Unlock Lebanon’s Best-Kept Secrets: List of 14 tourist churches and monasteries
Unveil the top 14 must-visit tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon with our curated list. Immerse yourself in 14 best tourist churches and monasteries or discover hidden treasures with 14 must-visit tourist churches and monasteries. Don’t miss 14 top-rated tourist churches and monasteries to experience Lebanon’s best.
Information about Lebanon
It is an Arab country located in the Middle East, specifically in the west of the Asian continent, and is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Palestine to the south, and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea from the west. It is a democratic, republican, sectarian country whose population is mostly Arab Muslims and Christians. Unlike most Arab countries, there is an active presence of Christians in public and political life. Lebanon is considered one of the countries of the Levant, and it is similar to the rest of the Levantine countries in its delicious dishes and traditional dances such as the Dabkeh, and the accents are also similar. Despite the small area of Lebanon, it is one of the countries that has a history full of events, as some of the first human civilizations such as the Phoenicians settled in it, and many great empires passed through it throughout history, and therefore, during your wandering in it, you will find many amazing monuments and evidence left by those civilizations. Lebanon is also distinguished by its picturesque nature and its beautiful mild climate.
A list of the best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
Experience the best tourist churches and monasteries that Lebanon has to offer with our expertly chosen list of top-rated destinations. Our team has scoured visitor reviews and evaluations to bring you only the best options for your next adventure.
1- Mar estephan (San stephen cathedral)
Mar estephan (San stephen cathedral) – St Stephen’s Church is located in the Lebanese city of Batroun, where it was built on the site of an old church and was completed in 1910 AD. The church displays the traditional European style of vaults, arches and high ceilings. Today, the church includes many religious ceremonies, weddings and baptisms, and is a destination for many tourists and visitors throughout the year.
Place address: Batroun old streets Batroun, 1400, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
2- Mar Saba – Church
Mar Saba – Church – Mar Saba Church was built in the village of Al-Akoura in the Middle Ages. It is a Crusader church dating back to 1262 AD. It was designed in a Roman, rural and military style, with very large walls, large columns, and narrow windows for archers. The church is distinguished by its frescoes, which were restored in 2014 by the Association for the Restoration and Study of Medieval Frescoes in Lebanon (AREFML). On the north wall are the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Syriac inscriptions, while on the south wall are the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.
Place address: Bcharre, Aabdine, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
3- Deir Qannoubine monastery
Deir Qannoubine monastery – The Monastery of Our Lady of Qannoubine is located in Wadi Qannoubine, which is considered one of the most beautiful natural areas in Lebanon, and includes a number of distinctive archaeological sites, including this monastery, which was originally the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate, and it served as a permanent home for three nuns. The monastery has a unique architectural design that includes rooms with arched ceilings, at the bottom of which are catacombs and stores dedicated to preserving food and ancient books.
Place address: 7W4X+XV6, Wadi Qannoubine, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
4- Saydet El Habes Church
Saydet El Habes Church – The Church of Our Lady of Imprisonment is located in the city of Aqoura, and it is considered one of the oldest Catholic churches in Lebanon. It sits on a hill that was also called “Our Lady of Imprisonment.” This is because a number of monks resorted to it to hide away from what they were suffering from injustice and persecution, and inside the cave there is also a spring of water. Next to the church, there is a long staircase that leads to the mountain and to the shrine of Our Lady of Confinement. As for the shrine of Our Lady of Confinement, it consists of a chapel, a church, staircases, and statues of the twelve apostles, and a statue of Maron and Mar Charbel, and in its vicinity a group of shrines and a group of statues of the apostles, and at the bottom of the large staircase, there is a green yard and flower beds in addition to 15 shrines for all the churches in which they are held. religious ceremonies.
Place address: Aaqoura, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
5- Saint John-Marc Cathedral
Saint John-Marc Cathedral – The construction of this beautiful Romanesque church began in the medieval streets above the harbor in 1115 AD, and the structure was expanded and improved over the subsequent centuries, and today it has a striking architectural design, which is an interesting mixture of Arab and Western European designs, with remnants of mosaics Byzantine buildings from previous buildings scattered around the area, and the huge cross sits at the top of the church in the open air, facing the northern wall, with the arches and the four pillars surmounted by a dome. You must definitely visit this beautiful church when you visit the Lebanese city of Byblos.
Place address: Saint John Church – Byblos, Jbeil, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
6- Our lady of the sea church
Our lady of the sea church – The Church of Our Lady of the Sea in the city of Batroun dates back to the nineteenth century, and the church was distinguished by its honorable location overlooking the coast. Its design was similar to churches and cathedrals in Europe, as it contained domes, arches, and Baroque architectural systems. The church is still present today and religious prayers and ceremonies are held in it, and it is still a destination for many tourists from all countries of the world.
