Lehavot Habashan brings together the Kibbutz’s history and tangible connections to hills, water and landscape. Givat Lahavot and the Nukta represent the early period of the settlement’s history; Nahal Orevim and the streams in the Kibbutz setting shape its landscape. Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo, by contrast, are distinct archaeological highlights within the broader travel destination of the Northern District.
Founding and early history
On November 2, 1945, Kibbutz Lahavot HaBashan was first founded on Givat Lahavot. The Nukta still stands on Givat Lahavot today and is the only building from the Kibbutz’s original location. This makes the settlement’s early history tangible through a precisely dated beginning and a specific architectural landmark.
Water, landscape and remembrance
The entire Kibbutz looks out over Nahal Orevim. The small stream Nahal Lahavot HaBashan flows within the Kibbutz. A stream flows through the center of the Nofey HaBashan holiday village, fed by water from the Hermon’s snowmelt. These connections are distinct: Nahal Orevim is the viewpoint, Nahal Lahavot HaBashan is a named small stream within the Kibbutz, and at Nofey HaBashan the water’s origin is part of the landscape description.
At the Kibbutz’s new location, the North Tower now serves as a memorial. This brings together different historical aspects: the Nukta, a building from the Kibbutz’s original location on Givat Lahavot, and the North Tower’s present-day commemorative role.
Archaeology in the broader travel destination of the Northern District
In the broader travel destination of the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer distinct archaeological highlights. Both are biblical tells with significant remains of cities associated with the Bible, though their distinctive features differ.
At Tel Hazor, the visit focuses on the upper city. Solomon’s Gate dates to the 10th century BCE and has six chambers and two towers. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. Tel Hazor also preserves significant remains of an underground water-collection system, a sophisticated engineering achievement adapted to the geography for storing water. An excavated vertical shaft is 45 meters deep, with steps three meters wide cut into its walls. The fortifications are considered the finest example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.
Tel Megiddo offers a different emphasis. Its orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. The Early Bronze Age temple complex is considered exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of religious activity and the documented ritual practices. Tel Megiddo is also one of three tells that preserve significant remains of cities associated with the Bible and are closely connected with biblical events.
Tel Hazor National Park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar. Check your navigation before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Mevo Modi'im, Ein Zivan, Shlomi, Mazkeret Batya, Lochamei Hageta'ot, Yahel, Kiryat Ono, Yehud-Monosson.
Go to the main travel overview: Israel.
