The tower tombs of the Valley of the Tombs
Multi-storey stone tower tombs in the valley west of Palmyra. The only place that shows how Palmyrene families buried their dead.
- Opening hours
- Daylight hours — conditions change, confirm
- Entry
- Varies — confirm at the gate
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Best time
- The first hours of the morning; the valley has no shade
- Period
- Roman
- Address
- Valley west of the ruins, Palmyra
They stand west of the city in a valley of their own: square-planned stone towers of several storeys. Each was a family grave, and the bodies were set into niches in the walls, floor by floor. The colonnaded street tells you how rich Palmyra was; these towers tell you how it faced death.
Getting there
West of the ruins, in a separate valley. It is not walking distance — you need a vehicle.
What to see
Some of the towers are standing, some are ruined. Getting inside is not always possible; even from outside the scale is clear enough: these are not single-chamber graves but vertical family cemeteries.
Take care
The area is unshaded and unmarked. Some towers were damaged in the war and the condition of others can change; check before you travel.
Tips
- You need a vehicle; it is not walking distance from the main site
- Getting inside is not always possible, but the scale reads from outside too
- No shade: go early and carry water