Beit Beirut - Museum and Urban Cultural Center in Yabrūd

Loved the Alo, Beirut? Exhibition and installation.

Greetings from Turkey, I visited here last Friday (28.10its a very good museum showing the old beirut before the Civil War. There are also two people in the entrance that they have helped me a lot to visit lots of good restaurants and places. I went to the museum again to thank them but it was closed. I say thank them here. Ulas from Turkey,,

I love this venue. It captures the authenticity of beirut and an era that is bad but still should not be forgotten and should be learnt from. There are always nice exhibitions going on there so try to check it out if you are in the area.

It was not great to visit or to see, I understand the idea behind the project, but I’m not sure if it is well implemented.

I was literally the only visitor during my time here and I can’t understand why. Although there was no electricity during my visit, the friendly security guard gave me a thorough walking tour and we both practiced communicating in non-native language. Such a fascinating look back on a dark period of Lebanese history in a beautiful (and heavily scarredbuilding.

Absolutely stunning building, with a very rich history that is highlighted by its architectural revival. Thoughtful exhibits, would highly recommend.

Beit Beirut, the House of Beirut, is a museum that focuses more on highlighting the building in which it is housed than on the exhibits inside. The building suffered tremendously during the long Lebanese Civil War which lasted more than 15 years (1975-1990). Being geographically situated on the so-called Green Line, the line that divided the city in two, the building got heavily damaged. Militias fought over it and built bunkers inside to defend their positions. Several bunkers inside have been kept as a grim reminder of the war. The outer walls have been purposely left without a full renovation. They show many shell and bullet holes. The metal patching that was done to make the building sound used gray metal to contrast with the original yellowstone facade. Keeping your mind from questioning the decisions that were made during the buildings long recovery period will make your visit one to remember.

The information shown online for this place is absolutely incorrect. I have been trying to go there during my many visits to Beirut over the past 3 years, and it is NEVER open. The phone number given is a mobile number for a person who told us it’s a wrong number. (This was 3 days agoVery disappointing. At least update your information!

It’s not often open, but the exterior building is beautiful. A true relic of civil war Beirut.

So much money spent ...The renovation took so long but the result is fair ...About exhibitions it is not bad ...They could improve if they were more active ...

Amazing view..i liked this museum.

This museum and cultural center is a must go for foreigners and local residents. They hold exhibitions every now and then related to art, history, photography, and much more. I have attended a few events there, and at every time I get swamped by the beauty of the building, the mix of the old sandstone building and metallic structures. The building has survived the civil war and the Beirut blast. It is also at proximity of Sodecos old cafés and restaurants, and at a walking distance from Monot. A must for your next trip to Beirut.

Such a peaceful space!Walking through here made my heart smile. I was able to learn so many new things about the Lebanese culture and history.The guides were very knowledgeable and helped answer all our questions. A really great place to visit.

It would have been better had the revolution realized their protest is always late. The artists are trying to remark on the resistance but like the piece of art work on the nostalgia and the end of the civil war it is being housed in the ruins and being built over by a creeping neoliberal imagination. This show was a counter until the disruption. Mona Hallaqs wonderful vision for Beit Beirut was undermined two years ago. It is pointless revolutionary crusading.

Absolutely amazing place! Walking around these full of history walls will tell you the story of Beirut and Lebanon. Definitely must visit! ❤️

Do you like history? Good food? Culture? This is the country where you should go. Also, do you like sunny beaches, fantastic vistas and great night clubs? Why are not here yet my friend?

There was a great exhibition on when we visited about negatives that had been found in a photo shop that had been there since the building had been almost destroyed. They were then developing those negatives and trying to find the people in the photographs. Unfortunately most of the building was not open.

The external part of the building was very nicely restored. However, I can say much about the internal part because I never had the chance to visit it. Its always closed to the public. I tried again today and found only a security guard who told me he would let me visit the ground floor on his responsibility. When I asked him about the use of this monument he answered: it is used for private events. What a shame! when I think that the French authorities paid so much money to rehabilitate this building in order to teach everyone about the horrors of war. Thats at least what its original purpose was.

I accidentally went to this museum when it was closed to visitors, but after explaining to the guards that Im a tourist they warmly invited us to look inside. Im thankful they did. They exhibition at the time was on the Civil War and I was quite impactful. I hope to go back during hours of operation next time Im in Beirut.

