Hayda Lebanon - The Village of Tradition

An old and huge Lebanese dome leads you to the regitration office which delivers you the membership card and the Audio Guide that describes to you all the details and the parts of the project in 8 languages (Arabic, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German and Japnese). You can access then a hall that hosts the visitors with a full presentation on Lebanon, its tourist sites and services. A shopping hall as well appears on your way out where you can find a souvenirs shop and Lebanese goodies.

The main entrance, exhibition tools, terraces, El Midane, animals’ park, kids playground, restaurants, cultural games and all outlets can be all accessed by an old pedestrian trajectory and bridges for a nice and warm walk around the huge rocks surrounded by flowers and water fountains, where you can reach a place to sit and enjoy the lovely view.

Two traditional Lebanese restaurants operating under the name “SAJ” and serving food in a very special way. “SAJ” being an international trademark registered in 28 countries among them USA, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Spain, France, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Portugal, Monaco, Switzerland, China and Lebanon.

The Serail building is located in front of “Al Midane”, it consists of several shops for selling vegetables, meat, and bread, in addition to a hairdresser, and a mayor’s office for information etc… You may find as well a Banquet hall for events and ceremonies.

Any corner along the pedestrian trajectory and within the rocks, traditional tools and products numbered are presented for the visitor with an explanation done through the audio guide. Tools such as:
- Maassara: rocky tool to produce oil from olives where you can taste the Lebanese oil.
- Karkeh: tool to produce Arak from grapes with a vine nearby where Arak is offered for tasting.
- Old fountain of water and a well with jars to offer fresh water.
- Etc... for wine and charcoal, Mahdaleh, Tannour, Saj, etc...

Visitors who don’t want to walk can find donkeys as a means of transportation in this Lebanese Traditional Village. Renting of those donkeys is operated by your membership card. All donkeys’ stations are near every outlet to assure the short connection.

Three different terraces are established over huge rocks with beautiful panoramic views of Beirut. Each terrace has a special aspect:
- Terrace 1: Quiet area surrounded by the animal park, ideal for enjoying the view and relaxing.
- Terrace 2: Private area with a special bar for drinking whisky, beer and coffee, etc...
- Terrace 3: Cafe trottoir for Smoking offering nargileh, fastgomma, playing cards, chess, etc...

Open square consecrated for Weddings, Special Events, Ceremonies with access to the terrace and the SAJ Restaurant, the Children playground, the animal park; in addition to the walking area.

Domestic animals are found all around the village to enjoy watching them and feeding them including: Deer, Swans, Peacocks, Pigeons, special species of chicken, rabbits, sheep etc… Each animal has a special place and food where you can feed them yourself and take nice photos.

Near the animal park you find a playground area for children where all the kits are made of special Austrian style wood for the safety of children, in addition to an animation program.

A slope consecrated for planting cedar trees; thus each Emigrant or even visitor can own a cedar which he will plant by himself and shall hold his name, besides getting a certificate and a life membership to “Heyda Lebanon".

Lebanese Traditional Houses will be ready to accommodate families in an old traditional atmosphere with traditional décor and style; those houses are for weekly rent. As for the youth and students, they are welcome in the Dorms which are allocated also for Emigrants’ and tourist groups who can benefit as well from seminars and tourist programs.