Welcome To Virtual Baalbek:

Baalbek is perhaps the most spectacular archeological site in Lebanon and it is among the largest and best preserved set of Roman ruins in the world. No trip to Lebanon is complete without a visit to this remarkable place. However, the history of Baalbek is not confined to the Roman conquests, for its history dates back to the first millenium B.C.E. One of the difficulties in appreciating such a site is that is difficult to get a sense of its scope from individual photos online. In light of this, we have created  (and, 18 years later, re-created) a virtual tour, consisting of interlocking 360 degree panoramas with embedded audio, photographs and videos within each scene to provide a more accurate view of this amazing site.




Baalbek During Roman Rule:

Baalbek during Roman RuleBefore commencing the actual tour, let us get a sense of what the site looked like during the Roman Era. While its history stretches back much further, most of the ruins visible today harken from that time period.  The animated photo to the right shows an artist's recreation of the temple complex under Roman rule, and it is helpful to keep this "mental map" in mind as  your tour the ruins. The animated gif to the left cycles through a reconstruction of the Roman era and then a map of the current ruins.



Virtual Tour of Baalbek

PropylaeaSnap Content
Virtual Reality Tour for VR Headsets:

QR CodeThere is also a version of this tour designed specifically for VR headsets such as Google Cardboard, and it works with both iPhone and Android devices. It may be accessed by scanning on the QR code to the left. If you are viewing this on a mobile phone, you may access the VR tour by following this link.



For iOS devices
: scan QR code with your device's camera app, tap on the prompt to open Safari. Select "Allow Device Motion" and the next prompt, "Allow Access to Motion Orientation." Turn the device to landscape mode and a split screen will appear. When the screen turns white, swipe up for fullscreen mode, and place in headset. Here is a video of how to do this--it is simpler than it sounds! [The video opens in a new window--close when done to return to this page]

For Android devices: Open the camera app and use the built-in scanner to scan the QR code above. Confirm that you want to open the website, and wait for it to load--it should load in stereo view. Select the fullscreen ("X" option) from the menu at the bottom. Turn the device to landscape mode and you are ready to go. Here is a video of how to do this--it is simpler than it sounds! [The video opens in a new window--close when done to return to this page]

Baalbek Reborn:
In March 2021 the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the German Archaeological Institute and Flyover Zone,​ released a hyper-detailed tour of nearly fourty sites in the Baalbek complex, replete with 3D renderings of what the structures originally looked like. It contains details far beyond the scope of our tour, and is recommended for the archeologically minded travel. A note of caution - - read the directions carefully, as it is a bit tricky to navigate. To access the tour, you must download an app, and Flyover site offers separate downloads for PCs, Macs, iPhone and Android phones, as well as several standalone headsets (Occulus Rift,  Occulus Go, and Vive). Here is the link. Go ahead, channel your Inner Indiana Jones!

Outside the Temple:


The Temple Ruins are not the only points of interest around Baalbeck. Here are some of the other highlights:

 



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