The history of the ancient Masada Fortress, located in the suburbs of the city of Arad, began long before the big tragic events that made the powerful defensive complex famous all over the world. The fearless Roman legions conquered Jerusalem in 70 AD, and only a thousand civilians of Masada managed to defend the legendary Masada Fortress for another three long years.

The first building appeared on this very place, on top of one of the highest stone cliffs in the Judean desert, in 25 BC. King Herod I built an impressive defensive fortress with an excellent Roman water supply system and storage facilities for the Royal Treasury's gold and weapons. Although its ruins were discovered in 1862, thorough digs were carried out only a hundred years later. Then the archaeologists found valuable artifacts. And in 1971, it was decided to build a cable car, which would allow people to climb to the top of the cliff to the ancient stone Masada Fortress. From there, tourists can enjoy a fantastic view of the endless desert.

At the peak of the cliff, there is a small square, which can be reached by a narrow winding trail called Snake Path. It is surrounded by massive defensive walls more than 4 meters thick and 37 observation towers that saved residents from unexpected attacks by enemies and uninvited guests many times. Inside Masada, you can visit the Royal Palace of Herod I and the Jewish Synagogue, the Roman Baths, and numerous utility rooms. Many of them are perfectly preserved to this day, including fragments of amazing mosaics and the ruins of a Byzantine monastery. At the bottom of the cliff, you can find a small museum that houses collections of artifacts found at the site of archaeological digs of ancient fortresses. Today, the famous Masada Fortress is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also hosts various music concerts and other cultural social events.

Some historians believe that King Herod I was not the first to build the fortress on this site, since there was already a fortification in the 4th century BC.

According to the records of blessed John Moschus, earlier there was an old church built in the middle of the 6th century, which existed until the end of the 7th century. This is evidenced by the ruins discovered as a result of archaeological excavations at its site.

Pay special attention to the numerous reservoirs and canals carved into the rocks, thanks to which the entire water supply system of the fortress worked.