Clock tower
Sandstone.
Heinz Hövel — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Elgaard — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Francisco Anzola — CC BY 2.0 · Radosław Botev — CC BY 3.0 pl · yeowatzup — CC BY 2.0
Nejmeh Square, or Place de l'Étoile, is the central square of Beirut's downtown, a few minutes' walk from the waterfront. It is home to the Lebanese Parliament and its buildings, two cathedrals, a museum and several cafés and restaurants. The square was laid out in the 1920s, when the area was replanned and modern streets replaced the old souks. It is best known for its Art Deco architecture and has become a recognisable icon of Beirut worldwide. Directly on the square stands the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George, completed in 1772, the oldest Orthodox church in Beirut, believed to lie next to the site of the ancient Roman law school. A honey-coloured sandstone clock tower stands at the centre, surrounded by matching pale-yellow stone buildings with iron balconies and arcades, and paved streets radiate from it like a star, which gave the square its name. Trees shade its edges. Visitors walk around the clock tower, admire the facades and sit in the surrounding cafés when open. Access is sometimes restricted because of the nearby Parliament. Check the UK Foreign Office's current Lebanon guidance before you go.
Sandstone.
From 1772.
In a star shape.
Downtown Beirut, Lebanon
Its streets radiate like a star.
Sometimes restricted.
