The 10 most important archaeological sites in Israel

Tower of David & wall of lamentations, Jerusalem – Photo credit: Shutterstock – Nina Zorina & Yevgenia Gorbulsky

Difficult to talk about archaeological sites in Israel without beginning with one of the most famous in the world. Classified at UNESCO World Heritage, the Old City of Jerusalem is a unique, magical and tragic place.

The Old City of Jerusalem is the perfect example of the mix of religions. In a few meters are holy places among the most important of the three great monotheistic religions: the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the al-Aqsa Mosque, the Wall of Lamentations . If you have the opportunity and are there the good day at the right time, survey Mount of the Temple / Mosque esplanade. The Dôme du Rocher is probably one of the most beautiful monuments in the world.

Finally, walk on Via Dolorosa. According to the Christian tradition, this path Jesus took on the day of his crucifixion. And above all, enjoy this visit because it remains the memory of a life.

Qumran and Manuscripts of the Dead sea

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Qumran, its caves and manuscripts – Photo credit: Shutterstock – alefbet & John Theodor

Conservation condition: ★★★

Public knowledge: ★★

Historical influence : ★★

Important archaeological site, Qumran National Park is located in Palestine. With its lunar landscapes, Qumran is a magical place in the wilderness, unique by the panorama that opens before your eyes. If hikes can be difficult because of heat, our reward at the end is to discover vestiges.

It was in Qumran, inside the cavities, that the famous manuscripts of the Dead Sea were discovered. The ruins of what was once a city are visible and can be visited. Qumran is therefore a unique place. Indeed, during the same day, it is possible to make beautiful hikes, see extraordinary landscapes and, to end, biblical ruins!

Herodion

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Mount of Herodion – Photo credit: Pixabay – Gidon Pico

Conservation condition: ★★

Public knowledge: ★★★

Historical influence: ★★★

This archaeological site is also located in Palestine, south of Bethlehem. If he is not the only one to be bound to King Herod, he is the only one to bear his name.

The exceptional character of this site is that this hill is partly built from the hands of Man! It is therefore an artificial hill on which Herod built his palace.

Many ruins are still well visible and it is easy to imagine the tedious that this place was 2,000 years ago. Herod held so much in this place that archaeologists think he was buried here.

Fortresses and castles

Massada

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Massada fortifications at sunset – Photo credit: Shutterstock – fabulousparis

Conservation condition: ★★★★

Public knowledge: ★★★

Historical influence : ★★★★

This archaeological site in Israel is located in the middle of the desert. This does not prevent him from being one of the most popular. Massada is nothing but the former fortress of King Herod, which dates back to the 1930s before our era. It is one of the high places of Israeli tourism, both for its history and for the landscapes offered.

To reach Massada, two solutions are available to you. The first, recommended, is to walk up. A difficult hike, but what a reward at the end! Less courageous or those who can't/more, reassure yourself, there's a cable car!

Remarkably preserved, the fortress is classified as UNESCO World Heritage. Massada is a remarkable testimony of a very important time in the history of Israel.

Cities and cities

Caesarea

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Caesarea and its ruins built by Herod – Photo credit: Shutterstock – YKD & Sopotnicki

Conservation condition: ★★★

Public knowledge: ★★

Historical influence: ★★★

This archaeological site in Israel is made for those who love Roman history. Indeed, Caesarea, located on the edges of the Mediterranean, houses many vestiges of this time. There is an aqueduct, an amphitheatre or temple.

The ruins are perfectly integrated into the new city. The perfect testimony is the beach of the aqueduct, which is simply crossed by the Roman aqueduct! Most of the ruins are also those of the port, so close to the sea.

Sepphoris

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Sepphoris, IsraelPhoto credit: Shutterstock – Logan Bush & Logan Bush

Conservation condition: ★★★

Public knowledge: ★★

Historical influence: ★★★

Sepphoris is an archaeological site in Israel very unknown. Yet, it's worth a lot. It must be said that its discovery is more recent than those of other sites.

This site is full of unsuspected wealth. First, it would be the place of birth of the Virgin Mary, without it being possible to confirm it. Then, this time with certainty, the places are occupied in history by the Byzantines, the Crusaders and the Ottomans.

The most remarkable building is the Ottoman tower of the Crusaders. As its name suggests, it symbolizes the architectural continuity between the first construction by the Crusaders and the addition of elements by the Ottomans.

Beït She’arim

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Vestiges of the village of Beit She’arim – Photo credit: Shutterstock – Barbarajo

Conservation condition: ★★★

Public knowledge: ★★★

Historical influence: ★★★

Beit She’arim is a rare witness once an important village in the region. Indeed, this archaeological site in Israel is a former Jewish village of Roman times. The Jewish vestiges after the Roman conquest of the year 73 are rare.

The archaeologists and historians discovered that Beit She’arim prospered until the fourth century, despite the many Jewish revolts that caused the destruction of many of their buildings and cities.

This site is famous for its necropolis, probably the best preserved in the country. A total of twenty-one catacombs were discovered, the majority dating from the second to the fourth centuries.

Bet Guvrin-Maresha

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Jackets of Beit Guvrin Maresha – Photo credit: Shutterstock – Zhukovskyi & Layue

Conservation condition: ★★★

Public knowledge: ★★

Historical influence: ★★★

Classified at UNESCO World Heritage, this archaeological site in Israel corresponds to the old town of Eleutheropolis. The latter was finally destroyed in the seventh century.

The ruins of Beit Guvrin-Maresha include a large Jewish cemetery, as well as Byzantine remains. These are many: amphitheatre, church, baths, mosaics...

However, it is above all the caves, ancient necropolises, many and the amazing shape of a bell, which allowed the site to be ranked. They are known in French as caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin.

Beït she-an

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Vestiges de Beit she-an Photo credit: Shutterstock – Altosvic & mbrand85

Conservation condition: ★★★★

Public knowledge: ★★

Historical influence : ★★

Quite unknown, this archaeological site in Israel deserves an advertisement! Beit she-an indeed corresponds to an old Roman town quite well preserved. Many monuments can be easily recognized and the reconstruction of a paved street allows to plunge even more in the Roman era.

The Roman amphitheatre is still used today. It may be the most impressive of the whole country. Thanks to this preservation up to today, Beit she-an is a rare testimony of a Romano-Byzantine city of Levant.

Tel Megiddo

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Photo credit: Shutterstock – tokar

Conservation condition: ★★★

Public knowledge: ★★

Historical influence: ★★★

From our selection, Tel Meggido is the oldest archaeological sites in Israel. It dates from the land of Canaan and is abandoned in the year 586 before our era! This unique character allowed the site to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The excavations in Tel Meggido resulted in many buildings, including a large temple that dates back to... 5,000 years!

For our rating system, we used the following criteria:
– State of conservation: based on its date of construction and renovations, in which state is currently located the site;
– Public knowledge: the notoriety of the archaeological site for non-initiates;
- Historical influence: the historical importance of the site and its influence on the following civilizations.