Vintage photos of Beirut when it was known as the 'Paris of the Middle East'

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is one of the oldest cities in the world.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, it was known as the "Paris of the Middle East."
A 15-year civil war beginning in 1975 ended the city's "Golden Age."

Beirut has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities on the planet. And, much like any other ancient city, it has been shaped by years of trade, complex domestic and foreign conflicts, and colonialism.

But one of the city's highest points came following World War II, after Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943. Celebrating newfound freedom, combined with French metropolitan influences, a temperate climate, and access to the Mediterranean Sea, Beirut became a popular tourist destination and a prosperous city, earning it the nickname "Paris of the Middle East."

Stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Brigitte Bardot, and Peter O'Toole on breaks from filming "Lawrence of Arabia" were spotted there, and luxury hotels and clubs dotted its beaches.

However, not everyone was living like an A-list movie star during this period. Economic disparity persisted, and conflicts were brewing that would lead to one of the bloodiest periods in the city's long history.

When the Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, this "Golden Age" came to an end. Almost 1 million people fled the country, and over 150,000 people were killed, per the Middle East Research and Information Project.

The Civil War ended 15 years later, in 1990, though unrest and violence continue in Lebanon to this day. For decades, the country has been drawn into repeated conflicts with Israel, with which it shares a border, and new fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite Islamist group based in Lebanon, started in 2023. This conflict has complicated efforts to end the wider war involving the US, Iran, and Israel.

Here's what Beirut looked like during one of its most prosperous periods.

When Lebanon achieved independence from France in 1943, it signaled a new era for Beirut, its capital.

An aeriel view dated in the early 1970s shows Saint George hotel in Beirut, which is scheduled to reopen after renovations on the first day of the new century, 01 January 2000

Beirut has been inhabited for 5,000 years, but the mid-20th century was a prosperous time for the city.

MAY 1948: A view of a fishing vessels anchored at Beirut Harbor in Beirut, Lebanon.

Beirut International Airport opened in 1954, bringing the city more visitors than ever before.

Historic color photograph (digitized slide) taken in 1966, showing a view from the parking area toward Beirut International Airport in Lebanon. The image captures the mid-20th-century architecture and atmosphere of air travel during that era,

Its unique location meant locals and visitors could drive up the Lebanon Mountains in the morning …

BEIRUT, LEBANON - MAY 13,1948: A view as a man drives his Woodie on the road to Damascus in Beirut, Lebanon.

… and make it back to the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon.

MAY 1948: A view as people wade in the surf on the beach in Beirut, Lebanon.

Tourism was a significant part of Lebanon's economy. In the two decades before the Civil War, it made up 20% of the country's GDP.

Picture taken in Beirut in the early 70s shows the heart of downtown Beirut, with the landmark Rivoli movie theatre in the background, before the break out of the 1975-90 civil war. The area is undergoing reconstruction since the early 90s.

Source: Encyclopedia of the Nations

This photo, showcasing the nightlife of 1955 Beirut, resembles the lights of Las Vegas.

Illuminated signage displayed in many colors and languages across the city to attract the night life crowd in Beirut Lebanon, 1955

A photo taken in 1965 shows the Acapulco Beach Club, one of the city's ritziest resorts. It also had a lively nightclub.

Beirut Night Life</p>
<p>March 1965: Late night revellers dancing in the Acapulco beach area of Beirut

Source: The Strange Brew

French-inspired design was prominent. This road, Hamra Street, was compared to Paris' Champs-Élysées.

Libanon, Beirut - Cafe Eldorado in der Hamra Street Cafe Eldorado in der Hamra Street- 1969

Another photo, taken in 1973, shows a well-stocked flower shop, street vendors selling their wares, and other businesses.

A street vendor sells watermelons from a cart in October 1973 in front of a flower shop on a street in downtown Beirut.

The other draw of Beirut, of course, was its proximity to the Mediterranean.

MAY 1948: A view of a young couple on a surf board paddling on the ocean in Beirut, Lebanon.

The beaches were filled with sunbathers.

MAY 1948: A view of young couples resting on a beach in Beirut, Lebanon.

One of the most famous seaside resorts was the Hotel St. Georges. It was built by a French investment group and opened in the 1930s. It closed in 1975 due to the civil war.

Guests fill the swimming pool and garden of the St. Georges Beach Club. The Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel rises in the background.

It resembled an oasis.

MAY 1948: An aerial view of buildings and palm trees and the harbor in the distance in Beirut, Lebanon.

When the civil war broke out in 1975, tourism steadily declined. The US lists Lebanon as a Level 4 travel advisory, which means "Do not travel."

BEIRUT, LEBANON - MAY 1948: An aerial view from a rooftop, of buildings and the harbor in Beirut, Lebanon.

Source: Business Insider

These photos preserve a glimpse of the Beirut that helped inspire its moniker as the "Paris of the Middle East," a glamorous chapter in a longer, more complicated history.