Achrafieh
Encyclopedia
Achrafieh, is one of the oldest Christian(mostly Greek Orthodox) districts of East Beirut
, Lebanon
.
district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and office buildings. It is a prime location for investment and tourism.
Until the 1930s, Achrafieh was largely composed of farmland owned and farmed by several Greek Orthodox Christian families that had ruled the country and the region for centuries. The Lebanese government, which at the time was under French Mandate, partitioned the land in Achrafieh to build roads and highways, forcing these families to eventually sell large parts of their land.
Achrafieh formerly was ruled by seven socially and economically prominent Christian families that formed Beirut's High Society
for centuries: Trad
, Ferneini, Araman, Bustros, Sursock, Fayyad
, Tueini.
The area is divided into numerous smaller neighborhoods. Its most prominent ones include: Sassine Square
, one of the most prominent political, social and commercial focal points of the Lebanese capital; St Nicolas (where important buildings include the Sursock House
, Sursock Museum
, the Sofil building and the Ivory building); and Tabaris
/ Abdel Wahab (among its important buildings: 812 Tabaris, Achrafieh Tower, Yared buildings, Metropolis, and L'Hermitage building, 54).
During Lebanon’s civil war, bombs and rockets wiped out a substantial portion of the Achrafieh’s architectural heritage. The war ended and the shooting has stopped, but the destruction of historic buildings has not. Every day, demolition teams tear down old houses and bulldoze hundred-year-old gardens. Tall concrete towers replace the houses, overshadowing the few historical neighborhoods Achrafieh has left. Historic buildings not only hold sentimental value, they are also economically viable.
Archeological remains were found below new buildings, but developers ignored them. Heritage activists are trying their best to preserve the few old remaining ‘Lebanese houses’ still standing in Achraifeh. But their efforts are largely in vain, as there is no law to protect old homes and preservation is low on the list of priorities for the country’s politicians.
During the Lebanese Civil War
, which started in 1975, Achrafieh became a major strategic base for Christian forces. Large numbers of Christian Forces militiamen were stationed there, led by Bachir Gemayel
, and as such formed part of Christian East Beirut.
It was announced on August 13, 2009 that Achrafieh's neighborhood of Sodeco would be home to Lebanon's tallest tower
, Sama Beirut
. When the project is completed in 2014 it will be Lebanon's tallest project, standing at 200 metres (656.2 ft).
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Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Overview
It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercialCommerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and office buildings. It is a prime location for investment and tourism.
Until the 1930s, Achrafieh was largely composed of farmland owned and farmed by several Greek Orthodox Christian families that had ruled the country and the region for centuries. The Lebanese government, which at the time was under French Mandate, partitioned the land in Achrafieh to build roads and highways, forcing these families to eventually sell large parts of their land.
Achrafieh formerly was ruled by seven socially and economically prominent Christian families that formed Beirut's High Society
High society (group)
High society refers to a category of people deemed to have greater social status or prestige, and their related affiliations, social events and practices which together define a group variously referred to as "Society" or high society. Such groups are defined by certain key events and cultural...
for centuries: Trad
Trad
Trad is generally an abbreviation of the word "Traditional". Its meaning varies with context, but the following have been observed:* In music, trad may refer to:** Traditional music** Trad jazz, also known as "Dixieland"...
, Ferneini, Araman, Bustros, Sursock, Fayyad
Fayyad
Fayyad could refer to*Salam Fayyad, a PA prime minister*Fayyad , a settlement in the UAE*Fayyad Sbaihat, an Arab writer and student activist.*Mohammad Ishaq Al-Fayyad, a Grand Ayatollah of Iraq...
, Tueini.
The area is divided into numerous smaller neighborhoods. Its most prominent ones include: Sassine Square
Sassine Square
Sassine Square is a town square in Beirut, Lebanon, it is one of the most prominent urban areas of East Beirut, Lebanon. Located in the Achrafieh district, Sassine Square is one of the biggest and oldest squares in Beirut....
