Medieval pilgrim messages uncovered in Jerusalem, including from the Czech lands

A team of international researchers has uncovered dozens of medieval messages carved or drawn on the walls of the room believed to be the site of Jesus’ Last Supper.

Using digital tools, the team decoded inscriptions left by pilgrims from across the medieval world — including rare ones from the Czech lands. The site, known as the Cenacle, was part of a Franciscan monastery and a key stop for Christian pilgrims in the late Middle Ages.

One inscription marks the 1436 visit of Frederick III, the future Holy Roman Emperor. Another, from a woman in Aleppo, is a rare trace of female pilgrimage. Most messages came from Arabic-speaking Christians.

The Czech inscriptions offer a glimpse into the spiritual journeys of medieval Central Europeans to the Holy Land.