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Discover Five Hidden Gems in the Judean Hills

There are some lovely Christian sites in Israel off the beaten track.

St. Johns Church Ein Kerem Judean Hills Christian Sites in Israel

Explore 5 Christian Sites in the Judean Hills
Book Your Own Private Tour

If you have a spare day after visiting the ten, must-see Christian sites in the Holy Land, head to the Judean Hills!

Just half an hour from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the scenic hills near Jerusalem are home to five beautiful Christian spots worth visiting.

Abu Gosh

Latrun

Deir Rafat

Beit Jamal

and lovely Ein Kerem

To explore these 5 Christian sites in the Judean hills, you can rent a car and follow our suggested itinerary below, a take with us a one-day private tour.

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Abu Ghosh

Abu Ghosh frescoes at the Crusader Church at the Benedictine Monastery

The vividly restored frescoes at Abu Gosh village are located at the Crusader Church at the Benedictine Monastery. This crusader-built church is one of the best preserved in all of Israel.

In the cellars you can visit the original spring that gave life to the ancient village first established here 10,000 years ago!

Abu Ghosh is considered the possible site of Biblical Emmaus.

Continue up the hill, to enjoy a Jerusalem view, and visit the Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant with its statue of Mary. The church was built on the site where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before King David moved it permanently to Jerusalem.

Abu Ghosh's restaurants are considered by many Israelis to be the best for local Arabic cuisine: hummus, tehina and other salads, grilled meats and fish and Arabic sweets such as kanafeh and baklava. Definitely worth a stop...

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Latrun

Latrun Trappist Monastary in the Judean Hills

From Abu Ghosh, drive down the mountains to visit the Trappist monastery at Latrun, with its stunning grounds overlooking the Judean Hills and Ayalon valley.

The monastery is famous for its silent monks. The monastery is also known for its excellent wines and other goods.

Latrun has ancient roots and was inhabited by Joshua, by the Judean Maccabees, by the Cruasaders, the Ottomans and the British in the early twentieth century! It was also the site of fierce fighting during the Israel War of Independence, in which many live were lost.

Latrun is home to Mini-Israel, a great tourist site in Israel where you can truly see miniature of al or most of Israel, covering 380 different sites. Its lots of fun and not just for kids.

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Deir Rafat

Continue a short drive to Deir Rafat, home to the Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Palestine. You can see the famous statue of Mary -

Deir Rafat Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Palestine

extending her hand to bless the land.

At her feet is the inscription “Reginae Palestinae”, the Queen of Palestine. When the statue was built, 'Palestine' did not have the political meaning it has today..

On the beautifully painted chruch walls and ceiling, the Hail Mary prayer is represented in two hundred and eighty different languages!

Beit Jamal

A shot drive from Deir Rafat is the romantic monastery of Beit Jamal.

The monastery is built above the burial place of the first martyr St. Stephan.

It too is famous for its famous for ancient mosaics and frescoes, as well as a great wine and olive oil that are made by the local monks and nuns.

Ein Kerem

And finally, continue along a breathtaking drive through the forests of the hills to Ein Kerem.

St. John the Baptist Church commemorates the spot where John was born. And the lovely Visitation Church was built at the place where the pregnant Mary met John’s mother Elisabeth, she too pregnant.

Visitation Church in Ein Kerem where Mary met John's mother Elisabeth

Walk along Ein Kerem's quaint and windings alleys where you can enjoy the scenic views in between the shops and the homes

alley near St Johns Church in Ein Kerem Jerusalem Hills Christain Sites in Israel

The village is full of interesting shops, homemade ice-cream stores and nice restaurants.

Christian Sites in Israel
Tour of Christian Spots in the Judean Hills

Beit Jamal Monastery in the Judean Hills

On this tour you'll head for the Judean Hills and discover the lovely villages, churches and monasteries that are off the main Christian tourist path.

You’ll start at Abu Gosh village, the site of Biblical Emmaus and see the gorgeous frescoes of the Crusader Church and the famous statue of Mary at the Church of the Lady of the Ark of the Covenant.

From there, you'll drive down to Latrun and the silent monks at the renown Trappist monastery, visiting the relics of the Crusader church, the wine cellars and enjoying the scenery.

The tour continues to the beautiful villages and monasteries of Deir Rafat and Beit Jamal.

The trip finale is in Ein Kerem village, walking along its winding alleys and visiting its two main churches: The Church of Visitation and the Church of John the Baptist commemorating the place where John was born.

Tour Details: