Khan al-Franj
Khan al-Franj
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Khan al-Franj
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
22 within 5 kms
Attractions
15 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
45 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
19
Average
12
Poor
0
Terrible
0
greatBeirut
Beirut, Lebanon328 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
This khan was built by ElMir Fakhrudine AlMaani. It was used to be like a large hotel for merchants arriving to Sidon with their goods and their horses. The khan used to provide a stable for the horses, private rooms and food for the merchants, and the merchants used to sell their goods their. It is just facing the sidon sea castle. ( half an hour south of Beirut)
Written 13 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bashaar T
12 contributions
Wonderfully preserved fort that Barbour many events, this particular time we were delighted to see an art exhibition with some beautiful local art...fort is very clean bit the outer entrance was a bit untidy...over all a wonderful little find.
Written 13 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freddy_on_trips
Montreal, Canada2,779 contributions
Sept 2019
Khan El Franj has not much to see apart from the building itself. You could visit other more interesting historical sites and pass this one.
Written 2 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlbertoS59
Sardinia, Italy72 contributions
Sept 2020
It was he...., the fearless Druze Fahr al- Din II - a lover of Italian art and a friend of the Grand Duke of Tuscany - who created in the 17th century this large caravanserai not far from the crusader castle of Sidon on the Lebanon Sea.
Merchants, both French and non-French, used to gather in this large courtyard and trade in silk, cotton, perfumes and spices in the midst of elegant limestone arches over which, nowadays, lively bougainvilleas climb and blossom. On the upper floors, the merchants found rest at night, accompanied by the gurgling of the fountain in the centre of the courtyard.
Always worth a visit and a short break!
Merchants, both French and non-French, used to gather in this large courtyard and trade in silk, cotton, perfumes and spices in the midst of elegant limestone arches over which, nowadays, lively bougainvilleas climb and blossom. On the upper floors, the merchants found rest at night, accompanied by the gurgling of the fountain in the centre of the courtyard.
Always worth a visit and a short break!
Written 19 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jetdude
New York City, NY238 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
The building stands empty. Free entrance and the guard is a person, at least this November, that doesn't want to be bother. They ask for your nationality and you can enter and explore for free. Beautiful building, maybe one day will be filled with interesting and related things to see.
Written 22 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaby85🇱🇧🇫🇷🇬🇧🇩🇪
Beirut, Lebanon4,234 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Just outside the old souk is Khan El Franj, an old inn built by Fakhr el Dine II to encourage the silk traders to do business to Saida. Today, visitors can walk through the khan for free and admire the scenic inner courtyard and arched Ottoman architecture.
Written 9 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria P
Maidstone, UK190 contributions
Sept 2019
This used to be a one-stop shop for traders. It is a beautiful building with a large central courtyard. Upstairs was once travellers accommodation but we did not visit it.The building is beautiful and a photographic exhibition was taking place, so good to see that the building is still being used.
Written 14 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,921 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
The caravanserai has been lovingly reconstructed. Its name means 'place of the French', what the locals called all Europeans. It was a standard two story structure with shops on the ground floor and sleeping quarters above. Donkeys and horses would be housed inside but camels stayed outside. Visiting during Ramadan, the interior was set up for evening music which took away some of the old atmosphere.
Written 13 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mathias S
332 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
It is a fine and well-preserved building, but a bit massive and not very beautiful. One should visit it I guess, but it's probably not worthy a lenghty stay
Written 13 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bg564
Windhoek, Namibia854 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Our guide explained that this was where where the merchants met and kept their horses. Unfortunately while we were there we tried to tour the upper floors but the staff said it was closed.
Written 9 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
can we visit Khan el Franj around 7pm (end october), or is there no access in the evening? and the soukh closes at what time?
Written 19 September 2019
Best I can see is it is open from 0800 to 1600. I am not aware of what limited hours there may be re visiting the nearby souk but I suspect its hours are appreciably longer as there are shops in there.
Written 19 September 2019
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing