Our Lady of Harissa

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Harissa, Beirut, Lebanon

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Sightseeing
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Our Lady of Harissa

by HobWahid

Damascus, Syria

February 3, 2005

Best of IgoUgo Just north of Beirut in the happening suburb of Jouneih, home to thumping nightclubs and the Casino of Lebanon, lies Harissa, a towering hill that overlooks the whole bay of Jounieh and Beirut. And on top of this hill, keeping watch over Lebanon, ...Read more Just north of Beirut in the happening suburb of Jouneih, home to thumping nightclubs and the Casino of Lebanon, lies Harissa, a towering hill that overlooks the whole bay of Jounieh and Beirut. And on top of this hill, keeping watch over Lebanon, stands a large statue of the Virgin Mary entitled Our Lady of Harissa. While the statue and sanctuary around it are lovely places, the real reason to come to Harissa is for some of the best views in Lebanon and for the cheesy ride up to the top.

In truth, you can drive up to the top of Harissa, but that really isn’t any fun at all; to do it the Lebanese way, you have to take the gondola (or téléphérique) up to the top and then ride the funicular the rest of the way. The gondola, obviously more than a few years old, is a bit of rickety structure that consists of small four-person carriages decorated with Almaza Beer signs that whisk you up to the top of Harissa, passing dangerously close to some of the apartment complexes on the way. The first part of the ride isn’t too spectacular, but once you get free of the seemingly endless development and into the last 100 meters, the views are spectacular.

Upon descending from the gondola, you then have to hop on an even more rickety funicular that jerks its way up to the top of Harissa. Once at the top, you then make your way into the sanctuary where you will find the towering statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue has a small chapel in the bottom and then stairs that wind their way to the top. If you want to climb up, you must keep in mind that these stairs aren’t meant for sightseeing, but rather for pilgrims. If the people slowly walking up to the top while reciting the "Hail Mary" aren’t signs enough, then there are actual signs (written in Arabic only) that remind you to respect the silence. You do not have to climb to the top though to get the great views. At the edge of the sanctuary, just past some cedars, you will find a lookout that will provide you with fantastic views of the sea below.

In addition to the statue, there is a large glass cathedral and a beautiful basilica that you can stop in. Still, though, you must keep in mind that this is one of the most religious sights in Lebanon and that it should be respected. Close

From journal Lebanon: Playground of the Middle East

Our Lady of Harissa

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Our Lady of Harissa