Augusta Victoria Hospital / Church of the Ascension, Jerusalem

Augusta Victoria Hospital / Church of the Ascension, Jerusalem

Established in 1910 to serve Palestine's German Protestant community, this hospital, named after Kaiser Wilhelm II's wife, stands as one of East Jerusalem's largest medical facilities and remains the sole specialized-care institution in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Although officially inaugurated in 1910, the construction - architectually inspired by German palaces like the Hohenzollern Castle – was not completed until 1914. Back then, it was the country's first building to be equipped with electricity, powered by a diesel generator.

Within the hospital grounds is the Church of the Ascension, characterized by its distinctive high square tower housing four large bells, including one weighing six tons. This tower serves as a prominent landmark visible throughout the city and offers panoramic views stretching all the way to the Dead Sea. While the church is open to the public from Monday to Saturday (8:30 AM–1 PM), please note that the lift has been out of service for several years, requiring visitors to climb the stairs to reach the top. Standing at 60 meters high, the ascent can be quite challenging for those averse to stairs. Adorned with intricate domes and artwork, the church building itself occasionally hosts choral and classical music concerts, with event details available on the website.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Jerusalem. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Augusta Victoria Hospital / Church of the Ascension on Map

Sight Name: Augusta Victoria Hospital / Church of the Ascension
Sight Location: Jerusalem, Israel (See walking tours in Jerusalem)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Jerusalem, Israel

Create Your Own Walk in Jerusalem

Create Your Own Walk in Jerusalem

Creating your own self-guided walk in Jerusalem is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Mount of Olives Walking Tour

Mount of Olives Walking Tour

Aside from affording great views over the Old City, the Mount of Olives is home to half a dozen major sites of the Christian faith along with the oldest Jewish burial ground in the world. Considered a holy spot by many, it is associated with numerous events in Jesus’ life including ascending to Heaven and teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Mount Scopus Walking Tour

Mount Scopus Walking Tour

Dotted with many sightseeing places, Mount Scopus – translating as the “Observation Mount” from Greek – is a great place to get views over the whole Old City of Jerusalem on a nice day. The mount has been of major strategic importance since Roman times, with forces setting up camp here prior to laying the siege that culminated in the final Roman victory over Jerusalem around 70 AD....  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Jerusalem City Gates Walking Tour

Jerusalem City Gates Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Following Steps of Jesus Walking Tour

Following Steps of Jesus Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Mount Zion Walking Tour

Mount Zion Walking Tour

For those interested in religion and history, Mount Zion offers several unique sights that are situated in close proximity to each other. An important place for Christians, Jews as well as Muslims, it holds important constructions dating from the 20th century as well as a compound built by the Crusaders that marks the spot of both King David’s tomb and the Room of the Last Supper. How...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Armenian Quarter Walking Tour

Armenian Quarter Walking Tour

Smaller and quieter than the Old City's other three quarters, the Armenian quarter contains a series of winding cobblestoned streets and alleyways teeming with people, shops, coffee stands, ceramic workshops and hookah bars. A city in miniature with distinct language, alphabet and culture, it has been in place since the 4th century, when Armenia adopted Christianity as a national religion.
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

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