Corniche Beirut
The Beirut Corniche ( Arabic كورنيش بيروت) is the palm-lined sea promenade of about 4.8 kilometers on the Mediterranean coast in Beirut , Lebanon .
location
The Corniche Beirut circles the headland of Beirut. It begins in the east at the Golfe de Saint-Georges and leads past the place of the assassination attempt on Rafiq al-Hariri . It then runs parallel along the Avenue de Paris past the American University of Beirut and the Beirut lighthouse . To the west of the city center, it runs parallel to Avenue General de Gaulle to the south. It ends on Rafic Hariri Avenue in the southwest of downtown.
history
The Beirut Corniche has its origins in the Avenue des Français , which was built as Beirut's first promenade on Saint George Bay during the time of the League of Nations mandate for Syria and Lebanon . In the years 1925 to 1932 many famous hotels, such as the legendary Hotel St. Georges , Hotel Normandy and Hotel Bassoul, were built on Avenue des Français . During the Lebanese Civil War , the coastline east of Saint George Bay was shifted further seaward and parts of the Avenue des Français were destroyed. Due to the fighting in the war, many of the palm trees are still marked by hits today. Today's promenade was rebuilt after the war, in particular by Solidere and Gustafson-Porter .
use
Today the promenade is the most popular meeting place for anglers, joggers and walkers in Beirut. The city's famous hotels, such as the Phenicia InterContinental Hotel and the Le Vendôme Intercontinental Hotel, can be found on the coastline . The Hotel Hotel St. Georges has not yet been rebuilt and is now a ruin on the eastern side of Zaitunay Bay between the Corniche and the bay. With the tallest building, the Platinum Tower on Zaitunay Bay, the University Tower and the Beirut lighthouse, the city's most famous landmarks are still on the Corniche. On the west side of the city is Pigeon Rock , below the Corniche. In summer, the Corniche is mainly used by young people to jump into the sea from above, illegally, between the rocks. Beirut's only dive center is also located on the Corniche .
modernization
In 2001 the 76 concrete benches were replaced by new ones, which were decorated with colored ceramic tiles by the Lebanese artist Lena Kelekian . In 2007, the blue, heavily corroded metal railings were replaced with gray aluminum railings along their entire length. The metal railings were only partially preserved in front of the University Tower .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Beirut.com: The Cornice
- ↑ Corniche at Lonely Planet
- ^ National Institute for Scuba Diving, Beirut
- ^ Embellishment Project of the Ain Mreisse Corniche Waterfront - Avenue de Paris - Beirut - Lebanon - Concept & Design by Artist Lena Kelekian
Web links
Coordinates: 33 ° 54 ′ 0 ″ N , 35 ° 28 ′ 15 ″ E