Northern Coastal Plain Attractions
1. Rosh Hanikra- Rosh Hanikra is a unique site near the border of Lebanon. A short walk at the heart of the cliff reveals the grottoes which are actually marine caves. The grottoes were created following a series of subterranean tremors which cracked the rock. Rainwater flowing through these cracks and the gushing sea waves created this natural phenomenon, unique in Israel!
In order to reach these caves, we have two options:
1.1. Via cable car.
1.2. Via tunnel (around 500 meters walk).
The tour inside the Limestone caves is unique. From there you can approach to the Israeli- Lebanon border (Up to the Israeli side), in order to experience the situation in this part of our country, and to observe one of the most beautiful coast in Israel and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Link to Rosh Hanikra website is: https://www.rosh-hanikra.com/home-en/
2. Yehiam Convoy's tragedy- This site is only to the people who are interested in the most known stories of our independence war in 1948.
With the United Nations decision on the partition plan, on November 29, 1947, attacks of Arab forces, on Jewish road transport intensified. On March 2, 1948, went a convoy of supplies from Nahariya to their besieged brothers in Yehiam, with seven armored vehicles, 90 fighters. The supplies included building materials for fortifications, ammunition and food. At noon, upon reaching this area, the convoy was attacked by an ambush of Arab villagers. 47 of the convoy's soldiers killed and the rest were forced to retreat.
The site shows you the original Vehicles- at their original position, exactly as the Arab left them, after Desecration of the bodies of the Jewish soldiers. A very unique and interesting site, which clarifies the problems of the Jewish convoys supplies, as it was all over the country on 1948.
3. Akko- Akko have a lot of sites to visit.. The minimum time for a tour in Akko is three hours, The maximum time is...
4. Aloney Abba and Bethlehem of Galilee - In the biblical period, were two cities named Bethlehem. The first one is mentioned in Joshua 19:15, that Bethlehem is in the Galilee, in the Zebulun tribe (the other one is mention in King David story, and located south to Jerusalem).
This is the reason, why the Templars called this village, one of the two, "Bethlehem of Galilee".
In General, the Templars were Christian Germans who established several colonies in the country in the 19th Century. The first Wave of migration came to here in 1868, after they believed that the Messiah is about to come. Therefore, they decided to welcome him in the Promised Land. Because they believed that the Messiah is about to come soon, they even didn't built Churches, due to their believing that the temple is going to be rebuilt few years from now. They built several villages in Israel, and few neighborhoods in the main cities (Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa), which today, we call them "The German Colonies".
The Templars built their houses in a European architectural style, characterized by stone houses, and opened a modern agricultural colony. During the Second War of War, some of the residents cooperated with the Nazi regime, expelled by the British to Australia. Today, the Templar houses are populated by Israelis.
In both of the Villages there are several sites to see:
4.1. The Church, which was built much later (after they understood that the 3rd Temple won't be built so soon) and the barrack, where the British held the Templar as POW, in WW2 in Aloney Abba.
4.2. The beautiful and typical houses, of the Templar on the main street of Bethlehem of Galilee.
4.3. The train station they built, before there was a train (Unfortunately, it was never active).
4.4. the Spice Road Farm - where you can experience the spices and Naturopathic as well...and a lot of other things.
5. Bet She'arim National Park- In 1936, about ten years after moving there, Alexander Zaid, the JNF guardian by accident, discovered a small opening on the hillside. He crawled underground and discovered ornate graves with Greek inscriptions. Following the discovery, four years of archaeological digs began on the site. Prof. Benjamin Mazar, led by Prof. Nachman Avigad from 1953 to 1958. About 30 burial caves were uncovered during the excavations, and there are many unexplored caves, and hundreds of inscriptions, many of them in Greek, were discovered in the caves and other facilities.
