World Heritage Day in Lebanon

If you didn't know, The 18th of April is the World Heritage Day, or the international day of monuments and sites.This was designated by UNESCO in 1982 in response to a proposal by ICOMOS (International Council Of Monuments and Sites).
Each year, a theme is selected to help focus the celebration and promotion of cultural heritage across the world.
This year's theme is The cultural heritage of water.

As for Lebanon, the Ministry of Culture, in association with the "International Council of Museums", the "National Heritage Foundation" and the "APSAD" association will be celebrating this day by the opening of all museums in various Lebanese regions for free to the public for four days (Thursday 18th till Monday 22nd of May).

As for the archeological sites and Nature reserves, free access will be granted starting from the 19th until the 22nd of May.

The Archeological sites includes:

• The archeological valley of Nahr El Kalb.
• Beiteddine Mansion
• Municipality of Beirut
• Cathedral of St. George's Roman Catholic
• Church of St. George Maronite
• Al Omari Al Kabir Mosque
• Prince Assaf Mosque - Downtown Beirut,
• Castles of Majdal Anjar, Anjar, Baalbek, Niha, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre and Byblos, in addition to the sites of excavations in central Beirut.

The Nature reserves includes: (by the way this is the first time that Nature reserves participates in this event)

• Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve
• Ammik - Bekaa
• Horch Ehden
• Tyre
• Palm Trees island (Jazeerat Al nakhel) - Tripoli
• Bentael
• Tannourine Cedar Nature Reserve
  

I would've loved to see Jeita in the above list as part of the New 7 wonders campaign (if you didn't vote yet, hurry up!).
Anyway, benefit from this to plan a special weekend to visit some of the places that you have never seen in Lebanon. :)

( Source: Lebanon Files )