Jerusalem throughout its history was a walled city. Something that started changing, when the first housing project, Mishkenot Ha’Shaananim, was built by the British Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiore in 1860.

To enter or exit any walled city, there must be gates. And Jerusalem has for the last 130 years had seven open gates and one closed one. There are two additional closed gates, or rather remains, that go back to the Herodian Temple Mount. One new open gate came into being some 15 years ago, when the remains of a much earlier Dung Gate was discovered and reopened.

Almost all of the gates date back to the last time the walls of Jerusalem were built, which happened around 1536 under the orders of the Turkish Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent. Some of them were built on top of older gates, others came into being somewhat later. There are stories attached to each gate, which will be told in brief here.

So let’s take a look at the gates, starting with the south gate, Jaffa Gate.

Jaffa Gate

One of the most famous of the modern gates, and also one of the most visited. Built as part of the renovation of the walls by Suleiman the Magnificent. Most people look at the breaching as the gate, but as you will see from the little video below, the gate is the gate.
The name derives from the old road leading up from the coast from Jaffa.

The breaching was made by the Turks in 1898 to allow the German Kaiser Wilhelm II to be able to drive into the city in his carriage, which was too big to take the turn inside the gate. The intention had been to rebuild afterward, something that never happened, and so Jaffa Gate is the gate with most driving traffic as well.

Jaffa Gate to many is the epitomy of the Old City of Jerusalem. To hang around there, even sitting with a cup of coffee in one of the small coffee houses, is a lesson in Jerusalem life. It is a noisy affair, but also very colorful and picturesque.

Access is now easier than ever with the new Alrov-Mamilla Mall adjoining, adding more space outside the gate itself.

The New Gate

Moving westward and then a little north we come to the New Gate. As the name says it is the newest of the gates, and was created around 1880 to facilitate connection for Christians living in the Christian Quarter and their new neighborhoods springing up just outside.

Being new, quite small, and not so accessible, it is one of the lesser known gates of Jerusalem.

Damascus Gate

Continuing north for a few hundred meters we come to the Damascus Gate, so called as the road out of this gate ostensibly would lead you to Damascus.

Be that as it may Damascus Gate is the biggest of all the gates. It is also the most beautiful with magnificent cranellation decorating it. To get to the get one must descend a number of step, today built into a theater like structure.

This gate is completely a part of the main street of East Jerusalem and its Arab neighborhoods, and is therefore the main gate used by the Arabs of Jerusalem. But not only. Orthodox Jews move in and out,as it is fairly close to Meah Shearim, their main neighborhood in modern Jerusaelm. Tourists from all over are also fascinated by this great gate.

This is one of the oldest gates, not in its present form. Following the excavations and surveys in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, the Hadrianic gate, built in the 2nd century, was discovered, excavated and opened to the public.

Herod’s Gate

This gate is also known as The Flower Gate. I will admit my lack of knowledge here, as to the origins of these two names.
This is one of the least known and used gates, except for the local Arab population. Since the origins of the names are so muddled, there are no stories or traditions attached to this gate.

Lions Gate

This gate more than others symbolizes the construction of the walls and the gates of Jerusalem in 1536 by Suleiman the Magnificent. The lions decorating the outer walls are said to have be placed there as a reminder of the dream that caused Suleiman to have the walls rebuilt.

The main access to this gate is a rather steep road up from the Kidron Valley. Despite this it is a favored entrance into the city by pedestrians and cars to the Muslim Quarter. It is one of the closest routes to take for the Church of St. Anne, and the Via Dolorosa.

The gate is also known as St. Stephen’s Gate. St. Stephen was one of the first followers of Jesus to be sentenced to death. The tradition is that he was brought from Temple Mount to the Kidron Valley via this gate.

The Eastern (Golden) Gate

Unreachable from the outside and the inside, this is the only blocked gate. It was blocked toward the end of the Byzantine period for reasons of defense. The Eastern Gate was part of the Herodian Temple Mount, and used by the priests to access the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives.

Christians hold that this is the gate through which Jesus will enter upon his return, therefore the name, The Golden Gate.

Dung Gate

Now how is that for a name, and yes it is spelled right. This gate lies in the lowest level of the city, and therefore its name. All the garbage of the city would be washed down this way and deposite outside, hence the name.

It is today the main access gate to the Western Wall Plaza, as well as to the only entry way for visitors to Temple Mount. It is a problematic gate due to the amount of people moving through at all times, but also the traffic exiting from the Jaffa Gate road and the Jewish Quarter.

Luckily, some 15 years ago the old Byzantine 5th century gate was discovered and opened, so that pedestrian traffic has become a little safer.

Zion Gate

The last of the gate on our tour round the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. This gate received its name as it is lying on top of Mount Zion. This gate also sees a lot of pedestrian traffic, as outside is the almost the only parking place for busses.

It allows from easy access into the Jewish Quarter, and just outside are a number of important religious sites, such as The Room of the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb, and the Dormition Abbey.

A short walk westward will bring us back to the starting point of this quick tour of the gates of Jerusalem. Enjoy the little movie I put together from my own pictures but also pictures found on the internet.

Of course to really appreciate the Gates of Jerusalem, a personal visit is recommended. Contact me for more tour information on guided tours, private car or bus, to Israel and Jerusalem