Baalbek is situated in the eastern part of Lebanon about 85 kilometres from Beirut, where the Beqaa plain lies enclosed by two mountain ranges setting off the monumental proportions of the temples which proclaimed the power and wealth of Imperial Rome.
The Bacchus temple is generally accepted as the undoubted masterpiece and has been extremely well preserved because of the Arab fortifications built around the temple. It is linked to the temple of Jupiter with access by an imposing staircase and a colossal door decorated with nymphs and mythological deities.
A short distance away stands another true jewel of Roman architecture, the temple of Venus and in another section is the 8th century Umayyad mosque.
The town of Baalbeck has major remains from Islamic times, including the Grand Mosque, built by the Omayyads with material borrowed from ancient monuments, and another mosque built in Mamluke times near the spring of Ras el-Ain.
Baalback has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.