Al-Ma’moudiya Spring

Southeast of the village of Taffuh (8 km west of Hebron) are ruins of two monasteries. The first one dates to the 6th century and contains a large baptismal basin (thus the name of the spring “Al-Ma’moudiya,” which means baptistry). The water was brought to the church by a 8-meter underground tunnel. On a nearby hill stands a Byzantine fort that, in case of a danger, served as a place of refuge for the monks. Close by, there are remains of Crusader churches that were looted. In the past, the site was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and was a site of pilgrimage.