Israel: Jerusalem From Jaffa Gate to Western Wall A walk on the city walls of Jerusalem

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Jaffa Gate

Street sign

Citadel

To get a first impression of Jerusalems old town, there hardly is a better way than having a walk on the city wall of Jerusalem. Here you can see from above where you are going to walk in later on. The city wall is 12m high and 4km long. It may be accessed at Jaffa Gate and Damascus Gate.

In their present form the wall was erected in 1537 by Sultane Suleiman the Gorgeous. Immidiately south of Jaffa Gate the Citadel is located. The Citadel is often referred to as Davids Tower or Davids Citadel. However the complex was build by Herodes in 24 b.C. and not by King David.

King David Hotel

Church Dormition Sanctae Mariae

While walking along the small path on the wall and ascending and descending the steep stairs one automatically finds himeself asking how the ancient defenders with their full armaments were able to fight here. On your way around the armenian quater towards Zions Gate you can see outside of the wall the King David Hotel and the Church Dormition Sanctae Mariae.

During and after second world war the King David Hotel was used a logistic headquater for the Britisch Forces. Thus the jewish underground blasted one wing of the hotel in 1946. Since 1948 the building is again being used as a hotel. Located on Mount Zion is the Church Dormition Sanctae Mariea, which was donated and opend 1908 by the German Emporer Wilhelm II.

Zion Gate (inner side)

City wall

Passing the jewisch quarter on your way towards the Dung Gate you have got a wonderful view towards the Kidron valley and the mount of olives with the large jewish graveyard and the garden Getsemane. The Dung Gate is rather a back door than a monumental gate. Actually in ancient times the city wastes were really removed through this gate. Dung Gate is the closest gate to the Western Wall.

The Western Wall is nowadays 48m long and 18m high. It is the most holy place for the Jews. In 1967 the lord mayor Teddy Kolleg ordered to tear down the densly builded area and changed it into a large square. The area in front of the Western Wall is devided. The left area is for men and the smaller area to the right for women.

Dung Gate

Western Wall and Temple Mount

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