14 Photos of Syria before the war

Five years of war have destroyed what was once one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world

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(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Five years of war have destroyed what was once one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world

Sometimes Syria feels very far away.

Sure, when Marie Claire travelled with one Syrian woman from Greece to Germany, we heard that her life used to involve eating out in restaurants, listening to music and hanging out with friends, and sure, we know that now she's in Denmark, she misses life in Aleppo so much, she's not sure if she would have travelled to Europe in the first place. Still, it's hard to picture Syria as anything other than a warzone, when those are the only images we see on TV.

But until 2011, Syria was one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Middle East - drawing in travellers from across Europe with its seaside resorts, snowy mountains and acres of forest.

Don't believe us? Check out these photos of Syria before the war...

Limestone cliffs and mediterranean coast near Burj Islam, Lattakia

Harbour view of the Crusader city of Tartus:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Cemetery on the mountain of Jebel Arruda, by the Assad lake, Euphrates:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Tartus, again:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Water wheel on the Orontes River, Hama:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

The citadel in Aleppo:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

The ancient roman theatre in Bosra:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Assad lake, Euphrates:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Wooden waterwheels on the Orontes river, and the Al-Nuri Mosque dating back to 1172:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Traditional beehive houses in Sarouj village, Hama:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Krak des Chevaliers, a medieval castle built in the 1100s:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Historic castle of Qalaat Jabar overlooking Assad Lake, Euphrates:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

The Basilica of St Simeon, near Aleppo:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Souq al-Hamidiyya, Old City, Damascus:

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))
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