Sixteen kilometers from Beirut lies the romantic coastal city of Jounieh. Known widely as the Jewel of Lebanon, Jounieh is home to a number of important sites, landmarks, natural treasures, and cultural symbols, which include the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, Jeita Grotto, Dog River, and Casino du Liban, among others. Apart from all these national treasures, Jounieh is cherished by the Lebanese for how it preserved its old charm and interesting ancestry. Not very far from the bay is an area known as Old Jounieh. It is here where locals and tourists come to dine, stroll, reminisce, relax, and enjoy the Mediterranean sunset.
In the past, this area by the bay was an old stone souk (market) area where ancient traders and merchants sold their products. It was a busy marketplace, which was perhaps the busiest spot in this otherwise sleepy port city. …