Cremisan Valley

Cremisan is the name given to a branch of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Palestine in Bethlehem.

History

The monastery was built in 1883 on the present border between Jerusalem and Beit Jala to the ruins of a Byzantine monastery from the 7th century. The facilities were recognized in 1967 by the then Jordanian government and registered by the Ministry of Education.

There wine was produced from the start, to be funded from the proceeds of the winery projects: a vocational school for CNC, bakery, electronics and electro-mechanics, engineering mechanics and car mechanics, carpenters and woodworkers, and a theological seminary for students from all countries of the world. The vocational school is attended by over a hundred young people throughout the day and a similarly high number as a night school. In 1986, a school for interfaith and inter-religious work should, in the young people, regardless of their denominational or religious affiliation obtain an education.

The second Intifada since the fall of 2000 with all its political consequences and especially with the closure of the occupied territories by Israel has withdrawn from the project 's economic base. The monastery is located just opposite the Jewish settlement of Gilo. 2006 Israel decided to build the security wall around the monastery that it is on the Israeli side. This would of Bethlehem, cut off his students, workers and suppliers. On the other hand, the sale to Israel would be easier. Since then, there are protests against this project. Because of the political sensitivity of this issue, the wall was not built until today. In January 2011, the Defense Department decided to build the wall through the middle of the monastery area, so the convent remains with the schools on the Palestinian side, the monastery of the wine cellar but comes to the Israeli. Although this corresponds to the economic interests of the different areas, but it requires the demolition of two buildings and claimed land within the complex.

Vineyards and winery

The vines are planted on slopes 600-930 m, but only 2% of wine production ( approximately 7000 hl per year ) comes from their own grapes. The rest is taken from the growing areas of Beit Jala, Beit Shemesh, and Hebron. The wine is also available in Germany.