About Us

Across Deir el Qamar’s narrow cobblestone streets, among former palaces and religious landmarks stands Deir al Oumara, a hotel rich in history and heritage.

Located a charming walk away from the main public square, the historic hotel houses eighteen converted rooms and suites, as well as a contemporary Lebanese restaurant, Soufrat al Oumara.

It is a unique venue for weddings and festive occasions with a breathtaking view of the Lebanese chouf mountains and offers multiple business or leisure activities on-site as well as across the region.

Classified as a Historic Hotel by the Ministry of Tourism, Deir al Oumara was originally built two centuries ago during the Emirate of Mount Lebanon; and it hasn’t stopped evolving ever since.

First a palace for important political decisions between a Great Emir and his advisor, then various educational institutions expanding high standards across the region, it wasn’t until 2014 that Deir al Oumara was turned into a hotel for friends and families to bask in its heritage and be part of its ongoing story.

Deir al Oumara’s long-lasting heritage dates back hundreds of Years, from Ottoman Lebanon to modern Lebanon as we know it today.

The edifice was originally built as a palace in 1827 by Emir Bashir II, one of the most powerful figures of the region during that era. It was used as the office and residence of his main advisor Boutros Karame, until both men were exiled in 1840.

Following the destructive conflicts and hardships of the 1860 Mount Lebanon Civil War, and the resulting downfall of the emirate, Deir el Qamar held the interest of European religious missions who helped with its revival and cultural development This is how   the Marist Brothers, a group of missionaries from France, turned the edifice into a boarding school in 1908.

Commonly known as the Ecole des Freres, the school became famous throughout the Chouf Mountains for its admirable teaching and education standards, attracting the attention of foreign policymakers such as French politician and novelist Maurice Barres during his visit in 1914. During its period of prosperity, the school was attended by scores of students within the region, even if it entailed hour-long walks in the morning and evening for some children, regardless of the weather conditions – rain, wind, or snow. The edifice later evolved into various educational institutions, ranging from a community-run center for private classes and solidarity, to a public school following a decree signed by then President Camille Chamoun, himself a native of Deir el Qamar.

Today, Deir al Oumara is a Historic Hotel devoted to its Heritage, offering an invigorating mountain escapade, and carrying an everlasting story for you to be part of.

The original 19-century edifice was a palace built in 1827 by an Italian architect, for Emir Bashir ll’s advisor Boutros Karame.

The architecture mingled Ottoman and Florentine styles of the era, retaining the traditional courtyard (“al Dar”), the refreshing octagonal fountain at its center, and the surrounding arcades behind which the offices, bedrooms, baths, and other rooms were set up. The asymmetrical middle roof could be characteristic of the Ottomans, who claimed that perfect symmetry must be kept only for God’s creations.

The second floor wasn’t added until 1907, when the Marist Brothers turned the building into a boarding school, making sure the style stayed in perfect harmony with the original ground floor.

Today, the hotel’s vast rooms have been converted from both the original rooms of the palace and the former school’s classrooms. They are individually decorated and furnished in a colorful Provencal style, adding a soft touch to the ancient stones.