A gatehouse, designed as a glorious dead city (necropolis) in the earth, is considered one of the most fascinating discoveries in Israeli archeology. The caves and burial chambers, which were very densely carved to save space, are unique: at the entrance to each cave there is an open courtyard, created by milling and carving a section of the slope, and in the three rock walls around the courtyard, open hewn, with stone doors closing. Each door is made of a single block of stone, carved and decorated with geometric patterns, such as a wooden door reinforced with stripes and metal buttons. In one of the caves at the site (system # 25) is an impressive stone door, which contains the original metal ring, with which to turn the door on its axis. In the cave known as the "Tomb of the Sidonic Synagogue" (System # 26), an inverted cone-shaped decoration, such as a metal tool (pulse), was found in which a man knocked on the door, asking to enter. Through the doorways enter the burial halls, which consist of rows of rooms with side compartments, which serve as burial chambers. Very beautiful and interesting!
Link to Bet shearim website is: https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/bet-shearim-national-park/
6. Haifa- haifa is the 3rd biggest city in Israel. If you are planing a tour in Israel, it's better to include sites such as...
7. Muhraqa- Muhraqa is famous as the site of the Sacrifice of Elijah the Prophet.
The Episode is dramatically recounted in the Bible (1 Kings 18:16-46) how Elijah killed the four hundreds Baal's prophets, as it's written: "They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there".
The Jewish tradition is strongly in favor of Muhraqa. Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela (about 1165 AD) mentions the site of Elijah's altar on Mount Carmel. Rabbi Jacob of Paris made a visit to the site. They report the existence there of an ancient monument of twelve stones representing the altar of Elijah. Many Christians, including Carmelite travelers from the 17th century onwards, verify the fact. The twelve stones disappeared later, between 1830 and 1850.
The site of the present chapel was first mentioned by Rabbi Jacob of Paris (1228 AD), which reports that Muslims used to visit the oratory and light candles in honor of Elijah. The building probably dated from pre-Crusader times, but, the actual chapel is from 1883.
The site has been owned by the Carmelite Order for over a hundred years. From the roof of the church, there is a beautiful Observation to the Jezreel Valley.
Link to Muhraqa website is: http://muhraqa.org/index1.html
8. Atlit's Detention Camp- The Atlit Detention Camp, a National Heritage Site, tells the story of clandestine immigration (ha’apala) to the Land of Israel. Many Jews who tried to reach the homeland by sea were intercepted by British authorities and incarcerated in the Atlit camp, along with Jews who fought against British rule.
The camp, with its barbed wire fences, watchtowers, disinfection barrack and residential barracks, was restored by the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage sites, with great help from its partner, the Jewish National Fund USA (JNF-USA). The highlight of the site is the ship Galina, an interactive exhibit that simulates the perilous sea journey. In addition to the ship, the site also presents the C-46 Commando transport aircraft, which in 1947 brought 150 Jews from Iraq and Italy, as part of Operation Michaelberg. This effort was headed by Shlomo Hillel, an agent of the Immigration Institute, which became decades after that, the chairman of the Knesset (Israel's parliament). An exhibit on Jewish's clandestine immigration from Islamic countries, will be installed next to the plane.
Link to Atlit's Detention Camp's website is: https://shimur.org/sites/atlit-detention-camp/?lang=en
9. Ha'Mizgaga, Museum of Archaeology and Glass- Ha'Mizgaga is a Museum for regional archeology and glass, and within a short walking distance from Tel-Dor.
The building was built in 1891, an initiative by Baron Rothschild to be a factory for producing glass wine bottles. Meir Dizengoff, who was later to become mayor of Tel-Aviv, was appointed manager of the factory. Because of the numerous difficulties – malaria, the local sand's unsuitability, and a lack of profitability – the factory was closed and abandoned within a few years of its opening.In 1980, members of Kibbutz Nahsholim began to restore the structure.
At the same time archaeological excavations begun at Tel Dor and nearby bays, and the factory became a charming and unusual museum showcasing contemporary glass art alongside local archeology.
