A Travel Guide (Sidon)
Sightseeing
This should be one of your main stops in Sidon. The Debbane Palace and Museum can be found inside the souks and is near to the Hotel Yacoub. Originally built as a traditional Arab private residence in 1721, it continued to be a family home until 1978. The palace was acquired by the Debbane family and they soon added two upper floors in 1920 and made it more European style. In 1978, the family was forced to move out due to the Civil War and the building came to be a refugee shelter for 5 years. Ravaged by the war, the palace was eventually restored in 2000 and visitors were welcomed in 2001. The palace entrance is free but donations are encouraged.
6 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Dabane Palace / Debbane Palace Museum / Musee Historique de Saida
This should be one of your main stops in Sidon. The Debbane Palace and Museum can be found inside the souks and is near to the Hotel Yacoub. Originally built as a traditional Arab private residence in 1721, it continued to be a family home until 1978. The palace was acquired by the Debbane family and they soon added two upper floors in 1920 and made it more European style. In 1978, the family was forced to move out due to the Civil War and the building came to be a refugee shelter for 5 years. Ravaged by the war, the palace was eventually restored in 2000 and visitors were welcomed in 2001. The palace entrance is free but donations are encouraged.
For a nice hot steam bath and well-deserved relaxation, you might want to step into one of Sidon’s public baths, the Hammam El-Sheikh, which brings to mind ancient Roman thermal baths once used for cleaning and as a social hangout of sorts.
Hammam el-Sheikh
For a nice hot steam bath and well-deserved relaxation, you might want to step into one of Sidon’s public baths, the Hammam El-Sheikh, which brings to mind ancient Roman thermal baths once used for cleaning and as a social hangout of sorts.
The Soap Museum was previously a soap factory until 1975 considering the many Hammams in the surrounding area. During the Civil War from 1975 to 1990, the ground floor of the factory was converted to a shelter for refugees. The soap factory was only restored in 2000 and was re-opened as the Soap Museum. Here, you will learn the history of the soap factory and how soap was manufactured. Visitor guides are available in three languages, namely: Arabic, English and French.
13 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Soap Museum
The Soap Museum was previously a soap factory until 1975 considering the many Hammams in the surrounding area. During the Civil War from 1975 to 1990, the ground floor of the factory was converted to a shelter for refugees. The soap factory was only restored in 2000 and was re-opened as the Soap Museum. Here, you will learn the history of the soap factory and how soap was manufactured. Visitor guides are available in three languages, namely: Arabic, English and French.
The Sea Castle is an emblem of Sidon. When the crusaders chose to strengthen and defend the Sidon port in the winter of 1227 to 1228, they ended up building a fortress over a Phoenician site. Although the Sea Castle was partially destroyed, it was continuously rebuilt until the bombing by the British marines in 1840.
16 現地メンバーのおすすめ
シドン海城
The Sea Castle is an emblem of Sidon. When the crusaders chose to strengthen and defend the Sidon port in the winter of 1227 to 1228, they ended up building a fortress over a Phoenician site. Although the Sea Castle was partially destroyed, it was continuously rebuilt until the bombing by the British marines in 1840.
Known as the “Inn of the Foreigners”, Khan el-Franjs was built by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II during the 17th-century to provide merchants, especially from France, with a space for trading their wares. The ground floor was allocated for the market place for trading whilst the upper floor was the resting area. Nowadays, only the ground floor is open for visitors with free admission.
Khan al-Franj
Known as the “Inn of the Foreigners”, Khan el-Franjs was built by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II during the 17th-century to provide merchants, especially from France, with a space for trading their wares. The ground floor was allocated for the market place for trading whilst the upper floor was the resting area. Nowadays, only the ground floor is open for visitors with free admission.
The ruins of the Castle of St. Louis is located on top of a 10th-century fortification that can be reached if you climb up the stairs to the east of the Fakhr el-Dine Palace and make a right turn to the castle, where you will find a low wall with an entrance gate. Since the castle is unattended, you can climb to the roof of the castle where you can get a nice view of the city. This castle was the first inland castle built in Sidon but was largely ruined by the Mamluks during the Crusade. Supposedly, you can find a tunnel from here that can lead you to the Sea Castle but nowadays, this tunnel is inaccessible.
Saint Louis Castle
The ruins of the Castle of St. Louis is located on top of a 10th-century fortification that can be reached if you climb up the stairs to the east of the Fakhr el-Dine Palace and make a right turn to the castle, where you will find a low wall with an entrance gate. Since the castle is unattended, you can climb to the roof of the castle where you can get a nice view of the city. This castle was the first inland castle built in Sidon but was largely ruined by the Mamluks during the Crusade. Supposedly, you can find a tunnel from here that can lead you to the Sea Castle but nowadays, this tunnel is inaccessible.
The Souk—you can get lost in this maze of a marketplace that is near to Khan el-Franj. This is basically where you can find anything and everything ranging from clothes, soaps, hardwares, woodworks, furnitures, food and lingerie. You might end up spending most of your day here on the hunt for that special souvenir to bring home.
Sidon Antique
The Souk—you can get lost in this maze of a marketplace that is near to Khan el-Franj. This is basically where you can find anything and everything ranging from clothes, soaps, hardwares, woodworks, furnitures, food and lingerie. You might end up spending most of your day here on the hunt for that special souvenir to bring home.
Food scene
The Rest House is Saida’s most popular restaurant for visitors to the area—and for good reason. The actual restaurant is located in a beautiful old stone house, typical of the area, but it is the outdoor sea-side garden, overlooking the Crusader Castle that makes the Rest House special. You can enjoy your lunch right on the waterfront with an unparalleled view of the castle before you and the lapping waves beside you. The food is typical Lebanese mezze style and reasonably priced, especially given its prime location.
Saida Rest House
The Rest House is Saida’s most popular restaurant for visitors to the area—and for good reason. The actual restaurant is located in a beautiful old stone house, typical of the area, but it is the outdoor sea-side garden, overlooking the Crusader Castle that makes the Rest House special. You can enjoy your lunch right on the waterfront with an unparalleled view of the castle before you and the lapping waves beside you. The food is typical Lebanese mezze style and reasonably priced, especially given its prime location.
Al Mokhtar Restaurant