Emek Tzurim National Park, National park at Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel.
Emek Tzurim National Park is a national park on the lower western slope of the Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus, at the upper reaches of the Kidron Valley in East Jerusalem. Its grounds cover 170,000 square meters and preserve examples of mountain agriculture, including a large olive grove, terraces and Mediterranean scrubland.
Emek Tzurim was declared a national park in 2000 on the initiative of Knesset member Binyamin Elon, covering about 170 dunams. The aim was to create a green strip around the Old City walls, preserve the historic fabric of the Mount of Olives and block construction there. The idea of an open green belt at the foot of Mount Scopus goes back to Mandate plans by McLean (1918) and Geddes (1919, 1922), largely unimplemented.
This location sits at the heart of one of Jerusalem's oldest regions and continues to shape how people understand the city's ancient past. Visitors can experience the direct link between archaeological work and the life of the city around them.
The park lies on the lower western slope of the Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus, at the upper reaches of the Kidron Valley, bordered by Highway 1 to the north. It abuts Wadi al-Joz, At-Tur and Beit Orot and the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center. In January 2017 the city issued a gardening order allowing paths and playgrounds to be built.
The sifting project at Emek Tzurim yielded finds such as a seal of a priest from the First Temple period, coins from the Great Revolt, and decorated stone fragments. In 2018 a bronze coin from the fourth year of the Great Revolt was uncovered in the park's sifting project.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,137 contributors worldwide.