Lebanon and the United States Celebrate Completion of Restoration Work at Historic Msilha Castle

The Lebanese Ministry of Culture and the U.S. Embassy in Beirut celebrated the completion of conservation and restoration work at the archaeological site of Msilha Castle, attended by Minister of Culture Ghassan Salamé, U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa, and a gathering of local officials and cultural heritage stakeholders.

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy, "The project was implemented over 4 years with funding of $210,000 provided by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. The works included the restoration and reinforcement of the historic Msilha Castle, preserving its architectural character, improving the access road to the site, as well as safeguarding local traditions, including the reactivation of the castle's historic mill, the creation of a natural water reservoir, and organizing workshops to train local farmers on environmentally friendly agricultural tools and best practices. A documentary film about the project titled 'Msilha Castle Through History' is available on YouTube."

During the celebration, Minister Salamé noted that "preserving cultural heritage protects the memory and identity of a place while simultaneously opening horizons for its future. The Msilha project combined these two objectives. In addition to preserving the castle, it reactivated its mill, revived traditional crop cultivation, and supported local farmers in adopting sustainable practices."

Salamé thanked "the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, the Directorate General of Antiquities, Roots Lebanon, the municipality of Hamat, and the residents of the area for accomplishing this work."

In turn, Ambassador Issa indicated that the project "reflects the strength and depth of U.S.-Lebanese relations. For more than two hundred years of friendship between our two countries, the United States remains committed to supporting Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and economic future, but we also believe that Lebanon's cultural heritage forms an essential part of its identity," stressing that "preserving this heritage means protecting Lebanon's history for future generations."

Ambassador Issa announced that the U.S. government "will allocate, starting this year, $36,827,4 to preserve an archaeological site dating back to the Roman era in the town of Chhim, and revive its centuries-old tradition of olive oil production. The Embassy will collaborate with the Ministry of Culture and the Beit Al Baraka Foundation in implementing the new project."

The Embassy statement clarified that "the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, known by the acronym AFCP, is one of the most prominent cultural initiatives implemented by the U.S. government abroad. Over the past twenty-five years, the United States has collaborated with Lebanon to support 25 projects under this fund, totaling more than $2 million, aimed at protecting archaeological sites across the country and preserving shared human heritage that forms part of the region's identity, from Beiteddine Palace to the Monastery of Mar Bishai in the Qadisha Valley, reaching the Sea Castle of Sidon."

It noted that "the U.S. Congress established the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation in 2001, with the goal of preserving a wide spectrum of cultural heritage forms, including historical buildings, archaeological sites, ethnographic collections, paintings, manuscripts, indigenous languages, and other forms of traditional cultural expression. Projects funded by the program can contribute to recovery from disasters and conflicts, create economic opportunities, and enhance mutual understanding. These projects are typically implemented in cooperation with experienced local partners, encouraging the use of traditional materials and methods," indicating that "since its inception, the fund has supported hundreds of projects worldwide."