Book Old City Jerusalem tours >
The Western Wall (in Hebrew: HaKotel HaMa’aravi), more widely known as the “Wailing Wall,” is a remaining section (488 meters long and 40 meters high) of the retaining wall that once surrounded the courtyard of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It was constructed during the expansion of the Temple Mount under King Herod the Great.
It is the most sacred site in Judaism outside the Temple Mount itself. For the Jewish people, the Western Wall is the holiest place of prayer and pilgrimage. Its significance lies in the fact that it is the only surviving structure connected to the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.
Religious Jews around the world pray facing Jerusalem, while Jews in Jerusalem pray facing the Western Wall.
For centuries, Jews gathered in a narrow passage along the remaining section of the Temple Mount’s retaining wall (approximately 30 meters long and 3.5 meters wide), an area specifically designated for Jewish worship. They were permitted to pray there only once a year—on the day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
There, they mourned the destruction of the Temples, Jerusalem, and the desolation of the Holy Land. For this reason, Muslims and Christians gave the site the name “Wailing Wall,” by which it is now known throughout the world.
Only after Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War (June 5–10, 1967), following an attack by Arab states (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq), did Israeli forces take control of the Old City and open access to the Western Wall.
The Western Wall was constructed during the reign of King Herod the Great (c. 74/73–4 BCE) as part of a large-scale reconstruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This project significantly expanded the area of the Temple Mount, effectively doubling its size. As a result, what had once been a relatively modest structure was transformed into one of the most magnificent monumental complexes of the ancient Near East.
The retaining wall was built using massive, smoothly hewn stone blocks (typically 1–2 meters in length and about 1.5 meters in height), laid without the use of mortar. To ensure greater stability, each successive course of stones was set slightly back from the one below it.
Over time, the lower rows of the wall became buried under accumulated layers of earth, which made it necessary to build additional courses above. To date, 19 more rows have been added above the original level of the wall from the time of Herod.
In 1860, the British archaeologist Charles Warren discovered underground structures in Jerusalem dating back to the Hasmonean period, when the Hasmonean dynasty ruled Judea (140–37 BCE). These structures became known as the “Hasmonean Tunnels.”
At a depth of approximately 6–8 meters below ground level, visitors can see the underground continuation of the Western Wall—an additional 18 courses of massive stonework. The largest of these stones weighs as much as a ten-story building (around 600 tons).
The “Hasmonean Tunnels,” also known as the “Western Wall Tunnels,” form a complex underground system. Its chambers belong to different historical periods and were uncovered by archaeologists at various times. The tunnels run along the base of the Temple Mount, much of which has been buried over the past 2,000 years due to historical events.
In 1988, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation was established to preserve, develop, and maintain the Western Wall complex and the tunnels beneath it.
We recommend including a visit to the tunnels in your Jerusalem tour itinerary.
Today, the Western Wall is the most visited site in the country. It attracts religious and secular visitors alike—Israelis, pilgrims, and tourists from around the world. Each year, more than a million notes containing prayers and wishes are placed into the crevices between its ancient stones. Most commonly, people pray for healing, recovery from illness, fertility, and the creation of a family—and many believe their wishes are fulfilled.
The plaza in front of the Western Wall hosts important national ceremonies, including commemorations on Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, as well as celebrations on Independence Day and Jerusalem Day. New recruits of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also take their oath of service here.
Significant family milestones are celebrated at the Wall as well, such as coming-of-age ceremonies in Jewish tradition: the Bar Mitzvah for boys at age 13 and the Bat Mitzvah for girls at age 12.
Jerusalem Tours >