Beirut as seen from the pigeon rock

Raouché (Arabic: الروشة, romanized: ar-Rawše) is a residential and commercial neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon. It is known for its upscale apartment buildings, numerous restaurants, and cliff-side cafés that line Avenue de Paris, which forms part of the Corniche Beirut.

The Rock of Raouché, or Pigeon Rock

Off the coast of Raouché, there is a natural landmark called the Pigeons' Rock (also known as the Rock of Raouché), consisting of two rock formations.[1]

Etymology

Raouché Rocks in the late 19th / early 20th century

Some historians believe that the word "raouché" derives from the Aramaic word rosh or Arabic word ras, both meaning head. Other historians argue that it is a corruption of the French word roche (rocher), meaning rock.

History

The shores near Raouché have yielded the area's oldest evidence of human existence, flints and basic stone tools, which are displayed in the American University of Beirut Archaeological Museum.

Present status

The area adjacent to Raouché, called 'Dalieh', is presently in the process of being sold to real-estate developers.[2] A campaign was started early 2014 against the privatization of Raouché and the adjacent area-called al-Dalieh-which was initially titled "The last that remains".

Society and culture

Lebanese athlete Michel Haddad climbed 40 m up the Rock of Raouché to bring attention to marine pollution.[3]

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Raouché.

References

  1. ↑ TourismLebanon.Com Tourism Lebanon Hotels Beirut Solidere Archived 2007-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Dalieh of Raouche...threatened by development". The Civil Campaign to Protect the Dalieh of Raouche. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. ↑ Batakji, Raissa (2022-06-07). "Michael Haddad Embarks on Arctic Walk". LAU. Retrieved 2023-07-22.

33°53′N 35°28′E / 33.883°N 35.467°E / 33.883; 35.467

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