The Western Wall Tunnels

The Western Wall (the Kotel in Hebrew) is impressive, but its greatness is truly discovered when you descend underground to the Western Wall Tunnels. The tunnels run along approximately 488 meters of the Western Wall, giving visitors a taste for the challenge that stood before Herod the Great during this biggest of all his immense building projects—the expansion of the Temple Mount. One such example is the famous western stone which is 14 meters long and weighs almost 570 tons. Advanced booking only the duration of the tour is about an hour and a quarter. The tours take place in English, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian and French at various times.

The Western Wall (the Kotel in Hebrew) is impressive, but its greatness is truly discovered when you descend underground to the Western Wall Tunnels. The tunnels run along approximately 488 meters of the Western Wall, giving visitors a taste for the challenge that stood before Herod the Great during this biggest of all his immense building projects—the expansion of the Temple Mount. One such example is the famous western stone which is 14 meters long and weighs almost 570 tons. These complex underground tunnels create a direct link between the history of the Hasmonean period and modern times. The tunnels are supported by many arches and contain stairways that connected the ancient city with the Temple Mount, over the Tyropoeon Valley that ran along the western side of the Temple Mount, separating the two. Today these passageways support streets and homes in the Muslim Quarter. The tunnels were first discovered during digs done by British archaeologists in the 19th century, but the real digging was done after the Six Day War, after 1967, by the Israeli Ministry of Religions. One of the most special places to visit inside the tunnels is the part of the Western Wall traditionally considered closest to where the Holy of Holies used to be on the Temple Mount. The Holy of Holies, where the Foundation Stone and the Dome of the Rock are located, is the holiest place for Jews. In this location in the tunnels, there is a small synagogue where Jews come to pray.

LOCATION
The entrance into the tunnels is on the northern side of the Western Wall plaza, a few meters away from the Western Wall. Upon entering, visitors walk through a series of rooms moving eastward until they hit the Western Wall. From that point on the tunnels continue straight northward directly along the Western Wall until the west-northern most point. During their walk in the tunnels, visitors will pass by Second Temple era homes, ancient cisterns, constructions from the Muslim period, an aqueduct from the Hasmonean period and more.

WESTERN WALL TUNNEL TOURS
In order to visit the Western Wall Tunnels you must join a guided tour which needs to be ordered in advance. These guided tours into the depths of the earth tell the fascinating story of ancient Jerusalem and how it continues to be meticulously discovered underground, dug out slowly and carefully. See discoveries which until recently were hidden from residents and visitors of today’s Old City. The tour lasts around 75 minutes.

Free entrance or 28,57% discount. Advanced booking only.

          

Contact

The Western Wall
The Old City
Jerusalem

1599515888
contact_english@thekotel.org
www.thekotel.org