Souk Beirut

The Beirut Souks is a major commercial district in Beirut Central District. With over 200 shops and a department store, it is Beirut's largest shopping area, as well as the most dense.

The souks have historically been at the commercial heart of Beirut. The souks sustained irreparable damage during the Lebanese civil war and have been rebuilt by Solidere according to the ancient Greek street grid, maintaining the landmarks and original street names.

History

Souq al-Tawileh and Souq al-Jamil were a favorite shopping destination before the civil war and were frequented by Lebanese and Europeans alike since they housed fashionable boutiques and haute-couture houses, while Souk al-Franj functioned as Lebanon’s biggest fruit, vegetable and flower market.

Destruction

During the Lebanese civil war, Beirut was the scene of fierce battles between warring factions; after a few months of fighting, the brief cease-fire in September 1975 allowed the business owners of Beirut's central district to evacuate their shops' assets before fighting resumed turning downtown Beirut, including its souks into a sniper patrolled no man's land. In October 1975, fighting extended to the souks, gunmen blew up shops and set others on fire. The destruction of the souks affected Christian and Muslim merchants alike. The battle of the souks lasted for 2 and half months until December 1975 before extending to the residential area of Ras Beirut During the spring of 1983, the Antoun Bey Khan, a historic caravanserail and a landmark of the souks was demolished to clear the view towards the sea.