MARONITE CONVENT OF SAINT JEAN-BAPTISTE OF THE ANTONINE FATHERS OF DEIR EL-KALAA

Damaged during the civil war, it was completely renovated. The convent chapel was built in 1750 on the bases (imposing stone blocks) of a former Roman temple, built on the site of an Phoenician monument dedicated to the cult of Baal Markod (god of earthquakes and dance). The temple dates from the first century. , three of the six columns are still present (at the entrance to the convent, one can see the base of a fourth column integrated into the existing building). Their size (1,62 m in diameter) recalls that of the temples of Baalbek. The entrance of the chapel is remarkable with beautiful inscriptions (dating from 1768) and the symbols engraved. This temple consists of a cella of 33 m on 17 m.

At the bottom, or at the entrance to the site, behind the sign of the Ministry of Tourism, one distinguishes between a stone of stone stones, one of which, dedicated to Junon, was erected under the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117). A huge door with Latin inscriptions was probably the entrance to a path of procession separating that temple from the top.

Left of the entrance to the site, you must see the remains of a th century Byzantine church located near the current residences. Roman columns were used for its construction. The soil is covered with a large pavement of relatively well conserved mosaics. We distinguish a geometric décor from birds and Christian symbols. This basilical church was restored at the end of the reign of Justinian in the th century. Next to it, there are remarkable thermal baths (probably Roman times, but which were used in the Byzantine church).

Nearby has developed a Romano-Byzantine village which can still be seen some remains (Roman altar, dallée route, shops, private houses, a wine press…).