Currently on display are three exhibitions by three Bezalel academy graduates showing their matriculation project. Come along to explore and enjoy this unique gem. Near by the museum, you can reach to the beautiful coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Link to the museum website is: https://www.mizgaga.com/english
10. Zichron Yaakov- Zichron Yaakov was founded as a colony on December 6, 1882 by immigrant Zionist immigrants from Romania. They came to Israel (Palestine under the Ottoman regime), after two events had happened:
10.1. A huge and brutal anti-Semitism wave erupt in Romania. Hundreds of Jews had been Slaughtered, a lot of women and girls were brutally raped.
10.2. Sir Laurence Oliphant, a Member of the British Parliament, traveler, diplomat, British intelligence agent, Christian mystic, and Christian Zionist, convinced them to emigrate to Israel.
Today, Zichron Yaakov, is very famous with its Wineries, that some of them were founded in the 19th century.
There are a lot of stories regarding their experience as settlers. For us, as tourists in Israel, the main thing to see is the main street of the Colony, which is preserve the old buildings, the old Water tower, and of course the Boutique wineries.
At the suburbs of Zichron Yaakov, you can visit two interesting sites:
10.3. Bet El community- The Bethel community is a group of Zionist Christians today that has about 800 members who live mainly in Zichron Yaacov and Binyamina and live a life of sharing within the framework of an urban kibbutz. The community arrived in Israel in 1963 under the leadership of German nurse Emma Berger. After being cured of a serious illness, she saw it as a miracle and vow to devote her life to worshiping God. The way she chose to do this was by actually helping to return the Jewish people to Eretz Israel, as promised in the sources. Ms. Berger and her sister Elsa were able to coordinate people who agreed to go on behalf of the Bethel community. Members of the congregation left the various denominations in Christianity and left the church, believing in the Bible and the New Testament as their language, without commentary.
They have inscribed the slogan on their flag: He who blesses the State of Israel and its inhabitants, is blessed. The Beth-El community established factories in various industrial zones, mainly in national priority areas, which provide work to residents of the regions. Very interesting to meet them.
10.4. Ramat Hanadiv- Ramat Hanadiv is Gardens and Nature Park, over an area of about 450 hectares, dedicated to the memory of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. At the heart of the Memorial Gardens buried the Baron and his wife. The contrast between the meticulous Gardens and the Mediterranean Nature Park around them, is one of the wonderers of Ramat Handiv. Very impressive!
Link to the Ramat Hanadiv website is: https://www.ramat-hanadiv.org.il/en/
11. Mey Kedem- Mey Kedem (Ancient Water) is a unique archaeological site situated in The Alona Park- a protected nature area of Mediterranean forest.
In Mey Kedem there's an ancient underground tunnel, built by the Romans about 2,000 years ago.
The visitors walk through this underground tunnel (280 Meters length) in the water.
The height of the water is between 40cm to 70cm.
Before entering to the tunnel, we will see a short film, which describe how the tunnel was discovered, tells the story of the original length of the tunnel (23 KM!), and shows the beauty of Alona's Park.
Very exciting site for adults and families.
Link to the Mey Kedem website is: https://meykedem.co.il/english/
12. Caesarea national park- Caesarea national park is divided to three areas: The roman/Crusader city, The Aqueduct, The Birds Mosaic.
12.1. The roman/Byzantine/Crusader city- The story of the city and its magnificent past are evidenced by its impressive remains. The archaeological findings, many of them outstandingly large, are the basis for the uniqueness of the Caesarea National Park and its importance for understanding the period.
Throughout the park there are items from a number of periods, testimony to its past history. The earliest findings are attributed to the Herodian period, i.e. the beginnings of the city during the reign of King Herod. The theater, the palace and the hippodrome are the largest and most prominent of the buildings on the site from this period, and they are joined by more structures in the Herodian city, among them the ancient lavatory, the bath house and more. From the Byzantine period a luxurious villa was found in the city, beautiful mosaic floors and the remains of a church. The Crusader period left the moat around the city, the poterna (escape door), the fortified wall, the gates and the towers above the water line. Within the area of the Crusader city there are also remains of the Bosnian Moslem village.
