Historic Baalbek Hotel Closes for First Time in 150 Years After Israeli Attack
Historic Baalbek Hotel Damaged in Israeli Airstrike, Faces Uncertain Future
Baalbek, Lebanon – For 150 years, the Hotel Palmira has stood as a beacon of hospitality in Baalbek, its guest list a who’s who of history, from Lawrence of Arabia to Albert Einstein. But the iconic hotel,nestled in the shadow of the ancient Roman ruins,now faces an uncertain future after being damaged in an Israeli airstrike.
The attack, which targeted a nearby shop in early November, sent shockwaves through the historic building, leaving gaping holes in the roof and shattering windows.
“Its sad to see it like this,” says Hassan al Husseini, son of the hotel’s owner, gesturing towards the boarded-up windows of a suite overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage site. “Even during the worst times, you always saw the hotel open, guests here.”
The Palmira, built in 1874 by a Greek entrepreneur, predates the excavation of Baalbek’s famed ruins. It served as a stopover for European pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem, attracting luminaries like Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Agatha Christie, and countless other dignitaries and artists.
now, the hotel’s grand facade is marred by cracks and debris.”See those cracks on the side of the roof?” al Husseini points out. “They weren’t there before. the whole building shook and moved when the shop was hit.”
The airstrike not only damaged the hotel’s structure but also injured two workers and sent large chunks of rock crashing onto the roof. Al Husseini, steadfast to preserve his family’s legacy, has been working tirelessly to repair the immediate damage before the winter rains arrive.
an engineer must assess the structural integrity of the building before full restoration can begin. Al Husseini remains hopeful that the Palmira will reopen its doors by the end of the year, a testament to the resilience of Baalbek and its people.
“This was the best view from the hotel,” he says, standing before the shattered windowpane, the snow-capped ruins of Baalbek just beyond. “You could see the temples covered in white during the winter. We want to show the world that Baalbek is still standing.”
Historic Baalbek Hotel Damaged in Israeli Airstrike, Faces Uncertain Future
Baalbek, Lebanon – For 150 years, the Hotel Palmira has stood as a beacon of hospitality in Baalbek, its guest list a who’s who of history, from Lawrence of Arabia to Albert Einstein. But the iconic hotel, nestled in the shadow of the ancient Roman ruins, now faces an uncertain future after being damaged in an Israeli airstrike.
The attack, which targeted a nearby shop in early November, sent shockwaves through the historic building, leaving gaping holes in the roof and shattering windows.
“It’s sad to see it like this,” says Hassan al Husseini, son of the hotel’s owner, gesturing towards the boarded-up windows of a suite overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage site. “Even during the worst times, you always saw the hotel open, guests hear.”
The Palmira, built in 1874 by a Greek entrepreneur, predates the excavation of Baalbek’s famed ruins. It served as a stopover for European pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem,attracting luminaries like Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,Agatha Christie,and countless other dignitaries and artists.
Now, the hotel’s grand facade is marred by cracks and debris.”See those cracks on the side of the roof?” al Husseini points out. “They weren’t there before. The whole building shook and moved when the shop was hit.”
The airstrike not only damaged the hotel’s structure but also injured two workers and sent large chunks of rock crashing onto the roof. Al Husseini, steadfast to preserve his family’s legacy, has been working tirelessly to repair the immediate damage before the winter rains arrive.
An engineer must assess the structural integrity of the building before full restoration can begin. al Husseini remains hopeful that the Palmira will reopen its doors by the end of the year, a testament to the resilience of Baalbek and its people.
“This was the best view from the hotel,” he says, standing before the shattered windowpane, the snow-capped ruins of Baalbek just beyond. “You could see the temples covered in white during the winter. We want to show the world that Baalbek is still standing.”