The Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family stands on the Via Dolorosa in the Muslim Quarter, an elegant Habsburg-era building that looks like it was lifted from a Viennese side street and dropped into the middle of the Old City. Built in 1863 as a pilgrim guesthouse for Austrian Catholics, the hospice still operates as a guesthouse and cafe, and its rooftop offers one of the best panoramic views of the Old City.
Rooftop
The main reason visitors come to the Austrian Hospice is the rooftop terrace. For a small entrance fee, visitors climb to the roof and are rewarded with a 360-degree view that includes the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Olives, and the rooftops of all four quarters. The view is particularly fine because the hospice sits at the intersection of the Via Dolorosa and the main market street, placing the viewer at the crossroads of the Old City.
Cafe
The ground-floor cafe serves Viennese coffee, apple strudel, and sachertorte in a garden courtyard that feels like Central Europe. The combination of Austrian pastries and Jerusalem’s Old City is surreal and delightful, and the cafe is a perfect rest stop during a long day of walking the Via Dolorosa.
History
The hospice was built during the great wave of European institution-building in Jerusalem, when the Austrian, French, German, Russian, and Italian empires competed for influence through religious and charitable projects. The building served as a military hospital during World War I, was used by the British during the Mandate, and was occupied by the Jordanian army from 1948 to 1967. It was returned to Austrian ownership after 1967 and has been beautifully restored.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Austrian Hospice is a hidden gem on the Via Dolorosa. Hoshen Tours stops here for the view, the coffee, and the story of Habsburg ambition in Jerusalem.