Tel Lachish is an important historical site in the Judean Lowlands, which was declared a national park in 1994.
Various archaeological finds dating back as far as the Neolithic period have been discovered there. During the Bronze Age, the city of Lachish came under Egyptian rule. The city was destroyed in the early twelfth century BCE – a period that corresponds to the time when Joshua led the Israelites in the conquest of the area. Lachish was subsequently rebuilt and is mentioned in the Bible as one of the cities fortified by King Rehoboam. Later, the city was again conquered and destroyed during Assyrian King Sennacherib’s campaign in 701 BCE. It eventually fell to the Babylonian invasion, which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem.
Three sources testify to this remarkable story: the archaeological findings, the biblical record, and the Lachish reliefs, found in Nineveh (modern-day Iraq), which describe Sennacherib’s conquest of Lachish and the exile of its people. Visitors will begin their tour at the visitor center, which includes a reception area and introductory exhibition reviewing the background to the Assyrian conquest. This is followed by a 10-minute audiovisual presentation based on the Lachish reliefs (images of which form the backdrop to the presentation), which were discovered in Sennacherib’s palace. The presentation can accommodate up to 60 people and is available in English, Hebrew and Arabic.
The visitor’s route through Tel Lachish lets you see and visit the siege ramp, city gate, main street, palace courtyard, and more. Visitors will pass through the fortified city gate and enter an area that illustrates the bustle of everyday life in this ancient city. Then they will enter King Hezekiah’s palace and admire the view from the top of the hill. On the way back, they can even “take part” in defending the city from the Assyrian army. Visitors will also learn about the Assyrian exile and the return of the Jewish people to Zion.
The new and improved version of the national park will open soon. An announcement about the exact date will be made prior to the official opening. Until then, all visits to Tel Lachish will be in accordance with the previous format, free of charge and without the audiovisual presentation described above.
