At Kibbutz Ma‘agan, Beit Hatzanhan tells the story of the Jewish parachutists in the Land of Israel. A walking variation of the Kinneret Trail passes near the museum; Maagan Eden Holiday Village is on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Maagan therefore brings together a cultural subject, a specific route, and a stay by the water.
Beit Hatzanhan and the Kinneret Trail
Beit Hatzanhan is a museum about the history of the Jewish parachutists. An exhibition and a film commemorate them. The museum also has an event hall and an exhibition about the history of the kibbutz. The two exhibitions focus on different subjects: one is devoted to the parachutists, the other to the history of Ma‘agan. Visits must be arranged in advance.
A walking variation of the Kinneret Trail heads south, through the banana-sorting shed at Kibbutz Ma‘agan, down to the Sea of Galilee, and past Beit Hatzanhan; it ends at the kibbutz. The route description gives a specific sequence through Ma‘agan. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
Ma‘aganim is a family-run bicycle tour business founded in 2014 at Kibbutz Ma‘agan. The bicycle rental service offers a wide selection of routes around the Sea of Galilee. The walking variation of the Kinneret Trail and Ma‘aganim’s routes therefore differ primarily in the area they cover: the trail passes through the kibbutz, while the cycling routes cover the area around the lake.
A stay by the lake
Maagan Eden Holiday Village is at Kibbutz Ma‘agan on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee, right by the lake. The resort includes a swimming pool and a sandy beach. Lifeguards are on duty at the beach during the swimming season, from April to October. If you’re planning your stay around the beach, it’s best to confirm its seasonal operating dates before your trip.
The holiday village also offers the Adam Surf Sailing Club. It provides surfing courses and workshops for beginners and advanced surfers; participation is subject to a fee. The pool, beach, and courses offer different ways to enjoy the lakeside resort. When planning, check which of these are relevant to your stay.
Archaeological subjects in the wider travel destination of the Northern District
In the wider travel destination of the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer distinct archaeological subjects. At Tel Hazor, the visit focuses on the Upper City. This includes Solomon’s Gate, dating to the 10th century BCE, with six chambers and two towers. A Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE; the Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most important in the Levant.
The underground waterworks at Tel Hazor also demonstrate sophisticated engineering adapted to the geography. The excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, with three-meter-wide steps cut into its vertical walls. Tel Hazor is also a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible.
Tel Megiddo, also in the Northern District, is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible. The Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of ritual activity, and the documented ritual practices. The orthogonal city plan from the Iron Age has few parallels in the Levant. The two sites thus offer different archaeological perspectives: Tel Hazor features, among other things, a gate, a palace, and a water system, while Tel Megiddo is known for its temple complex and city plan.
Discover more destinations: Mi'ilya, Matta‘, Kfar Adumim, Bruchim Qela' Alon, Vered Hagalil, Bet Oren, Nazareth, Yeroẖam
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