`Anjar Travel Guide

  Surviving shops - March 2005
by MM212
 
  • Surviving shops - March 2005
      Surviving shops - March 2005
    by MM212
  • Small Palace on the left (Nov 2005)
      Small Palace on the left (Nov 2005)
    by MM212
  • March 2005
      March 2005
    by MM212
  •   Things to Do
    by MM212
  •   Things to Do
    by MM212
 

Explore `Anjar

Things to Do  

Shops Along the Cardo

Shops Along the Cardo, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  Seen in the attached photo are the remains of the small shops that once lined the cardo maximus of Aanjar. In its short existence, the town benefited from its location on an intersection between the short trade route from Damascus to the coastal towns of Lebanon, and the... 

The Hammam

The Hammam, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  Located just east of the cardo maximus, near the entrance to the site, are the remains of the baths (hammam) of Aanjar. Two mosaic floors have survived fairly well, at least in fragments. The ovens for heating the water can also be seen along with some discs that supported... 

The Small Palace

The Small Palace, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  The Small Palace was located in the north-east quadrant, at the corner where the cardo and decumanus intersected. It is thought to have served as the private quarters of the rulers, whereas the Great Palace served as the public quarters. Unlike the Great Palace, only the... 

Residential Quarters

Residential Quarters, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  The north-west and south-west quadrants of the city of Anjar consisted mainly of residential dwellings. Only the foundation of these modest buildings can be seen beyond the cardo and decumanus (see attached photo). 

Decumanus Maximus

Decumanus Maximus, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  The decumanus maximus, the smaller avenue, runs east-west through the city and crosses the cardo maximus at the point where the Tetrapylon is erected. A few of the arched porticoes along the decumanus are still standing upright. The small palace and the mosque are situated... 

Cardo Maximus

Cardo Maximus, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  The layout of this Omayyad city is based on a Graeco-Roman plan, divided into four quarters with two main avenues running through it. The cardo maximus, the north-south thoroughfare, was the main one and it intersected the decumanus maximus in the middle where the Tetrapylon... 

The Mosque on Mount Saint Elias

The Mosque on Mount Saint Elias, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  This Mosque, built on a hill called Mount Saint Elias (Jabal Mar Elias), is visible from around Aanjar. It frequently offers a postcard picture because of its hilltop situation against the snow-covered mountains in the background. What's also striking is that it is a mosque... 

The Mosque

The Mosque, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  Remains of the only mosque in the ancient city of Aanjar are located just north of the Great Palace. Only the foundation can be traced (seen in the foreground of the photo). 

The Great Palace

The Great Palace, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  The Great Palace is the highest remaining structure in Aanjar, albeit in ruins. Beautiful Byzantine-style arches on Roman-style Corinthian columns (reused from nearby Roman ruins) define where the central courtyard of this Omayyad palace once stood. Elegant Byzantine motifs... 

The Tetrapylon

The Tetrapylon, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  The four Corinthian columns of the Tetrapylon mark the centre of Aanjar. They were erected at the point of intersection of the cardo maximus with the decumanus maximus, the two avenues dividing the city into four quarters. Much like other Corinthian columns in Aanjar, these... 

The Baths

The Baths, `Anjar

 iwys Says:  The main city baths are probably the first part of Aaanjar you will wnder around as they are just inside the main entrance, to the left, shaded by trees. They are very similar in style to Roman baths, having three main sections: a changing area, a bathing area and a sitting... 

Decumanus Maximus

Decumanus Maximus, `Anjar

 iwys Says:  The decumanus maximus is the main east-west road through the city, and intersects with the cardo maximus at the tetrapylon. It is a bit more neglected and overgrown than the cardo maximus. 

The Tetrapylon

The Tetrapylon, `Anjar

 iwys Says:  A tetrapylon is an arrangement of four groups of four columns, marking the intersection of the two main roads, the cardo maximus and the decumanus, at the centre of classical cities. The one at Aanjar is actually quite similar to the one at Palmyra., but only one of the four... 

Restaurants  

Casino Ain Anjar: Don't miss the trout

Casino Ain Anjar: Don't miss the trout, `Anjar

 marcopaulette Says:  The restaurant is next to water cascades, so you can hear the waterfall as you eat and it gives you a sense of coolness and freshness. It is a family restaurant, so expect children to be playing around. They have they own playground, though. The food is very good, they have... 

Transportation  

From Beirut to Aanjar and back

From Beirut to Aanjar and back, `Anjar

 MalenaN Says:  To go to Aanjar you take a minibus from Cola station to Chtaura, where you change to a service taxi. To go to Cola station I paid 1000 LL for the service taxi (I said alf (1000) as I stopped it but thought the driver was going to say 2000 LL, which he didn't). The minibus... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Don't touch

Don't touch, `Anjar

 uglyscot Says:  When visiting 'Anjar , and any archaeological site for that matter, it is not ethical to remove anything from the site.When we were at 'Anjar one of the party picked up a piece of broken pottery , a potsherd, and was holding when when one of the site guides, not our guide,... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Majdal Aanjar

Majdal Aanjar, `Anjar

 MM212 Says:  About 3km south of Aanjar lies the small village of Majdal Aanjar with a small acropolis containing a Roman temple in partial ruins. The temple, which was built on a hill towering above the village, is thought to occupy the site that had been used for worship since before... 

Inscription on column

Inscription on column, `Anjar

 iwys Says:  There is a lone column, with a Greco-Roman inscription on it. It used to stand at the entrance of a Byzantine church, but was later re-erected here. The inscription states that criminals and other undesirables are forbidden to enter here. 

Favorites  

The Ruins...

The Ruins..., `Anjar

 coceng Says:

The Ruins...

The Ruins..., `Anjar

 coceng Says:

The Place

Plan a `Anjar vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and `Anjar locals

Experience `Anjar
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The People

 
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 Most of Aaanjar is surrounded by a sturdy city wall along which there are several defensive towers. This is the first thing you will see as you approach Aanjar... 

 

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Top `Anjar Writers

1

The Lost Umayyad City of Aanjar

iwys profile photo

 The lost Umayyad city of Aaanjar was rediscovered by archaeologists in the 1940s. Without your own vehicle, it is quite difficult to reach, but the hike through the surrounding countryside of the... 

2

Aanjar

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 Aanjar is the only significant Umayyad site in Lebanon, situated in the southern part of the Beeka Valley. After the discovery of Aanjar in the 1940s the excavations started not before the... 

3

Aanjar

MM212 profile photo

 Aanjar lies in the Beqaa Valley on the road between Beirut and Damascus, only a short drive from the Syrian border. The town has a large Armenian-Lebanese population and used to be the base for the...... 

4

Aanjar

MalenaN profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in `Anjar. I'd love to share with you the 5 tips I've written, the 46 photos uploaded, and 5 travelogues I've created. 

5

An Umayyid site

uglyscot profile photo

 Anjar is an Ummayyid site. Although a Moslem town it was built in the Roman style by Byzantine workers. The walls are a mixture of stone and brick.There are pillars and arches and the Roman plan of...... 

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