Maghdouche
A hilltop shrine above Sidon built around a cave where, by tradition, Mary waited while Jesus preached in the city.
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Maghdouche sits in the hills above Sidon and the shrine of Our Lady of Mantara is built around a small cave that local tradition holds is where Mary waited while Jesus went down to preach in the city. The cave was rediscovered in the eighteenth century, and a tower topped by a bronze statue of the Virgin and Child was added in the twentieth, with a modern basilica beside it. The site is visited by both Christians and Muslims, and the terrace looks out over the coast and the sea.
What you actually see
- The cave chapel - the small rock chamber at the heart of the shrine.
- The tower - a stone tower topped with a bronze Virgin and Child.
- The basilica - the modern church built alongside the older shrine.
- The coast view - Sidon and the Mediterranean from the terrace.
When to go
March to November is comfortable. The feast of the Nativity of the Virgin in early September draws the largest crowds. Mornings are quietest and clearest for the view.
Honest expectations
Most of the built fabric is modern and the cave itself is small. Coach pilgrimages fill the site on weekends and feast days. Modest dress is expected.
Nearby
Sidon is below on the coast, and Jezzine is further inland.
What to pack for Maghdouche
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
