"The House of Bread" in Hebrew and the "Meat House" in Arabic - so translates the name of the city of Bethlehem, one of the oldest cities of the Holy Land, located on the territory of the Palestinian Autonomy, on the banks of the Jordan River, just 8 km south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem is the largest pilgrimage center in the world. In Bethlehem, according to the Gospel, Jesus Christ was born, and besides, was born and anointed to the kingdom of David.
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Contents
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A bit of history
One of the oldest cities in the world Bethlehem was founded in the 17th-16th centuries. BC. e. in the land of Canaan. At one time in the city lived Canaanites and Jews, and later it was captured by the pagan Romans. There was also a period of Muslim domination, which displeased Pope Urban II and pushed him to the crusade to liberate the Holy Land, after which Bethlehem became part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which existed until 1291.
Since 1517, Bethlehem was part of the Ottoman Empire, and only since 1995 it came under the control of the Palestinian Autonomy.
How to get to Bethlehem
Most tourists arrive in Bethlehem via Jerusalem. On the road connecting these two cities, there is a checkpoint. Tourists can cross the border as many times as they like without any restrictions, you just need to make sure that the passport has the appropriate visa.
From Damascus Gate, located in East Jerusalem, to Bethlehem without a stop at the border point there is a bus (cost 7 shekels, travel time about 30 minutes). A mini buses (5 shekels) run to the border point from Damascus Gate and back. The cost is indicated in April 2011.
Search flights to Tel Aviv (nearest a / p to Bethlehem)
The climate in Bethlehem is
Clearly +14 ° С in the afternoon +4 ° С at night ° С water |
Overcast +12 ° С in the day +4 ° С at night ° С water |
Partly cloudy, light rain +12 ° С in the day +4 ° С at night ° С water |
| Average monthly temperature, ° C | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| in the daytime | + 12 | + 13 | + 15 | + 22 | + 25 | + 28 | + 29 | + 29 | + 28 | + 25 | + 19 | + 14 |
| night | + 6 | + 6 | + 8 | + 13 | + 16 | + 18 | + 19 | + 20 | + 19 | + 17 | + 12 | + 8 |
Bethlehem is dominated by a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and cold winters. The coldest month is January, when the temperature fluctuates from 1 to 13 degrees. From May to September, the weather is usually sunny and warm. The hottest month is August, when the thermometer's column rises above 27 degrees.
See also the current weather forecast in Bethlehem for the coming days.
Transport
For the first time in the city it is safer to move by taxi. For example, a trip from a border point to the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ will cost 20 shekels.
There are three bus stations in Bethlehem, where private transportation companies are based, flying to Beit Jala, Beit Sahur, Hebron and other cities of the Palestinian Authority. There are two taxi stops for trips to Beit Sahur, Beit Jala, Jerusalem and the Herodion fortress.
Shopping
Small souvenir shops are located on the square Manger Street. On Milk Grotto Street, you can visit the factory for the production of olive tree products, where organized tours are held.
On Christmas Eve, on the main streets of the city, numerous markets open, where you can buy handicraft items, Middle Eastern spicery, jewelry and oriental sweets, such as baklava.
Kitchen
The restaurant Abu Shanab specializes in Israeli cuisine - juicy lamb, traditional kebab and jacket (chopped cutlets). In Bethlehem, there is its own producer of local wines - the company Cremisan Wine, founded in 1885. Wines are made by Salesian monks in the monastery of Cremisan, and grapes are harvested in the area of Al-Khader. The volume of wine produced is about 700 thousand liters per year.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Bethlehem
The main attraction of Bethlehem and the most important Christian shrine is the Cave of Christmas, where Jesus Christ was born. Above the cave is the basilica of the Nativity of Christ, built in 326. Opposite to the cave of Christmas is the cave of Bethlehem infants and the cave of St. Jerome. Next to the basilica is the main Catholic church of the city - St. Catherine's Church.
The second most important shrine in Bethlehem is the tomb of Rachel, the wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The tomb is a place of pilgrimage and holy to all three religions.
Interestingly, the Milk Cave is absolutely white. The legend says that the cave has become white from a few drops of milk spilled by Mary during Jesus' feeding. Powder, scraped off the walls of the chapel, is sold there as a means to promote fertility.
Just 5 km south-west of Bethlehem, in the beautiful pine forest in the Arthas Valley, there are Solomon pools - three open stone cisterns, containing 160,000 cubic meters of water. For centuries, these pools have played a significant role in the water supply of the district.
5 km to the south-east of Bethlehem in the territory of Israel is the ancient fortress of Herodium. The only building in the world bearing the name of Herod the Great, the founder of the Idumei dynasty of Herodias, and is considered to be the alleged site of his burial. The fortress was built in the years 23-20. BC. e. on a loose mountain, similar to a volcano.
Events
Christmas in Bethlehem is celebrated thrice a year - on December 25, according to the Catholic and Protestant canon, on January 6, Greek, Coptic and Syrian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, and January 19 - Armenian Orthodox Christians.
Since Bethlehem belongs to the Palestinian autonomy, the annual celebrations of saints and prophets pertaining to Palestinian folklore are celebrated annually. For example, on May 5-6 Bethlehem celebrates the feast of St. George (al-Khadr), and the feast of St. Elijah is marked by a procession to Mar-Elias, a Greek Orthodox monastery north of Bethlehem. Photo of Bethlehem (17)