Israel - Ein Karem, a village and its cultural landscape

Ein Karem, or ancient Bet Hakerem, is a historic mountain village, of several thousands of years, nowadays within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. It is traditionally known as the source of stones used to build The Second Jewish Temple, and according to archaeological finds existed already prior to the Roman period. It became important to Christianity, known in the New Testament as the place where both pregnant mothers, of Jesus and John the Baptist, met next to its spring. In following years, monasteries and churches have been built and a rich village developed. It included a large area with intact environment, with active mountain agriculture. The wealthy, usually Arab Christians, have built their houses in the village, still inhabited and preserved.