The Corniche Beirut is a seaside

promenade An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortification, fortress or city walls ...

in the Central District of Beirut, Lebanon. Lined with palm trees, the waterfront esplanade has views of the Mediterranean Sea and the summits of

Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon (, ; , ; ) is a mountain range in Lebanon. It is about long and averages above in elevation, with its peak at . The range provides a typical alpine climate year-round. Mount Lebanon is well-known for its snow-covered mountains, ...

to the east. Corniche Beirut has its foundation in the Avenue des Français, which was built during the period of the

Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon The Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon (; , also referred to as the Levant States; 1923−1946) was a League of Nations mandate founded in the aftermath of the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire, concerning the territories ...

along the seafront that extended from the old town.

Location

The Corniche, which is long, encircles the Beirut

promontory A promontory is a raised mass of land that projects into a lowland or a body of water (in which case it is a peninsula). Most promontories either are formed from a hard ridge of rock that has resisted the erosive forces that have removed the s ...

from the Saint George Bay on the northern coast of the city, turning west into Place

Rafic Hariri Rafic Bahaa El Deen al-Hariri (; 1 November 1944 – 14 February 2005) was a Lebanese businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Lebanon, prime minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2004. Hariri headed fi ...

, then into Avenue de Paris and the

Raouché Raouché () is a residential and commercial neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon. It is known for its upscale apartment buildings, numerous restaurants, and cliff-side cafés that line Avenue de Paris, which forms part of the Corniche Beirut. Off t ...

, and then into

Avenue General de Gaulle Avenue Général de Gaulle is a seaside, palm-lined street in Beirut, Lebanon. The avenue, which was named in honor of the French general and president Charles de Gaulle, forms with Avenue de Paris the Corniche Beirut promenade. The avenue runs no ...

before it ends on Rafic Hariri Avenue.

Usage

The Corniche is a common destination for walkers, joggers and bikers. Push cart vendors offer various local snacks and drinks. A number of the trunks of the palm trees that line the Corniche are pockmarked with bullet holes from the

Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...

. Several hotels, such as Le Vendôme Intercontinental Hotel and Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel overlook the Corniche.

Modernization

In 2001, the 76 cement benches were replaced with new ones covered with colorful cut ceramics that were designed by Lebanese artist Lena Kelekian, who also designed a Mega Chessboard on the widest section of the sidewalk on Avenue de Paris. In the summer of 2007, the distinctive blue railings were replaced, due to severe rusting, with an aluminum railing that has been modified to make it more difficult for thrill-seekers to dive off the railings.

Gallery

File:Cliffs, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg File:Pigeon Rocks of Beirut, Rock of Raouche, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg File:Mediterranean Sea, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg File:Corniche beirut 23.jpg File:Corniche view.jpg File:Beirut Corniche, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg File:Beirut173.jpg File:Beirut Corniche at Night.JPG, View to Saint George Bay

References

External links

* {{Neighbourhoods of Beirut Streets in Beirut Beirut Corniche Tourist attractions in Beirut