Qasr al-Yahud

Qasr al-Yahud (the Castle of the Jews), located to the north of the Dead Sea, is a captivating ancient historical site. According to Jewish tradition Qasr al-Yahud is the place where the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter the land of Canaan. It is also the third holiest place in Christian tradition, as according to the New Testament it was here, in Qasr al-Yahud, that John the Baptist baptized Jesus; where the Spirit of God descended as a dove and where the spiritual birth of Jesus occurred. The way to Qasr al-Yahud is decorated on both sides with beautiful chapels which were built by the Franciscans. Near the baptism site in Qasr al-Yahud is the "Monastery Land” with its tens of deserted churches and monasteries which were founded here since the Byzantine period by various Christian religious streams. In this place lived monks and tens of thousands of pilgrims from all around the world came here for religious rites.