Beit Guvrin National Park, encompassing the ruins of Maresha and Beit Guvrin, is
one of Israel's buried treasures. The complex caves and magnificent views make
this site unforgettable. The biblical city of Maresha was one of the cities of Judah
fortified by Rehoboam (Joshua 16:44). The area was later settled by Edomites,
Sidonians, and eventually Greeks, who converted it into a bustling economic cen-
ter. Before the turn of the first century ВСЕ, the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus I
conquered the city and forced Judaism upon its inhabitants. The city was
destroyed by the Parthian army in the year 40 ВСЕ. Beit Guvrin became a flourish-
ing Jewish settlement in the years between the destruction of the Second Temple
and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 CE). During the Byzantine period, Beit Guvrin
was mostly inhabited by Christians, and more recently, it was the site of an Arab
village until Israel's War of Independence in 1948.
Upon entering through the main gate past the ticket office, turn left and follow
the road to the Bell Caves. There is an information office behind the bathrooms on
the left. Follow the signs to the large-domed bell-shaped caves carved by Greeks,
Byzantines, and others as they quarried for limestone. Once dug, the caves were
used for storage, penning animals, and water collection, and later became sanctu-
aries for hermits and monks. Saint John and others came here seeking solitude,
and they often carved crosses and altars into the walls. More recently, Sylvester
Stallone made his own mark in the caves with the filming of Rambo III.
The rest of the park is accessible by car, but there is also a 1.9km hiking trail
from the Bell Caves that leads toward the Sidonian Burial Caves and the ancient city
of Maresha. The trail is marked with white stone markers, and if you are lucky you
may see mountain goats along the way. The trail passes the ruins of the church of
St. Anne, originally built during the Byzantine era. Be careful not to wander from
the trail as there are many hidden caves in the area.
Sidonians living in Maresha during the 2nd and 3rd centuries ВСЕ buried their
dead in decorated caves. Inside the caves you will see many burial niches and
Paintings of animals and mythological creatures. From the Sidonian caves con-
tinue up the hill to see the other caves of Maresha. Especially impressive are the
dwelling houses and underground cisterns that connect to form a vast under-
ground network of storage, work, and living rooms. Some of the caves were used
for making olive oil, and the olive crushing and squeezing apparatus is on display
in the olive oil plant cave. The Columbarium cave is an enormous room full of niches
in which Mareshans raised pigeons for food, manure, and sacrificial purposes.
Even those who yawn at the sight of ruins will appreciate the unbelievable 360°
view from atop Tel Maresha. On a clear day, Tel Aviv may be visible in the west,
and the Hebron mountains in the east. The entire park site is well-tended with
marked trails, bathrooms, and a snack area. On your way out be sure to check out
the Roman amphitheater and bathhouse on the other side of the highway. Behind
the nearby gas station is the Beit Guvrin Restaurant, a self-service cafeteria. (Open
daily 8am-9pm. s681 10 20 for the ticket office, n681 29 57 for the information office. Sites
open Su-Th 8am-5pm, F8am-4pm. Sept-Apr8am-4pm, F8am-3pm. NIS18, students NIS15, chil-
dren NIS9. The English brochure has a small map of the park.)