Jerusalem's immovable loca sancta - the places sanctified by Christ's presence - were last fundamentally remodelled in the Crusader period, adapting them to the demands of the new age. This new approach resulted from a combination of innovation and historicity, which was intended to strengthen the foundation for the new Christian rule. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Nativity, the Basilica of Zion and the Dome of the Rock show the fascinating possibilities of multi-layered Crusader adaptation in a particularly expressive way.
The book combines a detailed architectural analysis with an interpretation of various literary sources to create a comprehensive picture of the dynamics that had a lasting impact not only on the cityscape of Jerusalem, but also on the perception of the holy city in people's minds.