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    Home»Magazine»Old Lebanon
    OldBeirut
    4 Mins Read

    What Lebanon Was Like Before The War

    By Souad LazkaniApril 16, 2020Updated:April 16, 2020
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    Ever wondered what Lebanon before the war was like? After the 45th anniversary of the civil war, we decided to take a trip to the past and see what Lebanon was like before those days.

    #1 Jounieh, 1950

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    As seen in the pictures (swipe for the original), Lebanon’s pollution problem was non-existent. The beach was clear and clean from waste, plastic bottles, and candy wrappers.

    #2 Araya Train Station, 1968

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    A 408km railway once connected cities across Lebanon. The train stations have been inactive since the days of the war. Some were destroyed or removed to build over, and others still remain as historic relics. This specific train station in Araya is sometimes used as a filming location.

     #3 Beirut Raouche, 1966 

    Raouche – Old Beirut

    The Raouche Rocks have always been a sight of attraction, but how much fame is too much? Being once a quiet place to relax, this has now become one of the busiest corners in Beirut – a true tourist location.

    #4 Barakat Building, Beirut Sodeco, 1971

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    The Barakat building has been restored and is now a museum named Beit Beirut where many artists showcase their projects. It has become a cultural center celebrating the history of Beirut.

    #5 Tripoli, 1971

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    Tripoli was once famous for its ample orchards of lemons and oranges which aroma hovered all over the city, mingling with the sweet scent of jasmine that abounded in the gardens and balconies.

    #6 American University Hospital, 1955

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    The American University Hospital (AUH) is now known as American University Medical Center (AUBMC). It is one of the best hospitals in Lebanon.

    #7 Beirut International Airport, 1962

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    Before being destroyed in the civil war, the airport was known as Beirut International Airport. Today, it is called Rafik Hariri International Airport as a tribute to the former prime minister who rebuilt it.

    #8 Manara, 1971

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    Al-Manara touted the view of open space with greenery, which has now been exchanged with tall buildings and heavy traffic.

    #9 International College of Beirut, 1962

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    International College of Beirut (IC) is still a prestigious school today and is proud to have brought up many successful graduates.

    #10 Martyrs’ Square, Beirut, 1960s

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    Martyrs’ Square was a popular center where you could find buses or taxis, have coffee at a cafe, visit its small hotels and cinemas. During the war, it became the point that divided the city in half.

    A competition was launched to design a new square and open it to the sea. Today, the square is a couple of parking lots devoid of the greenery and liveliness it used to have. It has recently become the center for the October 17 revolution.

    #11 Man in the market, 1969

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    The traditional flat-topped red hat called the Fez or “tarboosh” was commonly worn by men in Lebanon. Here you can see a man wearing one and reading a newspaper in the market. Some souks in Lebanon retained that old souk style, such at the souks in Tripoli.

    #12 Beirut Gold Souk, 1972

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    The souks of Beirut, like Souk al-Tawileh and Souk al-Jamil, were frequented by Lebanese and European shoppers alike. This is the Lebanese-born model Mona Ross in the Beirut Goldsmith’s souk. Fashion trends from the 70s have been making a comeback in recent years.

    #13 AUB Student, 1966

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    An elegant student posing on campus between classes. Knee-length skirts were the latest dresscode of fashion forward young ladies, especially in fashion hubs like Beirut.

    #14 St. George Hotel, 1967

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    Built in the late 1920s, the Saint George Hotel was alive and bustling until being severely damaged in the civil war, then again during the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

    #15 MEA Check-in Counter, 1969

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    The Middle East Airlines (MEA) check-in counter at Beirut International Airport looks completely different today.

    Let that simplicity fool you not. Beirut airport was back then as active as the capital that was a magnet of entertainment, fashion, art, a venue for international movie shootings, and the regular host of numerous celebrities and prominent visitors.

    And here is what Lebanon “in motion” was like in 1968:

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