Corniche Beirut
Encyclopedia
The Corniche Beirut is a seaside promenade in Beirut
, Lebanon
. Lined with palm trees, the waterfront esplanade offers visitors a magnificent view of the Mediterranean and the summits of Mount Lebanon
to the east. Corniche Beirut has its foundation in the Avenue des Français
, which was built during the period of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon
along the seafront that extended from the old town.
The Corniche is a popular destinations for walkers, joggers and bikers. Push cart vendors offer an array of local snacks and drinks.
Many of the trunks of the palm trees that line the Corniche are pockmarked with bullet holes from the Lebanese Civil War
. Many hotels, such as Le Vendôme Intercontinental Hotel
over look the corniche.
in 2001, the 76 cement benches were replaced with new ones covered with colorful cut ceramics that were designed by Lebanese artist, Lena Kelekian who also designed a Mega Chessboard on the widest section of the sidewalk on Avenue de Paris.
In the summer of 2007, the distinctive blue railings were replaced, due to severe rusting, with a sleeker-looking aluminum railing that has been modified to make it more difficult for thrill-seekers to dive off the railings.
from the Saint George Bay
on the northern coast of the city, turning west into Place Rafic Hariri, then into Avenue de Paris
and the Raouché
, and then into Avenue General de Gaulle
before it ends on Rafic Hariri Avenue.
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...
. Lined with palm trees, the waterfront esplanade offers visitors a magnificent view of the Mediterranean and the summits of Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
to the east. Corniche Beirut has its foundation in the Avenue des Français
Avenue des Français
Avenue des Français was a wide, palm-lined, seaside street in Beirut, Lebanonand now part of the pedestrian promenade, The Shoreline Walk.-History:...
, which was built during the period of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon
French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon
Officially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
along the seafront that extended from the old town.
The Corniche is a popular destinations for walkers, joggers and bikers. Push cart vendors offer an array of local snacks and drinks.
Many of the trunks of the palm trees that line the Corniche are pockmarked with bullet holes from 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...
. Many hotels, such as Le Vendôme Intercontinental Hotel
Le Vendôme Intercontinental Hotel
Le Vendôme Intercontinental Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel in Beirut, Lebanon.Considered one of Lebanon's most upmarket hotels, Le Vendôme Intercontinental is located in the Ras Beirut district of Beirut, on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel, intended mostly for wealthy...
over look the corniche.
in 2001, the 76 cement benches were replaced with new ones covered with colorful cut ceramics that were designed by Lebanese artist, Lena Kelekian who also designed a Mega Chessboard on the widest section of the sidewalk on Avenue de Paris.
In the summer of 2007, the distinctive blue railings were replaced, due to severe rusting, with a sleeker-looking aluminum railing that has been modified to make it more difficult for thrill-seekers to dive off the railings.
Location
The Corniche, which is 4.8 kilometers long, encircles the Beirut promontoryPromontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
from the Saint George Bay
Saint George Bay
The Saint George Bay is located on the northern coast of the city of Beirut in Lebanon. The Saint George Bay is believed to be the place where Saint George slew the dragon. Today the bay houses Beirut's western marina and extends to the north until the marina of Dbayeh...
on the northern coast of the city, turning west into Place Rafic Hariri, then into Avenue de Paris
Avenue de Paris
Avenue de Paris is a seaside, palm-lined street in Beirut, Lebanon. The avenue, which forms with Avenue General de Gaulle the Corniche Beirut promenade, is popular with rollerbladers, cyclists and joggers.-Benches:...
and the Raouché
Raouché
Raouché is a residential and commercial neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon. It is known for its upscale apartment buildings, numerous restaurants, and cliff-side cafés that line Avenue de Paris, which forms part of the Corniche Beirut...
, and then into Avenue General de Gaulle
Avenue General de Gaulle
Avenue Général de Gaulle is a seaside, palm-lined street in Beirut, Lebanon. The avenue, which was named in honor of the French general and president, Charles de Gaulle forms with Avenue de Paris the Corniche Beirut promenade...
before it ends on Rafic Hariri Avenue.
In Literature
- The Tomato War and Theomachy By Edmond Y. Nicolas
- "Eddoum and René left the American University of Beirut and were speeding along the seashore; the Cornish Avenue, Rue de Paris, Rue Ibin Sina, making a right turn by the Phoenicia Hotel to Fakher ad- din Avenue that would connect them. . ."