Name of Monument:

Saraya Ba'abda: the headquarters of al-mutasarrifin

Location:

Ba'abda, Lebanon

Responsible Institution:

Lebanese Government

 About The Lebanese University, Ba'abda

Date of Monument:

1887

History:

This building, completed in 1887, stands on a hill overlooking the town entrance, an example of a typical Ottoman architecture mixed with some traditional Lebanese elements. The building has four towers on each of its corners. Works began under the reign of Prince Melhem Shihabi, the son of Haydar Shihabi.

Description:

This Saraya bore witness to some of the most important periods in the history of modern Lebanon. Originally a special saray for the Prince Melhem Shihabi, it later became a governmental saray following the establishment of the Ottoman governate, of al-mutasarrifyya of Mount Lebanon after the civil war of 1860. The palace was specifically used as the headquarters for the Mount Lebanon governate and governors, or mutasarrifin.

Citation of this web page:

Jeff El-Msanne "Saraya Ba'abda: the headquarters of al-mutasarrifin" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;AWE;lb;14;en

Prepared by: Jeff El-Msanne
Copyedited by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: LB 014