Natural Heritage Sites And Routes
Only two km south of Bethlehem at the desert’s edge, lies the Artas Valley, a lush green valley of great natural beauty, with an astonishing array of archeological, religious and historical sites associated with different eras and peoples. These include the now-dry Solomon’s Pools and water system, the Biblical Etam,…
The Jerusalem Wilderness is a rocky region, extending from the southeast corner of Bethlehem to the regions south of Hebron. Its landscape ranges from mountains with virtually no vegetation, to flat expanses with scattered trees and bushes. Starting about 7 kilometers east of the Mar Saba Monastery, it extends to…
Wadi Qadron, which starts in Jerusalem and reaches the Dead Sea, goes right by the Mar Saba Monastery. Wadi Qadron is an important bird reserve where many birds can be seen as they stop to roost on their migrations north and south. The raptor, a globally threatened bird which has…
The area surrounding the Cremisan Monastery is made up of terraces planted with grapevines that are used for the production by the monks of the well-known Cremisan wine. The area is characterized by an abundance of trees, particularly the pine trees surrounding the monastery from the east side. To get…
The agricultural land of Wadi Al-Makhrour is situated west of Bethlehem city, near Beit Jala. It starts in Cremisan Monastery, and extends to Battir village. The area has some fresh water springs which run in the midst of very old trees. The area is considered a “bird reserve” for some…
To the southeast of Bethlehem, between the settlement of Tqoa’ and Herodium, lies the amazing Wadi Khreitoun. For those who seek outdoor adventure in the Bethlehem area, it can’t be beat. In addition to the breathtaking gorges, fragrant plants underfoot, birds soaring overhead, and glimpses of the Dead Sea, there…
Tqoa’ is the site of several events in Old Testament, the most famous being the place of birth and burial of the prophet Amos. Living about 786 BC he raised sheep, as the Bedouin in the area still do. Though the village of Tekoa was important until at least the…
