Corniche Beirut

Lined with palm trees, the waterfront esplanade has views of the Mediterranean Sea and the summits of Mount Lebanon to the east.

Corniche Beirut has its foundation in the Avenue des Français, which was built during the period of the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon[1] along the seafront that extended from the old town.

[3][better source needed] The Corniche is a common destination for walkers, joggers and bikers.

[4][better source needed] A number of the trunks of the palm trees that line the Corniche are pockmarked with bullet holes from the Lebanese Civil War.

In 2001, the 76 cement benches were replaced with new ones covered with colorful cut ceramics that were designed by Lebanese artist Lena Kelekian, who also designed a Mega Chessboard on the widest section of the sidewalk on Avenue de Paris.