The huge wall
Limestone beneath the podium.
Odilia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Odilia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · O.Mustafin — Public domain · Eli+ — Public domain
The Temple of Eshmun is a Phoenician site near the Awali River, north-east of Sidon in southern Lebanon, dedicated to Eshmun, the Phoenician god of healing. It is among the most important Phoenician remains in the country. It stays quiet with few visitors, offering history lovers layers of successive cultures in one place, far from the crowds. The Sidonian king Eshmunazar II built it in the Achaemenid era, and Bodashtart, Yatonmilk and later kings expanded it, giving it a mix of styles over the centuries. The site was in use from the 7th century BC to the 8th century AD. Earthquakes contributed to its decline, it was rediscovered in 1900, and Maurice Dunand excavated it from 1963. You see a huge limestone wall supporting a high podium where the marble temple once stood, with a broad court and ritual ablution basins fed by channels from the river before it. Pale column capitals and a Roman colonnaded street lie among grass and wildflowers. There is little explanation on site, so read up before you go. It is about 3 km in a straight line from central Sidon, easily reached by car, with a small parking area. We found no confirmed hours, and you should bring water and a hat, as there are no facilities. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to this area, and access may not be possible, so check official guidance before making any plans.
Limestone beneath the podium.
Channels from the river.
White marble in the grass.
Bustan el-Sheikh, near the Awali River, north-east of Sidon, Lebanon
Only a few, according to visitors, so read about the site before going.
Check official guidance first, as the UK Foreign Office advises against travel to the area.