LATRUN

The Monastery of Latrun peers down on the road and is surrounded by vineyards. It was founded in 1890 by a group of Trappist monks from France. Between 1948 and 1967 it was in no-man's-land between Israel and Jordan and supervised by the UN. The monks are contemplatives following the rule of St. Benedict. Their time is divided between manual labour, prayer, and study of the Bible and other religious books. The monks support themselves making choice wines and liqueurs.

On the heights of the hill on which the monastery stands are the ruins of the 12th-century Crusader road-fortress of Le Toron des Chevaliers. It was wrecked by Saladin to stop Richard the Lion-Heart's advance on Jerusalem, but the English king nevertheless lodged here in 1191 and 1192 before abandoning his march. Traces of the wall can be seen there is a well-preserved gate to its west. There are three rows of halls on the north side, partially repaired by a Jordanian garrison which also dug the slit trenches before the Six Day War.

Across the road, opposite the monastery, is a Memorial and Armoured Corps Museum of the Israel Defence Forces Armoured Division. Open: Sun-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Entrance fee. Tel. (08)9255268.

To the left of the monastery is Road No. 3 (passing under Highway No. 1) leading to Ramallah. A short way down is Imwas, associated with the Maccabean rebellion and revered by Christians as Emmaus, the site of Jesus' manifestation before his disciples after the crucifixion. A church is built above the mosaic floor of an ancient house of worship.

At the first right turn you are back on Highway No. 1 toward Jerusalem, and the route soon broadens into two lanes each way. During the War of Independence it was a narrow pass and here, at Shaar Hagai (Bab el-Wad in Arabic), armoured Jewish convoys fought their way through with supplies for besieged Jerusalemites in 1948. The rusted hulks of the vehicles that did not get through line the roadside, with the dates of the attacks marked on boulders.

Up the hill, a road to the right leads to Shoeva and Shoresh. The latter is a moshav with a popular club and swimming pool.

High up on a hill to the left is a silver-spiked monument to those who gave their lives trying to break the siege of Jerusalem. There is a good view of the Judaean hills from the parking area and picnic site.

After one kilometre, the road flattens out a signpost points left to Neveh Ilan (No. 425) and Abu Ghosh. Try to include this detour in your itinerary.