It gave rise to the khans of Sidon, Tripoli and Deir Al-Qamar and funded many a red-roofed mansion. It revived the fortunes of Beirut port, turning a sleepy provincial capital into a rich cosmopolitan city. The humble silk worm’s labours transformed Lebanon’s fortunes. From the time Byzantine Emperor Justinian sent two priests on a spy mission to Central Asia to uncover silk-making’s secrets and return with silkworm eggs hidden in their canes, until the early 20th century, sericulture flourished in the hills of Lebanon and Syria.

One of modernising Emir Fakhreddine’s lasting legacies was to develop the silk industry, building khans in Deir Al-Qamar, Sidon, Tripoli and Beirut and exporting the cloth to Tuscany and Modena. In the mountain village of Bsous, the charming Silk  Museum brings this illustrious history to life, weaving the story of a land and its people.

This enchanting renovated silk factory, which fell out of use in 1954, nestles in luxuriant, fragrant terraced gardens dotted with the mulberry trees that fed its silkworms. Silk worms, looms and spinning wheels form the ‘Living Silk’ exhibit and a lovely boutique sells expensive silk and olive oil craftwork.

This family-friendly ‘eco-museum’ is an educational experience and a pleasure for all ages. To get to the museum, turn off the Beirut-Damascus highway at Jamhour towards the village of Bsous, which lies 15km from the capital. A taxi will set you back around LL40,000 – you’ll need to ask it to wait. Note that the museum is open from May to October only and closes on Mondays.