A German Benedictine abbey built at the turn of the 20th century on Mount Zion, just outside the Zion Gate of the Old City, marking the traditional site where the Virgin Mary "fell asleep" (dormitio in Latin) before the Assumption. The abbey's circular tower and Romanesque bulk are a landmark on the southwestern corner of the Old City skyline. The crypt contains a striking carved marble effigy of Mary in repose.
The church is open to visitors throughout the day and the monks who run it welcome contemplative visits. The roof terrace has excellent views over the Old City and south toward Bethlehem. A few metres away is the Hall of the Last Supper (Cenaculum or Upper Room), traditionally held to mark where the Last Supper took place, though the current structure is a Crusader hall above a mosque — a layering of history typical of every sacred site in this city.