Things to see and do Israel

The Hospitaller Order, located in Jerusalem during the First Crusade (1099-1187), transferred its headquarters to St. John of Acre during the Second Crusade (1191-1291). The Hospitallers, initially devoted to welcoming and caring for pilgrims to the Holy Land, were in charge of running hospitals in Jerusalem and Acre. They built an important site there comprising vast underground rooms and numerous rooms spread over four wings around a central courtyard. This headquarters was built from 1149 (the date of the first writings concerning the establishment of a cathedral) and destroyed in 1291 by the Mamelukes. When Ahmed al-Jazzar, the Ottoman governor of St. John of Acre, decided to build a citadel and palace there, he had the ruins of the Hospitaller buildings filled in with earth. Part of the building served as a palace for the pasha, and another as a prison where criminals and political opponents were locked up. Much later, during the English Mandate, this part of the palace continued to be used as a prison. The visit includes images and animations projected on the walls and floor, lighting and display cases highlighting the exhibits and explanatory panels (in Hebrew and English). However, it is advisable to rent an audioguide. It should also be noted that almost the entire route has been made accessible to wheelchairs. Here are some of the most remarkable rooms:

The main courtyard. It is an open courtyard with an area of 1,200 m² in which there are two wells. It is surrounded by a series of arches supporting the stairs and a corridor leading to the bedrooms on the second floor.

The Hall of Columns. This is the most impressive part of the complex. The 10-metre high hall is composed of a system of eight cross vaults with ribbed vaults rising to a height of 10 metres and supported by three round stone pillars with a diameter of 3 metres. It was used as a dining room by the Hospitallers.

The sugar amphora room. The many utensils discovered in this room are a reminder that sugar production was one of the main activities of the Crusaders, and one of their most important sources of income.

The northwest tower and the sewer system. Used as a toilet wing, the sewage disposal system is one of the most beautiful examples discovered to date.

Lower Entrance (side entrance Midreshet Ben Gurion)

The trail is easy to the water drop that flows all year round and flows into a basin. On the walls of the canyon, traces of other more ephemeral falls are visible. It was these waterfalls that eroded the rock and formed the gorges. In some places, caves were used by monks in Byzantine times. From the lower basin, you can go back to the top of the cliff or climb to the top of the cliff with ladders that are mounted in the rock (closed access in case of bad weather). This passage is not recommended for older children and elderly people. You can reach the plateau from where you have a superb view on the canyon. Attention, it is forbidden to go back once the ascent is undertaken (6,5 km).

Upper Entrance (entrance side Ovda National Park)

This access makes it possible to take a walk on the plateau from which the water is flowing during heavy rain in the bottom of the park. The trail is well signposted and easily accessible. You can't get down in the gorge by the built ladders because these are only usable in the Lower Entrance-Upper Gate.

Created in 1982, the Timna Park features desert landscapes of all beauty, with numerous geological formations. These are the oldest known copper mines in the world. Exploited from the fourth millennium BC, it is mainly the Egyptians who, from the th to the th century BC, created here a true copper industry. Among the most curious geological formations are an arch, a mushroom shaped rock, and the "pillars of Solomon", feet high. At the foot of these are the ruins of an Egyptian temple, erected in the th century before our era in honour of the goddess Hathor, protector of minors. Take a look at the hieroglyphs engraved in the rock. The park also houses an artificial lake, fed by the water table, where it is possible to make a pedal boat. Mountain biking and rappel are also part of the proposed activities. Camping near the lake, usually reserved by the groups.

The nature reserve (3,587 ha) was created in 1972 to protect the region's exceptional flora and fauna. A veritable oasis in the heart of the Judean desert, it is criss-crossed all year round by two watercourses: David Stream and Arugot Stream (Stream, Nahal or Wadi). You can follow these streams and bathe in natural pools near magnificent waterfalls. It's also possible to observe animals, including ibex, which are plentiful in the reserve.

