The village of Artas is located between two high mountains in the southwest of Bethlehem. It is renowned for its breath-taking beauty in the lush, fertile valley or atop the mountain peaks. Artas is an ancient Canaanite village, second in antiquity only to Jericho. It is known for its ancient ruins, which add to its cultural significance.
Since the Crusader era, Artas has been called the "Enclosed Garden" due to the fertility of its land and the abundance of water sources. It is considered the breadbasket of Bethlehem, cultivating a variety of crops both in summer and winter. The village is particularly famous for its lettuce, and an annual Lettuce Festival is held there.
Artas has been included on the tourist map of Palestine due to its distinctive archaeological, religious, and cultural character.