Very nice restoration of a heavily war damaged building, now functioning as museum and memory of the war. Architecturally historically and a very interesting the restoration is evidently revealed and purposely rough.

Wonderful place, full of sad memories yet makes you feel very nostalgic of the good old Beirut times

An old building witnessing the black period of civil war, renewed by beirut municipality. Cultiral events are happening all year long. A must visit venue.

Beautiful historical house turned museum, holding great exhibitions.

You can feel cold face of war.

The museum is nothing but Breathtaking !Definitely this is my favorite spot in Beirut

this place took 6 years to "rebuild" i wonder how many dollars were spent and robbed out of this building. more over for no reason the filthy UAE leader pic was hung inside. shame !

This Museum is beautifull renovated. But closed when we were there. No clear opening hours.

The museum looked permanently closed when we visited in June 2019. The building looks magnificent and the restoration done is great as it has kept it the way it was after the destructions from war.

A MUST visit museum, asap before the identity expo ends... it gathers a fantastic unwritten history of Lebanon

Photos, memories and identity. Surely worth visiting

Loved the museum. A photo exhibition abd the mood inside the ruined building touched my heart.

Its worth even walking by this historic building and taking in its mysteriously haunting beauty. You can walk inside and take in the ancient architecture for free (at least I was able to!).

The museum reminds very well through pictures and building itself, what war meant for this country. It worth the visit.

A must see when you are in Beirut! History presented amazingly. Saved thanks to architects like Mona Hallak.

Historical site. And Entry is free.

Chilling and sobering reminder of the horrors of war. Also amazing engineering work to keep the house standing. Make sure you visit the other happier sites that show Beiruts beauty as well.

Great space in an excellent location. The museum facilities are superb. When I visited they had a great photography exhibition on Lebanons street children.

I like this place..Beirut needs more of this. Lovely renovation mixing modern standards while maintaining the building old design and not hiding the war impact on the external walls of the building. Ive been there twice to attend art exhibitions and ive felt happy being in such a historical building. I believe that this place should be visited by tourists and i hope thr municipality has further plans on how to better use the space for more cutural and artisitic events..

Permanent exibition downstairs and different exhibitions upstairs. Check it for evening events.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at this place. The team were very polite and allowed us to browse the photography exhibit even though they were busy peeping for a UN visit.The blending of contemporary architecture and Green Line ruin creates a powerful metaphor for healing and also for the lingering presence of the Civil War’s trauma in the consciousness and civil society of Lebanon, reminiscent of Coventry Cathedral.A must visit, especially as it is half way between the National Museum and M. Sayhoun Falafel!

I love this place. A miracle in terms of architecture and historic heritage. A building almost destroyed by war and riffles still survives and keep living. Inside it vibrates with living art. Outside it reminds us of a very sad part of history. I prefer it to the national museum.

It is a nice place but I found the merger of traditional architecture and contemporary not that good. The place lost its identity, somehow.

We arrived on Friday at 5pm, the place is supposed to open untill 6pm but it was already closed at 5pm and the security guard was unfriendly. On google map it is shown to open until 8pm.

A must see when in Beirut. Super interesting facts about the deadly war in Lebanon in combination with art related to that period of the city history.

The place is well designed. The location is strategic but you cant really sense the war sequels inside the building. And even when you go to the last floor to see the display room you pass by a couple of office floor which make the architectural promenade a little bit unrelevent.

Extremely recommended,Great experience seeing the awesome renovations and our past being conserved. Really shows the reality of the life within the soldiers feets during the war.

Amazing idea to havea place reinvented like that. Love to pass by every time I m in town. Should not stop having constant displays, it should be more and more active!

A place that highlights peace and war in a very artistic way. It is a great fusion between domestic architecture and war architecture. All respect to Mona Hallak the one who came up with the idea of renovating this great historical building.

Historical place, but it isnt getting the museum it deserves. This house is the symbol of the Civil War. When you enter it you should feel the war and its pain, you should feel history. I subjectively didnt feel that much.

Breathtaking and touching venue. The modern museum design could have been more sensitive to the place’s historicity and original architectural design. The very obvious prostheses make the matter even worse.