Beiteddine Palace Museum, Historical palace museum in Beiteddine, Lebanon.
Beiteddine Palace Museum occupies the former stables of the palace complex and displays an extensive collection of Byzantine mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries alongside cultural artifacts from different periods. The collection spreads across indoor gallery spaces and outdoor areas within the palace gardens, where additional works are presented in the open air.
The palace was built between 1788 and 1818 under Emir Bashir II and initially served as an Ottoman administrative center. After the modern Lebanese state was established, it later became a presidential summer residence before eventually being converted into a museum.
The mosaics on display come from Jieh, a coastal town where they were found during construction work, and they show scenes of animals and patterns that reflect what people valued in their daily lives. Walking through these pieces, you get a sense of how art and decoration mattered to communities across different periods and regions.
A visit works best during early morning or late afternoon hours to avoid the heat and view the collections at a comfortable pace. Wear appropriate footwear for the uneven paths in the gardens and bring sun protection, as much of the display space is outdoors.
Beyond the well-known mosaics, the museum also holds Phoenician pottery, Roman glass, and traditional Lebanese costumes that show how people lived in this region across centuries. This ethnographic collection is often overlooked, yet it offers deeper insight into everyday life from the past than the more famous mosaic pieces.
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