Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls


World Heritage Identification Number: 148

World Heritage since: 1981

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: Yes

Country: Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)

Continent: NA

UNESCO World Region: Arab States

Map

The Old City of Jerusalem and Its Significant Walls: A Cultural and Religious Hub

The Old City of Jerusalem, encompassing approximately 0.9 square kilometers within its ancient walls, serves as a cultural and religious epicenter for millions worldwide. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, this historic city holds immense significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, making it one of the most important sites in human history.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

As a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jerusalem has always been of great symbolic importance. Among its 220 historic monuments, the Dome of the Rock stands out: built in the 7th century, it is decorated with beautiful geometric and floral motifs. It is recognized by all three religions as the site of Abraham's sacrifice. The Wailing Wall delimits the quarters of the different religious communities, while the Resurrection rotunda in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses Christ's tomb.

Encyclopedia Record: Old City of Jerusalem

The Old City of Jerusalem is a 0.9-square-kilometre (0.35 sq mi) walled area in Jerusalem.

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Additional Site Details

Area: Not available

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 31.7777777778 , 35.2316666667

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Image of Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls

© Peter Mulligan, CC BY 2.0 Resized from original.

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Country Information: Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)

Flag of Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)

Official Name: NA

Capital: NA

Currency: NA (NA)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Old City of Jerusalem, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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