A very special place in Jerusalem - especially for Christians. No hype. Just a simple well kept garden. Good guides. Excellent walkways and viewing area show the place of the skull - Golgotha and then the tomb. Sensitively displayed and organised. A spriritual place.
The Garden Tomb
In the 19th century, scholars began to challenge the Christian tradition that put the site of Jesus’s burial and resurrection at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City’s Christian Quarter. Many Protestants also had their doubts – in large part because the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was the site sanctioned by the Roman Catholic establishment.
It was Major General Charles Gordon, a British officer and administrator, who picked up the gauntlet and began searching for an alternative site. In 1883, Gordon found a rocky escarpment near Damascus Gate. The fact that the escarpment resembled a skull suggested to Gordon that he had stumbled upon the true Golgotha, which may have been derived from the Hebrew and Aramaic for ‘skull.’ He also concluded that one of several tombs uncovered nearby in 1869 had to be the tomb of Jesus. John the Evangelist specifies that the tomb was located in a garden, and the site identified by Gordon contained an ancient cistern and a wine press; hence the name Garden Tomb (it’s also known as Gordon’s Calvary).
Despite the fact that archaeologists (not to mention the Catholic Church) have yet to embrace the Garden Tomb as the site of Jesus’ burial, the spot has become a popular Protestant place of pilgrimage. It is a quiet place, perfect for prayer and reflection.
Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, by Noam Chen
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 2271 traveler reviewsNew
“A very special place in Jerusalem. The place of the skull and the empty tomb.”
New
“A realistic visual”
The site is not promoted as the actual burial site, perhaps in deference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but it is an easier-to-grasp presentation because it lacks ornamentation and is exposed, not hidden under a chapel. As such, it tends to appeal more to Protestants than Catholics. It is a small, artificial...
MoreThe site is not promoted as the actual burial site, perhaps in deference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but it is an easier-to-grasp presentation because it lacks ornamentation and is exposed, not hidden under a chapel. As such, it tends to appeal more to Protestants than Catholics. It is a small, artificial cave set up with a place for a large, wheel-like stone to roll to close the entry. If it is not the actual site, it looks like it. 30 to 60 minutes is adequate for a visit depending on the crowds and how long you want to sit and contemplate. FYI, Nablus Road is not marked with a sign, but it is directly across from the Damascus Gate. Just head up what looks like a wide alley, and the marked entry will be on your right.
Less“Lovely spot, particularly on a hot day”
Lovely gardens in a courtyard, just outside Old City Walls. Some believe THIS is the site of Jesus' burial. Regardless, it's a perfect spot to spend an hour in the shade after hours of sightseeing. No charge to enter