Sites and Stories along the Bethlehem Road

With Louis Michel

About the Tour:

This tour exposes you to the oral history, narratives and myths of the people of Bethlehem. Unlike the majority of tours in Bethlehem today, this tour opens the window to listen to the untold stories of the people rooted in the land. Not only will you discover the forest of 1000 trees that disappeared in Bethlehem and the field that had all its chickpeas turn into stones, but you will encounter the secret untold stories of every field, street and family. My tour is a result of years of personal research on the oral history of Bethlehem. Many theologians say that the people and the land are the fifth gospel; this tour is an opportunity to experience the fifth gospel.

Curated By:
Louis Michel

Tour Duration:
Half-day tour (approx. 4 hours)

What to Bring:
Tourists must bring their Passport and visa as we cross a checkpoint. Most of the stories we will hear on this tour have not been published so you are invited to bring a pen and paper if you would like to take notes.

About the Guide

Louis Michel

With Louis Michel is from Bethlehem and has been a licensed tour guide for over 30 years. Louis loves Bethlehem and wants to introduce his city through his culture and the community’s collective memory. He will help you open the box of untold stories of Bethlehem.

Tour Highlights

Hear stories near the sites where they are traditionally believed to have occurred. Listen to the story of the woman owner of a local coffee shop and how her shop became a refugee camp. Listen to the people of Bethlehem remember their encounters with Mary and Joseph. These stories have been handed down generation by generation and in many ways, represent the living stones of the Bible.

Tour Details

The tour starts with the site where the Holy Family (Mary & Joseph) stopped before entering Bethlehem. We will spend time imagining the site as it was in the past and view the ruins of a 5th century Byzantine Church, Mt. of Abu Ghneim, and the field of chickpeas. We will then enter Bethlehem, passing by the Separation Wall and seeing the graffiti of Banksy. We will see a refugee camp, and then visit Solomon’s Pool and the museum of Morad Fortress. We will continue on to view Jacer Palace and drive a little further to see one of the refugee camps. We will stop at the junction between Bethlehem and Beit Jala to hear a fascinating piece of oral history, and then continue driving to visit Solomon’s Pool and the fascinating museum of Morad Fortress.

Testimonials

The English accent of the guide adds flavor to the tour and the stories. All stories are family-friendly and kept us all on our toes.

I love folk tales, especially the ones that are connected with historical people and sites. I understand that some of these tales might be a bit of a stretch, but they are definitely a window to how the local community understood unexplained phenomena.

I love stories, we all do. This tour was such an entertaining and educational experience. We are all little children and love bedtime stories, especially stories that keep our eyes open.