Baalbek is the great “must do” site if you are in Lebanon. It is situated not far off the road across the mountains to Damascus and could conveniently be taken in on such a journey.

This detour takes you into the “infamous” Bekaa Valley. We were there in 1999 and, apart from passing under archways carrying pictures of Ayatollah Khomeini, we saw nothing else to remind us that this is the heartland of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Everything was very relaxed.

The ruined city is primarily Roman but had Phoenician and Greek origins. The height and solidity of the remains is very impressive. The setting below the snow-capped mountains is also rather fine. We were there in April and, although we had a rentacar, the road west over the mountains to the Cedars of Lebanon WHS was still closed by snow but should be an interesting journey a month or so later. A couple of hours to wander round should be enough for all but “Roman Architecture buffs”.