Pursuit after Deir el Qamar and overlooking a terraced hill appears the palace of Beit Eddine. A delightful example of early 19th Century oriental architecture, the palace was built by Emir Bechir el Chehabi II (1788 -1840) who was for over fifty years not only the most independent and self-willed of sovereigns but whose reign was equally characterised by both justice and prosperity. Under his rule there was a boom in public works; roads were laid down or enlarged while new bridges were built and others repaired. His most spectacular achievement, however, remains the aqueduct of the Safa, a spring whose waters are regularly swollen by the melting snows.
At the end of the 18th Century, Emir Youssef found himself in difficulties with the Sultan'srepresentatives, the neighbouring pachas. He preferred to retire, and abdicated in favour of Emir Bechir II since his own children were not yet of age. Due to family disagreements, the positioning of the palaces at Deir el Qamar, and the extension of his power, Emir Bechir II decided to construct his own palace at Beit Eddine some five kilometres from Deir el Qamar.
In 1943, Cheikh Bechara El Khoury, the President of the Republic, decided to make it his symbolic summer residence and brought back in pomp and ceremony from Constantinople the remains of the Emir Bechir who had died there in 1850.
The Castle museum was completely hand built by Moussa and his wife. As a young student, Moussa was scolded and mocked by his teacher for drawing a castle during class. Moussa vowed to him that one day, he would build his own castle and so began the story. But don't let this picture fool you, all you can see here is the entrance, the whole castle is huge!
My Wife and I.
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