Do you know the meaning of Zokak el Blat?

It literally means the paved dead-end street.

 

The neighborhood, located behind the Grand Serail, got its name from the paved road Egyptians built at the beginning of the 19th century between one of the old city’s gate and the residence of the commander of the Egyptian forces on the hill.

At that time, Beirut was a very small fishing port with 4,000 to 5,000 inhabitants inside of its walls. Zokak el-Blat is one of the first wealthy neighborhood which developed outside of the walls.

If you ever feel nostalgic about the old Beirut, take the time to walk there. Get lost in the narrow streets and you’ll stumble upon old and often decrepit palaces (the Heneine and Ziade Palaces), churches (The National Evangelical Church and Saint Nichan Cathedral) and mosques (Zokak el Blat Mosque).

Today the neighborhood is being reshaped by real estate developments and activists fear that some of its gems might get destroyed.

 

Source: Save Beirut Heritage