Lebanon, over the course of history, provided an inaccessible haven for tribes and religious groups escaping from repression and persecution in other parts of the Middle East: the Maronites, Christians; the Greek Orthodox Christians; the Shia Muslims; and the Druze, a heretical Muslim sect founded in the 10th century. Lebanon’s diverse patchwork of Mediterranean-lapped coast, rugged alpine peaks and green, fertile valleys is packed into a parcel of land some 225km long and 46km wide.. Once known as the ‘Paris of the East’, Beirut commands a magnificent position, thrust into the Mediterranean. Behind the city are towering mountains, visible when the traffic haze settles down. The Corniche seafront boasts beaches, restaurants, theatres and a dazzling variety of shops and restaurants. Beirut is once again one of the most popular tourist and business destinations in the Middle East. Beirut’s Central District, known as Solidere (the company in charge of the reconstruction programme), is seeing a spectacular number of modern buildings and office blocks springing up everywhere. After massive landfill, two new marinas, a new seaside promenade and a green park are also planned. The cities and ruins of Aanjar, Baalbeck, Byblos, Tyre and the Qadisha Valley/Cedars Forest are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are also worth visiting.