Byblos    Crossroads of civilization

Byblos is a must-see for every visitor to Lebanon. This town, whose history goes back 7.000 years, is home to a major archaeological site that reveals one impressive ruin after another- traces of all the civilizations that have occupied Byblos over the millennia. Facing the sea, the archaeological site includes several Canaanite and Phoenician temples, the foundations of Stone Age houses, ancient city walls and several Roman remains. Most imposing is the Crusader castle, built in the 13th century.

The whole faces a Roman theater and is bordered by Phoenician sarcophagi scattered at the foot of a Roman colonnade.
Byblos is celebrated as the birthplace of the alphabet, it is also known for its picturesque medieval port, where small fishing boats rock gently on the waves.
At the church of Saint John, built by the Crusaders in the 13th century, notice the bell tower with its finely carved crown and its beautiful triple-arched baptistery.
Near the Castle entrance is a lovely little mosque from the ottoman period.

Nearby is a wax museum that presents scenes of Lebanese customs and traditions. Another interesting stop in old Byblos is the Fossil Museum where you can see fascinating prehistoric flora and fauna preserved in rock.