, one of the most prominent political, social and commercial focal points of the Lebanese capital; St Nicolas (where important buildings include the Sursock House
Sursock House
Sursock House is a grand palace located on Rue Sursock in the city of Beirut in Lebanon. The palace, which was built in 1860 by Moïse Sursock, is owned by Lady Cochrane Sursock, an advocate of preserving historic buildings in Lebanon.Sursock House, a symbol of the Sursock family's rich history,...
, Sursock Museum
Sursock Museum
Sursock Museum, which is officially known as Nicolas Sursock Museum, is a modern art museum in Beirut, Lebanon. It is located in the historic street known as Rue Sursock in the Achrafieh district of Beirut. The street is home to other mansions that were built in the 18th century by Beirut's most...
, the Sofil building and the Ivory building); and Tabaris
Tabaris
The Kabbouche family is a prominent Christian Lebanese family. It is one of the original Beirut aristocratic families who constituted the traditional high society of Beirut and Lebanon for a long time...
/ Abdel Wahab (among its important buildings: 812 Tabaris, Achrafieh Tower, Yared buildings, Metropolis, and L'Hermitage building, 54).
During Lebanon’s civil war, bombs and rockets wiped out a substantial portion of the Achrafieh’s architectural heritage. The war ended and the shooting has stopped, but the destruction of historic buildings has not. Every day, demolition teams tear down old houses and bulldoze hundred-year-old gardens. Tall concrete towers replace the houses, overshadowing the few historical neighborhoods Achrafieh has left. Historic buildings not only hold sentimental value, they are also economically viable.
Archeological remains were found below new buildings, but developers ignored them. Heritage activists are trying their best to preserve the few old remaining ‘Lebanese houses’ still standing in Achraifeh. But their efforts are largely in vain, as there is no law to protect old homes and preservation is low on the list of priorities for the country’s politicians.
During the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, which started in 1975, Achrafieh became a major strategic base for Christian forces. Large numbers of Christian Forces militiamen were stationed there, led by Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel was a Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect...
, and as such formed part of Christian East Beirut.
It was announced on August 13, 2009 that Achrafieh's neighborhood of Sodeco would be home to Lebanon's tallest tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
, Sama Beirut
Sama Beirut
Sama Beirut is an upcoming residential, commercial and office tower in the Sodeco region of Beirut, Lebanon. The project was announced on August 13, 2009 with an opening date set for 2014. Fadi Antonios is developing the project, and it is owned by his company, Antonios Projects SAL...
. When the project is completed in 2014 it will be Lebanon's tallest project, standing at 200 metres (656.2 ft).
Neighborhoods/Streets of Achrafieh
- Sassine SquareSassine SquareSassine Square is a town square in Beirut, Lebanon, it is one of the most prominent urban areas of East Beirut, Lebanon. Located in the Achrafieh district, Sassine Square is one of the biggest and oldest squares in Beirut....
- Tabaris
- Gemmayzeh
- GouraudRue GouraudRue Gouraud is a mixed residential and commercial street in Gemmayzeh, a neighborhood in the Achrafieh district of Beirut in Lebanon. The street, which was named after the French General Henri Gouraud, has become one of Beirut's trendiest streets with numerous high-end restaurants, French cafes,...
- Monot
- Sodeco
- Sioufi
- SursockRue SursockRue Sursock is a historic street in the Achrafieh district of Beirut in Lebanon. Named after one Beirut's most prominent families, the street is home to many of Beirut's beautiful historic mansions that were built in the 18th and 19th century by aristocratic families such as the Sursock and the...
- Escalier de Saint Nicolas
- Rue du Liban
- Rue Huvellin
See also
- Grand Lycée Franco-LibanaisGrand Lycée Franco-LibanaisThe Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais , is a French lycée in the Achrafieh district of Beirut, Lebanon founded in 1909 by the Mission laïque française, an organization which also helped found other lycées worldwide.It is also an active member of the AEFE...
, a French languageFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
secondary schoolSecondary education in FranceIn France, secondary education is in two stages:* collèges cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 14...
, Les Diablotins, Universite Saint Joseph located in the neighbourhood
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