Place address: Batroun, 1400, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Things to do in Lebanon
7- Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Lebanon – This Catholic church is famous for the tall bronze statue that sits above the holy shrine of the Virgin Mary of Lebanon, among Christians and Muslims alike. Through it, you can see a distinctive panoramic view of the surrounding villages from the top of the hill. The shrine was built eight meters high to give respect to the Virgin Mary. You can reach the village by car or by taking a cable car ride and enjoy the enchanting views of the bay along the way. There are also some churches surrounding it, so do not hesitate and visit them with family or friends.
Place address: Our Lady of Lebanon بازيليك سيدة لبنان, Harissa, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
8- Lady Of Zahle
Lady Of Zahle – The Monument of Our Lady of Zahle is located on top of a hill in the southwest of Zahle. It is a 54-meter-high concrete tower completely clad in white marble and topped with a 10-meter-high bronze statue of the Virgin Mary. This monument is the most prominent building in Zahle, and can be seen from practically every spot in the city. At its base is a chapel that can seat just over a hundred people, a beautiful wooden and glass chapel, which gives you an atmosphere of inner peace.
Place address: Zahlé, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Statues and memorials in Lebanon
9- Mar Edna Monastery
Mar Edna Monastery – Mar Edna Church is one of the ancient churches in the village of Aqoura, and believers visit it on the occasion of Saints’ Day every year. Because of the succession of civilizations in Lebanon and the many wars in it, nothing remains of this church today except for some antiquities and historical pieces, which still testify to the ancient place. Standing in the middle of the outer square is the statue of St. Trachos, to whom this church and monastery originated. Visitors and tourists come here to perform some religious rites and rituals of their own.
Place address: Aaqoura, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
10- Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George – St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral is a church that is considered the seat of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Beirut and its affiliated territories. It is the oldest church in the city, and it is located near Nejmeh Square in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. This church was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman Anastasia Church in the year 1767, and it is one of the oldest buildings in the city, and in 1975 during the civil war, a bomb had fallen next to it, and I discovered ruins next to this Byzantine church, and it is now open as a wonderful museum, you can enter it from the side of the building, you must definitely visit it When you go to Beirut.
Place address: Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Bayrut, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
11- Saint Peter and Paul
Saint Peter and Paul – The Church of St. Peter and Paul is one of the most important historical and religious monuments that characterize the village of Al-Akoura. This church, which was carved in the rock thousands of years ago and still exists today, is nothing but a historical stamp that indicates the nobility of this country, which has had successive states and eras. The Phoenicians carved and dug this church to be a distinctive landmark for the burial of their masters and kings, and it really became a cemetery for them. Today, it serves as a temple and a monastery, where some religious ceremonies are held.
Place address: 4WC4+G6M, Aaqoura, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
12- Saydet Al Talle Church
Saydet Al Talle Church – The parish of Our Lady of the Hill is a Maronite church in the heart of the beautiful town of Tal al-Qamar, and the church is considered one of the most important historical and religious sites in the town, because it is very old and was built by the monk Nikola Smisati over the ruins of an ancient Phoenician temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte, but an earthquake destroyed it in the year 895 and it was rebuilt by order From the Knights Templar during the Crusades, the Muslims destroyed the second church and it was rebuilt a third time during the reign of Fakhr al-Din I (1518-1544). The church was built in a simple oriental style, and visitors will find a high tower, beautiful interior arches, and paintings of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Place address: Chouf, Deir El Qamar, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
13- Mar Semaan Church
Mar Semaan Church – The Church of Saint Simeon is located in the locality of Saint Simeon in Byblos. It is known as the Church of Saint Simeon the Vertical due to the presence of an archaeological column in its centre. This column is considered one of the remains of a temple that was adjacent to it. Other monuments from the ancient temple appear in the apse of the church. One of the most prominent features of this church is its square shape, which is surmounted by a dome, and it summarizes Christian architecture in its various eras.
Place address: Batroun, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
14- Deir Taanayel
Deir Taanayel – The Church of Deir Taanil is one of the interesting and distinctive tourist sites in Lebanon, which is characterized by a traditional building style. It is not only a religious place, but also integrates with its surrounding area to form a quiet and distinctive natural haven for nature lovers. The church is intended for members of the Catholic community to perform religious rites and rituals of their own, such as baptism, blessings and weddings, or even to console or atone for sins they committed previously.
Place address: QVXC+C6X, Taanayel, Lebanon
Click here to go to the coordinates of the place on Google Map
Looking for more : The best Tourist churches and monasteries in Lebanon
Conclusion
As your journey through Lebanon comes to an end, we hope you take with you unforgettable memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. This amazing region is home to diverse landscapes, ancient cultures, and welcoming communities that have something special to offer every traveler. Our guide has provided you with the top destinations and hidden gems that make Lebanon such a unique and special place. But, we encourage you to continue to explore this region on your own and uncover new adventures and treasures along the way. As you journey back home, don’t forget to reflect on the moments that made your trip so special and share your experiences with others. Remember to keep the spirit of adventure and curiosity alive in your everyday life and continue to seek out new experiences. We hope our guide has been a valuable resource in planning your trip, and we look forward to hearing about your travels. Safe travels and until next time!