Bir Ouna Well is an ancient water source that once served as the primary source of water for the residents of Beit Jala and their livestock. The name has Aramaic roots and means “the spring of livestock.” It is also known as Sennacherib’s Well, after the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who camped with his army in the spring during his siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC. The name Bir Ouna is also interpreted as “the Well of Assistance.”
Like many landmarks in the area associated with the Virgin Mary, such as Our Lady’s Well and the Milk Grotto, Bir Ouna Well is traditionally linked to the Virgin Mary. According to local tradition, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus rested in the area to quench their thirst while fleeing from King Herod. Mary prayed for the water to rise, and God answered her prayers.
Today, the well is still used by nearby residents, although its water supply has declined and is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the city’s population.
The area is located southwest of Beit Jala, bordering Jerusalem and connecting the lands of Cremisan Monastery with those of Beit Jala. It has suffered significant land confiscation by the Israeli authorities, both to expand Jerusalem’s boundaries and to construct Route 60, which connects Jerusalem with settlements to the south. These actions have resulted in the loss of substantial agricultural land belonging to local residents, including land planted with ancient Roman-era olive trees.
The municipality planted an olive tree beside the well to commemorate the area’s agricultural heritage. The historic olive tree had been uprooted by the Israeli occupation authorities during the construction of the separation wall. The chamber housing Bir Ouna Well was built by a member of the Masu family.
On September 14, 2018, the square surrounding the well was named Bergisch Gladbach Square, in recognition of the twinning between the German city of Bergisch Gladbach and Beit Jala Municipality, symbolizing the strong relationship between Palestine and Germany. A stone sculpture created by sculptor Akram Anastas was installed in the square to commemorate this partnership.
