Built in its current form by Emir Fakhreddine II in the 17th century, Khan El Franj was the centre of commercial activity in Saida, where merchants from Europe and other Lebanese territories would stay and trade. The khan was continuously repurposed, serving as a French consulate then an orphanage and educational facility. The Lebanese civil war left it partially devastated, but it was later restored by the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development to host festivities, exhibitions, forums, and workshops and it currently hosts the French Cultural Institute. Tourists visit the khan to enjoy the nostalgic scenery of the central courtyard surrounded by a cross- vaulted Ottoman portico that leads to its prestigious grand hall.