Jerusalem Holy Sites:

The Western Wall, the Holy Sepulcher, the Dome of the Rock
- and more ...

Are you looking for spiritual inspiration?



Jerusalem holy sites are the biggest attractions in Israel and it is no wonder: The Western Wall, the Temple Mount and the site of Jesus' crucifixion are among the most sacred places in the world.

So if it's spiritual inspiration you're after - you've come to the right town!

• The Western Wall , the last remnant of the Second Temple , is the most holy site in Judaism.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• The Temple Mount is a sacred place for both, Muslims and Jews, and features the oldest Islamic shrine, the Noble Sanctuary, better known as the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque, the third most important mosque in Islam.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• The Via Dolorosa is the street down which Jesus walked to his crucifixion.
  
  
• The Holy Sepulcher , the church built over Golgotha, is the most sacred site in Christendom.

• The newly rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, a symbol of Jerusalem's tenacity and resilience.
  
  
• Mount Zion, right outside the Old City's Zion Gate, is where you will find the Church of the Dormition, the Room of the Last Supper, the Tomb of King David (and, surprisingly enough, the grave of Oskar Schindler).
  
  

  

  
  
  
• The Mount of Olives lies across the valley from the Old City. The Mount of Olives is a treasure trove of Jerusalem holy sites. According to Jews, Christians and Muslim, this is where the Redemption will begin. Jews have buried their dead on the Mount of Olives (Har Hazeisim, in Hebrew) and in the Kidron Valley below for thousands of years. This is also where the Garden of Gethsemane is located, as well as Mary's tomb and at least four different churches that mark the place of Jesus' ascension to Heaven.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Tomb of Samuel the Prophet - Many Jews come here to pray and Muslims also revere the place.
  
  

• The Little Wall - The small area to the left of Shaar Habarzel in the Old City is a continuation of the Western Wall, 175 meters to the south. Small groups of Jews come here to pray on a regular basis.

Although they are technically out of Jerusalem, three more major holy sites can be found less than half an hour away in Bethlehem and Hevron.

Two of them draw thousands of pilgrims to Bethlehem each year. The Church of the Nativity, marks the spot of Jesus' birth and so is an especially popular destination around Christmas time. Nearby is one the Judaism's most cherished holy sites: Rachel's Tomb.

Hevron is home to the Cave of the Patriarchs, where Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and Leah - and Esau's head - are all buried. Jewish tradition tells us every soul passes here on its way to the next world, so this is a highly mystical place.