Jaffa (Hebrew: Yaffo) is one of Israel's oldest cities. Its origins date back to 3,000 BC. According to biblical tradition, the city owes its name to Japheth, one of Noah's three sons, and is the site from which the famous ark set sail. In fact, the name Jaffa more probably derives from the Hebrew yofi meaning "beauty". Jaffa soon became Palestine's main port, before passing in turn into the hands of the Egyptians, the Romans, the Arabs, Richard the Lionheart, the Arabs again, briefly Napoleon, the Ottomans and, in 1917, British General Allenby. From the end of the ^19th century, Jaffa became the main port of return to Zion, and the scene of numerous conflicts between Jewish immigrants and the local Arab population, culminating in the riots of 1921. The first Jews gradually settled outside Jaffa (in Neve Tzedek), and the city gradually stretched northwards, until it became the great Tel Aviv we know today. It then swallowed up Ottoman Jaffa, which became one of its neighborhoods. Today, you can wander through a maze of alleys and stone buildings.

Kikar Kedumim is the central square of ancient Jaffa. It partly covers archaeological sites excavated in the 1940s and 1950s. St. Peter's Church is located here.

Saint Peter's Church in Kedumim Square was consecrated in 1654. A Franciscan church, it was built on the ruins of a medieval fortress. Its belfry dominates the Mediterranean.

Place de l'Horloge is home to Jaffa's most emblematic monument: the Clock Tower. Built in 1906 by the Turkish sultan Abed-el-Hamid II, it faces the former governor's house and the Kishle, a prison used by the Ottomans and the British.

The Mahmoudia Mosque, a few steps from Clock Square, is the most important mosque in Jaffa and thus in Tel Aviv. It was built in 1812 by Abu Nabbut, Ottoman governor of Jaffa from 1810 to 1820. It is magnificent, especially its fountain where believers refresh themselves.

Gan Hapisga are the gardens that dominate the hillside of the old town. These "summit gardens" offer a magnificent view of the sea and the new city of Tel Aviv.

The Libyan synagogue, or Beit Zunana, lies below on Rue Pasteur. Erected in 1740, this building was Jaffa's first Jewish inn. It was converted into a synagogue in 1948.

The imposing Basilica of the Nativity is one of the oldest churches in the world. It was built in 339 on the orders of Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. It stands on the site of the grotto where Mary is said to have given birth to the Christ Child, hence its name. For centuries, Christians from all over the world have converged on Bethlehem in the run-up to Christmas. The site marks both the beginnings of Christianity and one of the most sacred sites in Christendom.

After being severely damaged during the Samaritan revolt, the building was rebuilt in 540 by the Emperor Justinian. Like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, this one is shared by the different Christian denominations (Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian).

The church is entered through a small doorway, only 1.30 m high, known as the "Door of Humility". Inside, very little of the original or medieval decoration remains. Fragments of Byzantine mosaics dating back to the ^12th century are still visible on the upper walls of the nave. Over the centuries, a new pavement was laid over the ^6th-century mosaic floor, which is now visible through wooden trapdoors in the church's central wing. On either side of the choir, staircases lead up to the Nativity grotto. Once classified as an "endangered heritage site" by the United Nations, the basilica has undergone extensive restoration work to improve the stability and waterproofing of the roof, and to safeguard the Byzantine nave and its splendid mosaics. Today, the basilica is no longer in danger.

Grotto of the Nativity. Here, pilgrims kneel to kiss the spot where the manger containing the Infant Jesus would have been, marked by a 14-pointed silver star. The number fourteen corresponds to the number of generations between Adam and Abraham. On one side of the grotto, the Crib chapel illustrates the Nativity. Opposite, another chapel celebrates the Magi. The history of the grotto has been rather eventful. In 1847, the star was stolen. The three Christian communities (Orthodox, Armenian, Catholic) who had always disputed ownership of the grotto accused each other of theft. The star was replaced by a copy, but the quarrels continued.

This is the first beach on the Dead Sea, coming up from the north. The beach is easily accessible via stairs and ramps. The beach itself is rather small and not necessarily very pleasantly furnished: the umbrellas and plastic chairs are rather basic, whereas the all-inclusive price of 48 NIS promises deckchairs. We therefore recommend that you skip this "offer" and opt for the 18 NIS single entry, bringing your own beach towels. It'll be an equivalent and cheaper experience!

The visit can begin with the screening of a short 3 D film depicting the history of Jérusaem and the City of David, for which you will have to pay an extra fee. This is not a necessity, however, because the site's interest is primarily the discovery of the different areas on foot.

