Baabda

{{More citations needed|date=June 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Baabda

| native_name = بعبدا

| native_name_lang = ar

| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = From fantasy world - panoramio.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Baabda skyline

| pushpin_map = Lebanon

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt = Map showing the location of Baabda within Lebanon

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Lebanon

| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q26454|region:LB_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Lebanon

| subdivision_type1 = Governorate

| subdivision_name1 = Mount Lebanon Governorate

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Baabda District

| established_title =

| established_date =

| founder =

| leader_party =

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 =

| area_note =

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| elevation_min_m =

| elevation_max_m =

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 84,900

| population_as_of = 2006

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_note = Metro population

| timezone1 = EET

| utc_offset1 = +2

| timezone1_DST = EEST

| utc_offset1_DST = +3

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code =

| area_code_type = Dialing code

| area_code = +961

| website =

}}

Baabda ({{langx|ar|بعبدا}}) is the capital city of Baabda District and Mount Lebanon Governorate, western Lebanon. Baabda was also the capital city of the autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon that existed from 1861 to 1918.

Baabda is home to the Italian, Japanese, Jordanian, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Indonesian, Spanish and other embassies. It is also home to the Ministry of Defense and other administrative offices.

Baabda is also known for its Seraglio.

In 1956, Baabda Palace was built in Baabda as the official presidential residence, on a hill overlooking Beirut.[http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/baabda.htm Tourism in Baabda Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113002753/http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/baabda.htm |date=13 November 2013 }}. Lebanon.com. Retrieved on 30 January 2008. It remains the residence of the president of Lebanon. The first president to reside there was Charles Helou from 1964 to 1970.{{Cite web |url=http://www.prestigemag.co/2015/01/charles-helou/ |title=CHARLES HELOU – Prestige Magazine |date=20 January 2015 |language=en-US |access-date=26 September 2016 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208095255/http://www.prestigemag.co/2015/01/charles-helou/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Historical View |url=http://www.presidency.gov.lb/English/PresidentoftheRepublic/PresidentialPalaces/Pages/Historical-View.aspx |publisher=www.presidency.gov.lb |access-date=20 November 2012 |archive-date=14 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414040410/http://www.presidency.gov.lb/English/PresidentoftheRepublic/PresidentialPalaces/Pages/Historical-View.aspx |url-status=live }}

From 1988 to 1990, Lebanon's interim prime minister, Michel Aoun took up residence in the Baabda Palace surrounded by loyal soldiers.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/dbbcd8153ad4260d05ef65716e16cf8b |title=Bombarded Aoun Flees To Embassy, Asks Cease-Fire; Govt Demands Surrender |first=Mohammed |last=Salam |date=13 October 1990 |work=AP News }} During the War of Liberation, Syrian forces attacked it on October 13, 1990, forcing Aoun to seek shelter in the French Embassy in Baabda. Eight days later, Dany Chamoun, son of former President Camille Chamoun, was assassinated with his family in their apartment in the city.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/22/world/leader-of-a-major-christian-clan-in-beirut-is-assassinated-with-his-family.html |title=Leader of a Major Christian Clan in Beirut Is Assassinated with His Family |work=The New York Times |first=Ali |last=Jaber |date=22 October 1990 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109023946/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/22/world/leader-of-a-major-christian-clan-in-beirut-is-assassinated-with-his-family.html |url-status=live }}