12.2. The Aqueduct- On the aqueduct beach, one can take pleasure in viewing the ancient aqueduct that transported spring water to the Roman city. Aqueducts were built with the help of advanced engineering and technological know-how that was very impressive for the period.
12.3. The "Birds Mosaic"- a special mosaic floor from the Byzantine period, clearly showing many species of birds, is located north of the national park (close to the access road to the aqueduct).
In the Park there is a new exhibition of remains which were found in the excavations, and film, which describe the history of King Herods.
Very Interesting. Link to the Caesarea website is: https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/caesarea-national-park/
13. Utopia Orchid Park- In the heart of the Coastal plain region, an enchanting tropical rain forest grows with thousands of orchids from around the world, tropical plants, a myriad of animals and even carnivorous plants.
It's a small, moist tropical forest with mostly bushes, ferns and masses of amazing orchids of all shapes and species. These grow next to waterfalls that drain into water pools and other aquatic plants and in the background a variety of poultry birds, above all covering the huge greenhouse ceiling. Outside of the greenhouse there are medium sized grassy areas with two mazes.
The place is mainly suitable to families with kids up to 12 years old. But, it is something different and unique, and for children it can be a positive break, from the "adult's sites".
Link to the Utopia Orchid Park website is: http://www.utopiapark.co.il/english/
14. The National Monument to the Red Army Victory over Nazi Germany- Near the coast, in the heart of the coastal city Netanya, there is a beautiful, which honor the victims of the Red Army over Nazi Germany, Praises the sacrifice given by the Red Army's soldiers (more than 23 million of them), and mention the holocaust.
This site was founded in 2012. Due to its historical and national importance, the monument was inaugurated in the presence of Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin and Israeli President Mr. Shimon Peres.
The memorial is designed as a maze, in which key tragic events in the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust are depicted in reliefs. At the end of the maze - the emergence into the light, into the open air, where white wings soar to the heavens, as a symbol of hope and peace, against the backdrop of Netanya's breathtaking coastline. Very beautiful and interesting site!
Link to the Monument website is (PDF document in three languages- Hebrew, English, Russian) is: https://www.netanya.muni.il/_Uploads/dbsAttachedFilesSecure/andarta2.pdf
15. Apollonia National Park (Tel Arsuf)- Apollonia National Park is on a Kurkar (calcareous sandstone) promontory facing the seashore of Herzliya.
The city of Arsuf was established by the Phoenicians at the beginning of the Persian period ( 6th to 4th century BC ) , and was named Arshoff after the Reshef , to the storm and the Phoenician war . In the Persian's rule period, as mentioned in the Ashmonazar inscription, The Phoenician settlement that existed at that time, was engaged in the manufacture of the scarlet color and had trade relations with the Aegean and Greece.In the Hellenistic period continued settlement instead develop. During this period, the city was included in the control of the Seleucid kingdom, and the city served as a port and dock for ships sailing between Jaffa and Dor. The alien population with the Hellenic tendencies that made up the local demographic fabric changed the site name from "Arsuf" (My name) to "Polonia" (Greek name). The two gods Reshef and Apollo were identified with gods Reshef and Apollo were identified with each other.
In the Roman period the city grew and developed. The settlement became an urban center for the entire area.
Since then, the city extended and shrinks, on and off, during the periods.
In March 1265 came the Sultan of the Mameluke Baibars, led his army on the city, and after 40 days of siege it fell. Beavers destroyed its walls and fort, and it has remained deserted ever since.
Pastor Evgenius Roja visited Apollonia in the first half of the 17th century and reported that it is a large village populated by Muslims, Jews and Greeks. It is the only evidence of a Jewish settlement in Apollonia.
Link to the Apollonia website is: https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/apollonia-national-park-tel-arsuf/
