Name of Monument:

Sagesse College

Location:

Beirut , Lebanon

Date of Monument:

1875 (inaugurated)

History:

Educational institutions in Lebanon were based on religion, as all the religious sects or confessions in Lebanon were in competition in the attempt to spread their beliefs and principles. The Maronite Christians struggled to build this institution due to the Ottoman presence. It was finally inaugurated by Archbishop Yussef Debs in 1875, and was heavily funded by France and Belgium. The construction of the building began in 1874 and lasted four years and cost approximately 30,000 pounds.

Description:

The College's old building consists of a stone building with roof tiles and arcades, whereas the new building is a mostly concrete and glass structure. The College first opened its doors to students in 1874, although its construction was not fully completed until 1878 with the addition of a Church. The college's plan is horseshoe shaped facing the sea, and supposedly cost "about thirty thousand pieces of gold, including the purchase of surrounding land".

Citation of this web page:

Hala Masri "Sagesse College " in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2025.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monuments;AWE;lb;24;en

Prepared by: Hala Masri
Copyedited by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: LB 025