Hasbaya is a town in Lebanon, set at the foot of Mount Hermon in the country's south-east. It is a place for a slower kind of visit, where the pleasure lies in walking old streets, looking at traditional houses and taking in the landscape around it.
What to see
- Shehab Palace, the town's best-known building, a palace from the 18th century that once housed local rulers. Its architecture is the clearest example of why Hasbaya is valued for its heritage.
- Traditional Lebanese houses and Ottoman-era architecture, which give the town its historic character and are worth time on foot.
The setting
The town sits beneath Mount Hermon, and the fertile valleys and orchards around it make the surroundings as much a part of the visit as the buildings. Walking or driving out from the centre gives a sense of the agricultural land that has long supported the town.
For those interested in Lebanon's cultural past, Hasbaya offers a quieter alternative to the larger cities, with architecture and countryside closely linked. It suits a day trip or a longer stop for travellers who want to see the country beyond its main hubs.