On Location - Beiteddine Palace, Lebanon

Situated high amongst the Chouf Mountains amongst stunning terraced gardens and orchards, Beiteddine Palace is a sumptuous 19th century gem.  Designed by an Italian architect, the palace was built over the course of 30 years between 1788 and 1818. It was built for Ottoman-appointed governor of the region, Emir Bashir Chehab II. Its name translates to ‘House of Faith’, while its design reflects a mixture between Arabic and Italian baroque styles.  During the French mandate, the palace was used for local administration, and after 1930 it was declared a historic monument. From 1943, Lebanon’s first post-independence president declared it as his summer palace. 

During the Israeli invasion, the palace was extensively damaged, with up to 90% of its contents being lost. After the fighting ended, it was claimed by the Druze militia, who returned it to the government in 1999.