A triangular green space. That’s Horsh Beirut. It stands strong in the heart of this vibrant city.
Horsh Beirut isn’t just a park. It’s a historical landmark. It’s a survivor. A testament to Beirut’s resilience. For centuries it was a lush pine forest. William of Tyre. A medieval archbishop called it “La Pinée”. Imagine that. A medieval name for this very place.
But armies marched through. Crusaders Mamluks Ottomans and even World War II Allies. They stripped the forest for timber. They built ships and weapons. The Horsh suffered. It became segmented. Part of it was an Ottoman casino then a horse racecourse. Even cemeteries were built there. Roads cut through what was left.
Then came the 1982 Israeli invasion. Bombs fell. The Horsh burned. Parts turned into a Palestinian refugee camp. From over 1250000 square meters in 1696 it shrunk to 800000 square meters by 1967.
For twenty-five years it was closed to the public. Lebanese citizens needed permits. Only those over 35 sometimes got them. Foreigners often had an easier time. Beirut residents protested. They wanted their green space back.
Finally in 2015 Governor Ziad Chebib reopened Horsh Beirut. The fight for access was long and hard. But the park stands here today. A green triangle of resilience. A symbol of Beirut’s enduring spirit. A place where history whispers among the trees. A place for everyone. A place you can see for yourselves.