# Beit Sahour

> Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank

**Wikidata**: [Q803990](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q803990)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beit_Sahour)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/beit-sahour

## Summary
Beit Sahour is a Palestinian city located in the occupied West Bank, situated within the Bethlehem Governorate. It lies at an elevation of 620 meters above sea level and had a population of approximately 15,000 people as of 2019. The city is historically and religiously significant, notably containing the site of the Santuario Gloria in Excelsis (Shepherds' Field).

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Identified as a city, village, and town (instance of city/large human settlement).
- **Location**: Located in the Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine, on the physical feature of the West Bank.
- **Population**: Approximately 15,000 residents (recorded in 2019).
- **Area**: Covers a total area of 6.97 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: Situated 620 meters above sea level.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 31.7, Longitude 35.216666666667.
- **Time Zone**: Observes UTC+02:00 and UTC+03:00.
- **Postal Codes**: 181 and 182.
- **Native Name**: بيت ساحور (Bayt Sāḥūr).
- **Official Website**: http://www.beitsahour.ps/

## FAQs
**Where is Beit Sahour located?**
Beit Sahour is a city in the Bethlehem Governorate of Palestine, situated in the occupied West Bank. It is geographically positioned at coordinates 31.7°N, 35.22°E.

**What is the population and size of Beit Sahour?**
As of 2019, the city has a population of 15,000 people. It covers a land area of 6.97 square kilometres.

**What are the twin cities of Beit Sahour?**
Beit Sahour is twinned with numerous administrative bodies globally, including Anghiari, Mira, Quattro Castella, Rimini, Pelago, Agliana, Pistoia, Serravalle Pistoiese, Quarrata, Givors, Clichy, Vaulx-en-Velin, Romans-sur-Isère, Opsterland, Xanten, Doha, and Miranda de Ebro (starting in 2024).

**What religious site is found in Beit Sahour?**
The city contains the Santuario Gloria in Excelsis, also known as the Campo dei Pastori (Shepherds' Field), a significant Catholic sanctuary.

## Why It Matters
Beit Sahour serves as a significant urban center in the Bethlehem Governorate, contributing to the demographic and cultural landscape of the occupied West Bank. Its extensive network of twin cities—ranging from Italian municipalities like Rimini and Pistoia to French towns like Vaulx-en-Velin and international cities like Doha—demonstrates a robust level of international civic engagement and cooperation. The city also holds deep religious importance due to the presence of the "Gloria in Excelsis" Sanctuary at the Shepherds' Field, marking it as a point of interest for biblical history and pilgrimage. Furthermore, its inclusion in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire highlights its historical continuity and relevance dating back to antiquity.

## Notable For
- **Religious Heritage**: Home to the Santuario Gloria in Excelsis at the Shepherds' Field.
- **International Partnerships**: Maintains sister-city relationships with at least 17 different cities across Europe and the Middle East.
- **Historical Depth**: Listed in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire (ID: 44331) and the Orthodox Encyclopedia (ID: 77838).
- **High Elevation**: Located 620 meters above sea level.
- **Digital Presence**: Covered by Wikipedia in 30 different languages, indicating high global interest.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Beit Sahour is a city classified variously as a village, city, or town, indicating its evolving urban status. It is administratively part of the Bethlehem Governorate in Palestine, physically located in the West Bank region. The city spans an area of 6.97 square kilometres and is positioned at a high elevation of 620 meters. Its geographical coordinates are 31.7° latitude and 35.216666666667° longitude. The city operates in the UTC+02:00 and UTC+03:00 time zones and utilizes the postal codes 181 and 182.

### Demographics
According to data from 2019, Beit Sahour has a population of 15,000 inhabitants. This population is settled within the city's approximately 7 square kilometre footprint.

### International Relations
The city maintains a vast network of municipal partnerships. It is twinned with a significant number of Italian administrative bodies, including:
- Anghiari
- Mira
- Quattro Castella
- Rimini
- Pelago
- Agliana
- Pistoia
- Serravalle Pistoiese
- Quarrata

Other twin cities include:
- **France**: Givors, Clichy, Vaulx-en-Velin, Romans-sur-Isère.
- **Netherlands**: Opsterland.
- **Germany**: Xanten.
- **Qatar**: Doha.
- **Spain**: Miranda de Ebro (formalized in 2024).

### Religious and Cultural Sites
A prominent feature of Beit Sahour is the "Santuario Gloria in Excelsis" located at the Campo dei Pastori (Shepherds' Field). An image of this Catholic sanctuary serves as a primary visual representation of the city in Wikimedia Commons.

### Identity and Records
Beit Sahour is known by several aliases and names in different languages and scripts, including Beit Sahur, Bet Sahur, and بيت ساحور. It is cataloged under a wide array of international authority files and databases:
- **Library Codes**: Library of Congress Authority ID (n95038467), National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007537710105171).
- **Academic IDs**: GND ID (10119579-5), VIAF ID (150255661), WorldCat Entities ID (E39PBJxRBGX6rCqTHhG7yjTPwC).
- **Geographical Databases**: GeoNames ID (284304), Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID (1083889), GNS Unique Feature ID (-793865).
- **Historical References**: Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire ID (44331), Orthodox Encyclopedia ID (77838).
- **Other Classifications**: It holds a "category of associated people" for People from Beit Sahour and has a related SNARC ID listing for the History of Tajikistan. The city is also linked to a FactGrid item ID associated with Mark Webber.

### Digital Footprint
The city has an official website (beitsahour.ps) and a Wikipedia presence across 30 languages, including Arabic, English, German, French, and Russian. It has a sitelink count of 30 and a Freebase ID of /m/05hrj7. Additional digital identifiers include a Quora topic (Beit-Sahur) and a Yale Lux ID (place/e8ee1193-a0dc-4b69-9b91-354c63374c55). The Israel Antiquities Authority lists the site under ID 13811.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. [Source](http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1487.pdf)
5. GeoNames
6. Quora