Tourist information

Attractions near Chalet Viking

Jounieh Bay, Mameltein District

Once a small, quiet town on the Lebanese Coast, Jounieh has grown into a densely built area with high-rise buildings, hotels and large resorts. Its beautiful bay, lined with palm trees, quality restaurants, glitzy night spots and shopping attracts visitors from all over the world. Chalet Viking is located in the heart of the Mameltein District, on the northern end of Jounieh Bay. The vicinity is saturated with museums and religio-historical sites, as well as family-friendly recreational activities.

Harissa

Harissa is a pilgrimage site that was visited by Pope John Paul II On May 10, 1997. Located 650m above Jounieh, Harissa is accessible either by a steep winding road or a 9-minute ride on a cable car, the Téléphérique. On arrival, pilgrims and tourists are greeted with spectacular views of Jounieh. Near the terminal is a church and a modern Maronite cathedral built of concrete and glass, as well as the famous landmark Statue of the Virgin Mary with her arms outstretched. Inaugurated in 1908, the 15-ton bronze statue (painted white) is also known as Our Lady of Lebanon, or Notre Dame du Liban, or Our Virgin of Lebanon. Inside the base of the statue is a chapel and outside, is a spiral staircase leading to the top.

Within walking distance, just south of the statue, are the Melkite Greek-Catholic monastery/basilica and multi-domed Church of St. Paul, built between 1947 and 1962. The golden walls inside the church are covered with beautiful Byzantine-styled wall mosaics that represent Christ Pantocrater, the Virgin wearing a medallion, the Communion of the Apostles, the church fathers, and scenes from the Bible.

In the vicinity of Harissa and Our Lady of Lebanon are the Papal Embassy and residences of four Eastern Catholic cardinals.

Zouk Mikael • Zouk Mkayel • Souq Michael • Souq Michael

The town of Zouk Mikael was named after a Turkmen leader who inhabited the area during the Mamluk (Mamluke) era. Once a small, sleepy Lebanese village perched on a slope 275m. above sea level, it is now a prosperous community of 40,000. Located 4.5 km from Chalet Viking, Zouk Mikael has gorgeous views overlooking the bay of Jounieh and is home to a number of old monasteries and traditional heritage houses listed by UNESCO.

Although besieged by newer metropolitan buildings, Zouk Mikael retains an old town center. Its focal point is the Old Souq of Zouk, a cobble-stoned pedestrian street surrounded by arcaded shops, which was restored in 1995. Zouk Mikael has number of weaving and artisanal workshops renowned for brocades and traditional stripes. Many shops feature textiles woven on traditional looms and have kept their traditional ateliers, who host an annual souq (market) for traditional heritage products. There are many other tourist attractions here too: cafes, restaurants and terraces overlooking the sea and mountains.

» read more at Zouk Mikael's official site »

Jbeil • Jubayl • Gubayl • Byblos — the world's oldest city?

The ancient Phoenician city of Gebal was renamed Byblos by the Greeks and in the present day, it is known by the Arabic name of Jubayl or Jbeil, which is derived from of its earlier Canaanite name. It is located about 12 km (7 miles) north of Chalet Viking. Archaeologists have found successive layers of debris resulting from centuries of human habitation. Jbeil is regarded as the world's oldest and continuously inhabited city. For more than 7,000 years, people of different civilizations and cultures left their mark on its streets. Once a wealthy port city, it was an ally of the Egyptians, who revered it as the “land of the gods.” Around 3,000 BC, Lebanon's cedars were shipped from here to Egypt, for use in the construction of the pyramids. Today, Byblos is a pleasant town with a lovely historical harbor lined with fine cafe's, set in a relaxing Mediterranean atmosphere. Visitor highlights are the Crusader Castle, built with Roman stones and columns, and the beautifully restored medieval town, with its lively souqs…

» read more about Byblos at Wikipedia »

Jeita Grotto • Jeita Caverns • Zaita Caverns

Why not take a boat ride through an underground river, and see the world's longest stalactite? It's located in the Jeita Grotto, 7 km (4½ miles) from Chalet Viking, along the highway north of Beirut. Few caverns in the world approach the astounding beauty of the Jeita Grotto. Its caves and galleries have been visited by man since Paleolithic times. Caves, sculpted by water and time into cathedral-like vaults, sit just beneath the wooded hills of Mount Liban, providing an escape route for an underground river — the principal source of the Nar el-Kalb (Dog River). There are two levels to the caverns: the upper galleries can be seen on foot, while the lower galleries (discovered in 1836) are normally visited by boat.

» read more about the Jeita Grotto »

Mamletein Roman Bridge

About 800m. north from Chalet Viking along the coast is a well-preserved Roman bridge across the River Ghazir, which was once the boundary between the Crusader county of Tripoli and the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem.

Casino du Liban

Just 1 km. north of Chalet Viking is the Casino du Liban, enticing you if you are so inclined, with casino standards such as slot machines, roulette, Black Jack, Baccarat and stud poker. In addition to these facilities are restaurants, a theater and night club.

Kaslik

Just 2 km. south of Chalet Viking, is Kaslik, with its yacht-lined harbor, beaches, art galleries, and posh restaurants. The ATCL marina docks 100 boats of all sizes, and is even open to visiting yachts.

Darbessama

Darbessama is a spiritual, cultural and social foundation named after the late Father Simon El-Zind.

» read more about the Darbessama »

Al-Batieh • Grotto of St. George

At the south end of the Jounieh Bay is the Shrine of St. George. The grotto is enclosed within a neatly landscaped park with a pond, at the foot of an overhanging cliff. There are several shrines cut into the rocks, one of which is an ancient funerary cave known to locals as Al-Batieh and was probably a pre-Christian shrine to Adonis. Transformed into a place of Christian worship and pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, it is now traditionally regarded the site of St. George’s battle with the dragon. Supplicants light candles to St. George and the Virgin Mary, or bathe in the waters to ensure fertility.

Sarbã

Close to Al-Batieh is the Greek-Catholic Monastery of the Holy Savior, built in 1883, on top of a Mamluk fortress; which itself was constructed on the remains of a Roman temple. The main building stands directly on the 7-meter walls of a vast Roman temple dedicated to the god Serapis. A bas relief left-facing head of Apis can be found in the middle of the north wall of the cellar. The original temple, probably had a subterranean passage through the cliff, to the Grotto of St. George, far below.