Balamand Monastery is the seat of Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Georges. Eight centuries ago, Cistercian monks founded their first overseas abbey on a promontory south of Tripoli and gave it the name of Belmont. Balamand possesses a remarkable library with important manuscripts, two iconostases and a collection of important icons, the work of painters from a number of countries who came here at different times to contribute to the iconographic heritage of the monastery.