Sursock Museum

Nicolas Sursock left his 1912 villa to the city of Beirut as a museum, and it opened in 1961 in a building that mixes Venetian and Ottoman elements with stained glass, marble and painted ceilings. The collection covers Lebanese modern and contemporary art with a strong holding of twentieth-century painting, and there is an Arab salon of carved and painted woodwork brought from a Damascus house. The building was badly damaged in 2020 and reopened in 2023 after a full restoration.

History

The aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock built the villa in 1912 and on his death in 1952 left it to the city of Beirut to become a museum; it opened in 1961, under Amine Beyhum, with an exhibition of contemporary Lebanese artists (Wikipedia, Sursock Museum).

What to look for

• The villa - a 1912 house mixing Venetian and Ottoman architecture.
• The Arab salon - a carved and painted interior brought from Damascus.
• The modern collection - Lebanese painting and sculpture of the twentieth century.
• The stained glass - restored windows through the main reception rooms.

When to go

Year round. The museum closes on Tuesdays and keeps limited hours; checking before travelling is worthwhile. Exhibition openings draw crowds in the evenings.

Things to know

Opening hours have changed several times since reopening and published information is not always current. The permanent collection on display is smaller than the holdings. Parking in Ashrafieh is difficult.

Nearby

Central Beirut is a short drive, and the National Museum is south of the centre.

Key facts