〡Increasing Tourist Influx to the Ein Salman Archaeological Site Project | Beit Duqqu Village Council

Ein Salman in Beit Duqqu: A Fortress that Regained Its Time

At the entrance of Beit Duqqu, a village resting on the slopes near Jerusalem, grape clusters hang as if greeting visitors. The people here turned steep hills into green terraces that yield sweet fruit, making their harvests a mirror of survival and resilience. This stretch of green, and the stone walls that stood against the separation wall, are not passing details but the essence of Canaanite wisdom—an inspiration born from the land itself.

Beit Duqqu is a living field and a living archive. Its 1,500 dunums are covered with vineyards, olive trees, and almonds, all watered by fresh springs such as Ein Al-Salman and Ein Jifna. The village also holds marks of ancient civilizations: Roman tunnels in Khirbet Jifna, Wadi Al-Fuwwar that flows in winter, and the old “Aqd Beit Salman,” once a resting place for caravans. Every corner of the village says that history never left this land.

At the heart of this landscape lies Ein Al-Salman—a spring flowing into a stone pool, beside an old fortress with arches and towers. The place tells the story of Salman the Resolute, who chose it in the 16th century for its water and pastures. For today’s villagers, it is not ruins but a living site: children play in its courtyards, families rest in its shade, and the sound of water connects past and present.

To keep this heritage alive, "Enhance the visitors flocking to Ein Salman archaeological and touristic site” Project was carried out. New walking trails were built to link the site with surrounding vineyards, making the visit part of the village itself. Solar energy allowed activities to continue into the evening, while awareness campaigns placed the site back on the map for visitors.

The impact was clear: jobs for young people, active roles for women, and days of volunteer work given by the community. Visitor numbers grew, and so did the income of the local council. But the deeper value is beyond money—Ein Al-Salman has become a space where people gather, share their history, and turn memory into daily resilience.