The City of David, the subject of archaeological excavations since 1850, is the oldest site in Jerusalem. It was built on the ancient colony David conquered here about 3 000 years ago. From the observation terrace located near the entrance, you can see the geostrategic importance of the sites. We distinguish between the two valleys that demarcate the hill and the mountains that surround it on all sides: the Temple Mount in the north, the mount des Oliviers to the east, Mount Sion to the west and the crest of Hanatsiv Hanatsiv to the south.

A little below, you arrived in the Royal City, a zone where, at the time of the first Temple, houses were found, all of which suggest that they were inhabited by notables (especially because there was a return to private toilets). In the basement of one of these houses, we also found about fifty clay seals on which names in ancient Hebrew are engraved. These names include the name of «Gemaria ben Shafan», a royal scribe quoted by the Prophet Jeremiah (Chapter 36, verse 10). The royal quarter was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. During the first period of the Second Temple, a new wall of the city was built upstream of this excavation area, placing the ruins of the Royal City outside the limits of Jerusalem.

The route then leads to an underground tunnel (secret tunnel) which leads to the Source source at the foot of the hill, which was the main source of water supply for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This tunnel allowed the Jébuséens (residents of Jerusalem before King David was taken by King David) to join the source in case of siege without being seen by their enemies. It is also certainly through this tunnel that David took the city.

The cananéen tunnel passes next to the top of Warren's well, a large natural well dug in the rock and discovered by English Charles Warren in 1867. It descends up to the height of the source. In order to allow a large number of people to draw them simultaneously, the waters of the source were gathered in a vast basin, surmounted by fortified towers.

You will then be able to borrow the 533 m long Ezéchias tunnel which, after a journey of about 30 minutes, will take you to Silwan Pool or Shiloach Pool (Kings Basin). It is here that, according to the Christian tradition, Jesus would have healed a blind man. The tunnel is filled with water, which arrives in place up to the size: plan shoes and clothes in function and what you change. A flashlight can also be useful. If you don't want to wet, you can still ride through the cananéen tunnel. The purpose of this underground passage, built around 700 BC by the king of Judée Ezéchias, was to lead the waters of the Gihon in a basin located inside the walls, at the southern end of the city. In 1880, an inscription was discovered showing that the tunnel was dug by two teams moving to the other.

From Kings basin, it is possible to return to the entrance of the site on foot. Prefer to borrow the Pilgrim's path, another 700-metre dry tunnel, which leads to the excavation area opposite the main entrance of the site or, according to your choice, at the foot and at the end of the western wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem Archeologikal Park (this last exit was opened in 2015). This tunnel is an ancient street in stairs from the end of the Second temple period.

Located west of Jericho, the Wadi Qelt is a temporary stream of water flowing between the dry hills of Judée. The monastery Saint-Georges is nestled in the very cliff of this dry valley and captured. Des probably lived here before building a first monastery in the fourth century. The monastery grew during the Fifth century when a Greek Orthodox monk, Gorgias de Koziba, lived in the place. During the Persian invasion in 614, it was destroyed and many monks were murdered. The skulls and mummies of the latter are visible inside the church. The current monastery, apart from this ancient chapel, was built at the beginning of the th century. The buildings are inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks. Don't forget a long shirt and trousers for visiting the monastery.

As far as remains are concerned, the main points of interest are the port (with the city's fortifications and a number of relics from different eras, including that of the Crusaders), the hippodrome and the Roman amphitheatre. In the tourist area (the old port), "Time Travel" is a multimedia experience consisting of several films that give you a better understanding of Caesarea's evolution. In the ^20th century, Baron de Rothschild was responsible for the complete restoration of the site. The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Development Corporation (CDC) now manages the site and the surrounding area. The entrance ticket is valid not only for the national park, which houses the archaeological site, but also for some of the attractions in the tourist zone.

The Roman amphitheatre stands at the southern end of the national park and was built by the emperor Vespasian. King Herod later enlarged it, before it was destroyed in the ^3rd century. People from all walks of life came here to watch dramas and comedies. The structure of the theater follows classical Roman models: a semicircle, blocks of cavea (seats) separated by vomitoria (entrances and exits), the arena and orchestra (stage area) which, in Caesarea, had a high and impressive scaenae frons (backdrop), and finally underground rooms, a kind of backstage area for the actors. Today, some of the original seats can still be admired, along with marble decorations dating from the ^2nd c. Nothing remains of the scaenae frons.

