The city of Byblos has constantly been inhabited since the sixth century BC. The actual town is made up of the old town, surrounded by medieval walls along with the modern town that progressively expands towards the mountains.

The fishing port, built during the Neolithic period, was shaped by diverse civilizations as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Fatimides, Mamelukes and Crusaders, leaving it with numerous vestiges. The old town’s archaeological site, with its impressive location diving into the sea, reveals all the relics of its 8,000 year-old history.

Entering through the crusaders’ castle (12th century), you can successively visit the obelisks’ temple (19th-16th BC), houses’ foundations dating from 3200 to 2000 BC, a royal necropolis and some sarcophagi. Near the archaeological site, lays the old Jbeil. The medieval walls, perfectly preserved, offer an ideal example of traditional architecture.

Byblos’s port and lovely alleys induce long charming walks where churches (including the Crusader church of Saint John), chapels and houses are waiting to be discovered.