#1 Anjar was established during the Umayyad period by Caliph Walid Bin Abed Al Malak at the beginning of the 8th century.
#2 Since the city was built at the beginning of the Islamic period, it witnessed the development of Islamic art and architecture.
#3 Anjar is strategically located at the crossroads of two important routes: one leading from Beirut to Damascus and the other connecting the Bekaa Valley to Homs.
#4 Archaeologists discovered the Umayyad ruins of Anjar at the end of the 1940s. It’s a perfect testimony of the ancient Islamic civilization.
#5 Excavations reveal a rectangular fortified city that is surrounded by walls and guarded by forty towers.
#6 The ruins of Anjar include the walls of the Umayyad palace, harems, a mosque, the great palace of the Caliph, thermal baths, and many pillars which include some elements of the Roman architectural style.
#7 The Umayyads adopted the construction techniques of the Byzantine and Sassanid empires. They often reused existing buildings.
#8 The ruins provide an outstanding testimony of the 8th-century town planning.
#9 The Umayyad city was never completed and enjoyed only a brief existence. Caliph Ibrahim, son of Walid, was defeated and Anjar was left abandoned.
#10 Anjar was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Discover Lebanon’s 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Lebanon has more than 7,000 years of history. National Geographic declared that Lebanon is one of the world’s oldest countries.
Apart from Anjar, the places that made the list are Byblos, Baalbek, Sidon, the Cedars of God, and Qadisha Valley. Learn more about them here.
Google Street View is an amazing tool you can use to virtually explore Lebanon’s landmarks and natural wonders. Click here for more info.