Herod's palace. Admire the remains of an inner courtyard in the guest wing of the magnificent palace of Herod (who would never have stayed in Caesarea himself!). The palace had two guest floors and a central section built at the western end of this courtyard, on a sort of peninsula jutting out into the sea. The remains of this fabulous palace are now partly underwater. Some scholars maintain that the palace did not date from Herod's time, as it was too close to the city's major public buildings (the theater and the hippodrome): Herod, a very suspicious king, would not have built his private palace nearby. In any case, over the years, the palace fell into ruin, and very little remains. The remains of a swimming pool can still be seen, probably supplied with fresh water by the city's aqueducts. A mosaic floor has also been discovered next to the pool.

You will discover, in a peaceful setting reminiscent of an English garden, a double cave where many Protestants are the tomb of Christ, unlike Catholics and Orthodox people who think it is in the Holy Sepulchre. It was the British Charles Gordon who, in 1883, began excavations at this place that would correspond to Jean's description (19: 41): «There was a garden at the place where he was crucified, and in this garden a new tomb. " However, according to archaeologists, this senatorial tomb of the th century B.C., which does not correspond to the "nine" sepulchre to which the Gospels refer.

It is difficult, in the midst of traffic jams, groups of pilgrims and appels calls, to imagine what Nazareth could look like in Jesus'time. That is why you will have to go to Nazareth Village, a replica nature of a village of two thousand years ago. In addition to the houses, you will see animals and extras in costume costumes that will make you discover the methods, ways and customs (of the time) concerning agriculture, construction, cooking, etc. A visit both entertaining and informative, accompanied by very competent guides.

Qasr el-Yahud (Arabic for Palace of the Jews) is located on the Jordan River, the natural border between Israel and Jordan, on the opposite bank. The site was opened to the public on the Israeli side in 2010.

It was on this bank of the Jordan that John the Baptist is said to have baptized Christ, although the Jordanians maintain that this took place on their own bank. According to Jewish tradition, this is also the place where the Jews arrived in the Promised Land after fleeing Egypt. The site is considered Christianity's third holiest site, after the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Access to the site is via a dusty road about 3 km long from Route 90, and after passing through a security post. Before you reach the Jordan River, you'll notice the ruins of an ancient monastery (Saint John Greek Orthodox Convent) and an abandoned cemetery on either side of the road. The atmosphere is strange, as minefields are still present all around the site, and the area is guarded on both sides by armed soldiers (Israeli and Jordanian). While a superb chapel can be seen on the Jordanian side, the Israeli side is mainly laid out with an open-air amphitheatre and ramps leading to the waters of the Jordan. Pilgrims are often baptised here. The site, managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, welcomes around 60,000 visitors a year.

South of the Old Town, Mount Zion rises to 765 m and boasts sites revered by both the Jewish and Christian religions. Here are the main sites to see on this emblematic mountain.

King David's tomb is a sacred site of Judaism and a place of pilgrimage for centuries. When access to the Wailing Wall was forbidden to Jews after the 1948 war, it was here that they came to pray.

The Cenacle is a highly symbolic place in Christianity, since Jesus is said to have shared his last meal with his disciples here. In 1335, the Franciscans erected a beautiful sanctuary with intersecting ribbed arches.

Next door is theemblematic Abbey of the Dormition, built in 1898 by the German Benedictine order on the presumed site of the Virgin Mary's death. Its circular interior is remarkable for its simplicity and beauty. In the crypt are the remains of the Byzantine church of Hagia Maria Sionand the Crusader church of Mount Sion.

In the Christian cemetery below, you can see the grave of Oskar Schindler (1908-1974), the Austrian industrialist who saved more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust, and to whom American director Steven Spielberg dedicated his film Schindler's List (1982).

On the eastern slope, the church of Saint-Pierre en Gallicante, a sanctuary of the Assumptionist Fathers, recalls the three denials of Peter. According to Catholic tradition, this church, built in 1931 over the ruins of a Byzantine edifice, houses the prison where Jesus was confined after his arrest.