Masada, Israel

Idea About: place

Country: Israel
Masada National Park

Masada National Park
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Idea Description

General Information

Country: Israel (6)
Location Info:  City: Ein Bokek  Province/State: South District
Idea About: place (99)
Type of Travel: history (63) | outdoor and adventure (46)
Features: heritage site (36) | hiking (31) | landscape (51) | national park (19) | ruin (26)
Recommended for: family (60) | single (48) | student (49)
Budget: budget (80) | mainstream (85) | expensive (42)
Region: Middle East (9)

Description

Masada means fortress. It is built on an stand-along rock plateau in the South District of Israel approximately 11.2 miles (18 km) south of En Gedi and 7.5 miles (12 km) north of En Bokek. The plateau borders the Judean desert overlooking the Dead Sea. King of Judea, Herod the Great, built Masada between 37 and 31 BC as a fortified hideaway in the event of a war. The plateau itself represents a natural fortress - the cliffs in the east edge of Masada are about 1,300 feet (400 meters) and in the west are about 300 feet (90 meters) high. To reach the top of plateau is not easy. Three narrow, paths (with snake-like shapes if viewed from above) lead to the reinforced gates.

The top of the plateau is flat, about 1,800 feet (550 meters) by 900 feet (275 meters). The fortress was surrounded by a fortified wall approximately 4,300 feet (1.3 km) long and 12 feet (3.7 m) thick, with towers. There was a palace with storehouses, military barracks, an armory, and cisterns for rainwater. In 66 BC the Roman garrison of Masada was defeated by Jewish rebels - Sicarii who used the fortress as a base for fighting the Romans. After the first Jewish-Roman war ended in Jews defeat, Masada was sieged and rebels committed the mass suicide preferring death to surrender.

A new museum at Masada presents a selection of the archaeological discoveries that were found at the site.

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What Makes It Special

Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the place where the historic events of the Great Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire took place and came to its tragic end. You can find ancient palaces, fortifications and a first-century Roman villa. There are remains of the most complete Roman siege system in the world which are still surround the fortress. For the past two thousand years the site was untouched by humans and nature due to its remoteness and dry climate. Nowadays many buildings are restored: Herod's two main palaces with wall-paintings, Roman-style baths, synagogue, storehouses, and houses of the Jewish rebels.

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Directions To Destination

Masada National Park is 11.2 miles (18 km) south from Ein Gedi, or 7.5 miles (12 km) north from Ein Bokek to the cable train. You can go to both places from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) by taxi, shared minibuses (sheruts) or by car (follow directions to Ein Bokek or Ein Gedi). Both, Ein Gedi and Ein Bokek, are accessible via Egged bus from Jerusalem (lines 486 and 487) and Tel Aviv (421, once a day from Arlozorov Station).

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Best Time To Go

All year round. The Park may be closed during Yom Kippur - two-day religious observance.

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Where To Stay

We recommend:
- Le Meridien Dead Sea: five-star hotel with from $320 per night located Ein Bokek, Dead Sea, 12 km from Masada National Park.
- Crowne Plaza Hotel Dead Sea: three-star hotel, rates from $ 210/night located in Ein Bokek.
Camping is available nearby (reservation is required), NIS 20 (about $5.50). Toilets, showers, cooking places and barbecue equipment, large tent and areas for smaller tents are available. Research and book hotels in or near Ein Bokek, Israel

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Activities

Hiking, sightseeing

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Useful Visitor Information and Tips

The top of the plateau can be reached by cable-car from the Dead Sea side, or by two trails:
1. The ramp trail - a steep, short trail which was made by monks. It goes from the western parking lot (city Arad), and, if you are physically fit, it takes not more than 20 minutes to reach the top.
2. The Snake Path - a longer trail, where you should climb about 350 meters. The trail goes from the eastern parking lot of Masada, and It takes about 45 minutes to climb. Extra clothing may be necessary because of the strong winds at the top of the plateau.

Opening hours: April - September 8 am - 5 pm, October - March 8 am - 4 pm. Fridays and holiday eves, the site closes one hour earlier. Cable-car hours: Sat. - Thu.: 8 am - 4 pm; Fri. and holiday eves 8 am - 2 pm

Admission to the Masada National Park is NIS 25 (about $7) for adults, and NIS 13 (about $3.50); entrance through cable-car for adults NIS 67 (about $18) for children - NIS 38 (about $10) (all prices are 2011).

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Additional Information

Tags: Dead Sea; En Bokek; En Gedi; fortress (2); Herod the Great; Israel (6); Jewish-Roman War; Judean Desert; Masada; Masada National Park; Sicarii; Snake Path; UNESCO World Heritage Site (19)

Web Sites:   Israel Nature and Parks Authority
  Jewish Virtual Library | (mentioned 2 times on Naviquan)

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