Name of Monument:

Saint Louis Capuchin Church

Location:

Downtown Beirut, Lebanon

Date of Monument:

1864

History:

When the capuchin missionaries first arrived in Lebanon in 1628 they worshipped at the old Saint George Church (where today's Maronite cathedral stands) in downtown Beirut. In 1732, they built the first church of their own near today's Riadh al-Solh square, dedicated to King Louis IX of France. In 1868 they relocated to Bab Idris and inaugurated the current cathedral. This cathedral was used for official celebrations during the French Mandate period. The church was raided in December 1975 and was a site of fierce fighting during the Lebanese civil war, during which time it was severely damaged by fire. The cathedral was the first landmark to be rebuilt in Downtown Beirut following the war, and was reopened in 2002.

Description:

Saint Louis Capuchin Cathedral is a Latin Catholic cathedral located in downtown Beirut, north of the Grand Serail. The church was built in 1864 by capuchin missionaries and is named after King Louis IX of France. It is recognisable by its sandstone facades, rose-coloured wooden windows, and the new towering bell tower.

Citation of this web page:

Julien El Khoury, Jeff El-Msanne "Saint Louis Capuchin Church" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2025.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monuments;AWE;lb;45;en

Prepared by: Julien El Khoury, Jeff El-Msanne
Copyedited by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: LB 049