Cremisan Winery

On the southern border of Jerusalem, five kilometers west of Bethlehem, and on an area of 700 dunums (173 acres), terraces, vineyards, olive groves, and a wide area of pine woods surround Cremisan Monastery and Winery. This vast, open, terraced expanse - a lush, fertile, green horticultural gem, 800 meters above sea level, direction north, where rain is abundant - has long been well taken care of. In the mid-nineteenth century, Cremisan Monastery was founded by an Italian priest, and a few years later, the winery was established to sustain the monastery and the convent run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. Al-Walajeh olive tree is a couple thousand years old, probably the oldest living thing in Palestine. Still standing, alive, and growing, it has witnessed all our glory and misery since the Romans - and maybe even beyond. It has survived the Babylonians, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Ottomans, British, and Israelis, and is likely to outlive the next invaders in the current millennium.

- arrive to Bethlehem - drive to the monastery - tour the winery and vineyard - drive to walajeh ancient olive tree