Gallery in Beit-et-Din Palace - 12.5 piastre
The Beiteddine Palace (قصر بيت الدين), located in the Chouf Mountains, is a masterpiece of 19th-century traditional Ottoman-Arab architecture. Built between 1788 and 1818 by Emir Bashir Shihab II, ruler of the Mount Lebanon Emirate, the complex features ornate arcades, intricate mosaic stonework, vaulted galleries, and quiet courtyards. Following Lebanese independence, the restored palace served as the official summer residence for the President of Lebanon and remains one of the country's most cherished architectural landmarks and cultural heritage sites.
To celebrate this monumental piece of national heritage, the Republic of Lebanon (الجمهورية اللبنانية) included the palace in its iconic pictorial definitive series during the mid-20th century. Designed by V. Pliiss and printed in Beirut by Imp. J. Saikali, this 7.50 piastre issue showcases the vaulted stone gallery of Beiteddine, honoring Lebanon's rich architectural history and cultural identity.