurants nearby with great reviews worth trying along to other sites and places worth visiting such us Anjar's famous river, Spring, and Ruins.
However, we decided to explore them in our future visits :)
However, we decided to explore them in our future visits :)
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Then join our family community!
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FEM-Family Events & More