Corniche (Waterfront Promenade), Beirut (must see)

Corniche is a seaside promenade in the Central District of Beirut. A pleasant walkway, it has palm trees and great views of the sea in the west and Mount Lebanon in the east. It is an extension of the French Avenue, built during the time of the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon. Some trees are bullet-scarred, a reminder of the civil war.

The Corniche is three miles long. It wraps around the promontory of Saint George Bay, turns west into Place Rafic Hariri, the Paris Avenue, and into the Avenue General de Gaulle, ending at Rafic Hariri Avenue. It is a favorite locale for strollers, joggers, and bicycles. Push carts offer snacks and drinks.

In 2001, seventy-six concrete benches lining the promenade were replaced with new benches sporting colored ceramics designed by the Lebanese artist Lena Kelekian. Lena also designed the Mega Chessboard on the broadest part of the walk by the Paris Avenue. The railings along the walk have been modified to keep daredevils from diving off the rails.