Yehiam Fortress National Park is a national park in Western Galilee North of Israel.
background
In the area of a castle from the Crusader era, which was later rebuilt into a fortress under the Ottomans, a predominantly agricultural kibbutz has existed since the War of Independence, the ruins in the Yehiam Fortress National Park are in the area of the kibbutz.
history
The first traces of settlement on the hill date from the 6th century, they are ruins and mosaics of a Byzantine church.
In the middle of the 12th century. a fortified farm was built here under the rule of the Crusaders. At the beginning of the 13th century the Teutonic Knights acquired the land, around 1240 a crusader castle was built here, which was named Judin. The knights could not withstand attacks by the Muslim troops under Sultan Baibars, the fortress was captured and described in later travel reports as the destroyed ruin "Khirbat Jiddin".
Under the Ottoman governor Zahir al-Umar, the ruins were in the 18th century. rebuilt into a fortress, dug a trench, reinforced walls and towers and built in a Turkish bathhouse. Later the fortifications fell into disrepair and were at the end of the 19th century. described as uninhabited ruins.
In the 20th century a Bedouin tribe used the walls as a cattle shelter. Even before the War of Independence, Kibbutz Yehiam was built in the ruins of the old fortress, living conditions were miserable, parasites in the former goat stalls and poor drinking water quality threatened the health of the residents. In January 1948, the kibbutz was attacked by irregular Arab units of the Arab Liberation Army, with the support of units of the Haganah, the months-long siege could be survived. With the military defeat of the Arab fighters, the Arab population was evacuated from the village of Khirbat Jiddin. After the War of Independence, new houses were built for the growing population of the kibbutz, who mainly work in agriculture.
landscape
The ruins of the crusader castle and the Ottoman fortress are located on a 415 m high hill on the slope of the Yehiam Stream, from the keep tower the view is free as far as the coastline.
Flora and fauna
Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos), the carob tree and the laurel tree (Laurus nobilis) dominate the hilly area of Western Galilee; Aleppo pine, cypress and eucalyptus grow here through afforestation. The fauna corresponds to that of the Galilean hill areas, in addition to some birds of prey, small rodents, lizards and insects can be seen.
climate
Israel's north-west coast has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool winters, and compared to other countries, rainfall in the winter months is above average. Rain is practically never expected in the summer months.
getting there
From the highway 89 take the exit onto the street 8833 in the direction Yehi'am and En Ya'aqov, a dead end leads to Yehi'am further and is also marked with the brown signposts of the National Park Society. The gate to the kibbutz is only closed at night, for Yehi'am Fortress Park it just goes straight ahead.
Fees / permits
- 1 Yehiam Fortress National Park. Tel.: 972 (0)4 8276600, Fax: 972 (0)4 8276601. Open: Summer: Sa – Thu 08: 00-17: 00, Fri 08: 00-16: 00; Winter: Sa-Thu 08:00 am-4:00pm, Fri 08:00 am-3:00pm.Price: 14.00 / 7.00 NIS.
mobility
In the national park area one moves on foot, the ruins can practically only be explored on foot (
); the toilets and the access to the crusader fortress are wheelchair accessible.
Tourist Attractions
- the keep, a 15 m high three-storey tower, dates back to the time of the crusaders.
- the entrance / gate area and the round tower in the north-western corner, like most of the still visible complex, date from the Ottoman period.
- the reception hall probably also originates mainly from the Ottoman period; The members of Kibbutz Yehi'am lived in this vault during the siege of the War of Independence.
- Defensive positions around the fortress were used by the Israeli defenders of the Haganah in the War of Independence.
activities
- Visit of the castle complex, view over Western Galilee to the coastline
shop
kitchen
accommodation
security
trips
- similar monuments are the crusader fortresses Montfort and Nimrod Fortress
