The tunnels of the Western Wall (in the Anglo-Saxon tradition - Western Wall) - underground structures, which stretch for hundreds of meters below the old town. Tunnels allow you to see hidden under the ground of the walls and appreciate the genius of the ancient engineers.

History of tunnels dating back to the biblical King Herod, who in 19 BC. e. He undertook an ambitious project: he decided to double the area of ​​the Temple Mount. It was necessary for the reconstruction of the Second Temple - as a result of the sanctuary has acquired unprecedented splendor.

The expansion of the Temple Mount was a real feat of engineering. Herod obnёs Mount retaining wall made of five-ton stones (angular weighed several tens of tons). Before you fill the space inside the walls of the ground, the king's engineers built the arch there is a whole system of corridors. Aqueduct, supplying water to the Temple Mount (the priests, the Levites, every day, wash the place of sacrifice), existed since the days of the Hasmoneans, from the II century BC. e. Wall of Herod blocked the channel. It was turned into a reservoir for the soldiers in the fortress Antonia, then covered the pavement. Now the tank Stration, which do have water, - part of the Western Wall tunnels.

In 70 the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the space at the walls filled with rubble, the ground level has risen several meters. It remains open only the part that is now referred to as the Wailing Wall - it has become a place of prayer of the Jews for thousands of years. Huge underground structures as long disappeared from the eyes.

In 1864, British explorer Charles Wilson discovered in the Wall huge arch width of 12, 8 meters, which led to the underground space. Now it is called - Arch Wilson. After the Six Day War, when Israel took control of the Old City, archaeologists have begun to explore the tunnels. The work lasted for twenty years. Unearth space reinforced concrete supports.

For tourists opened a tunnel length of 485 meters. Tickets bought in advance, almost two months, by phone or online at the Wailing Wall, is not allowed without an escort, and tours in English or Hebrew. But it is necessary to overcome the difficulties, to see amazing things. The largest stone lying at the base of walls, weighs more than 500 tons - still do not understand how it was brought here. Under the ground is a huge Herodian room, where going to the Crusaders, with traces of quarry work, a whole street of the times of the Second Temple. Allocated areas for prayer near the place where once there was the Holy of Holies of the Temple.

Archaeological excavations and plans to open a tunnel for tourists at the time caused a strong protest of the Arabs. However, the second out of the tunnel yet been made. Now you can descend underground space at the Wailing Wall, and go into the Muslim Quarter, right on the Via Dolorosa.