Two interests come together in Alonei Abba: the history of the Templar church and a nature trail in the nearby Alonei Abba Nature Reserve. The church links a specific year of construction with the story of the settlement’s founding; the circular trail passes through oak forest and meadows. When choosing a destination, you can weigh whether Templar history or a walk outdoors is the bigger draw for you.
The Templar Church and Local History
The Templar church in Alonei Abba was built in 1915 by a group of Templar Christians who, among other things, founded Alonei Abba-Waldheim. The year of construction and the story of the settlement’s founding are linked: the building tells of both the Templar Christians and their role in founding Alonei Abba-Waldheim. This makes it possible to explore the church’s architecture and the settlement’s history together, through a specific historical reference point. For visitors interested in architectural history, this connection is a distinctive aspect of Alonei Abba.
The name of the settlement also points to another story: Alonei Abba is named after paratrooper Abba Berdichev, who was murdered by the Nazis while operating in Germany. The Hannah Levav Gallery is across from the church, in a Templar house. The name, the church and the gallery building offer different ways to engage with local history: the name leads to a person, the church to its construction in 1915, and the gallery building to its Templar-house context.
Visiting and the Circular Trail
The historic church reopened to visitors in September 2025. Check the current access arrangements before your visit. In Alonei Abba, day visits are also possible, with a guided tour on site, conversations with artists and workshops. If you plan to take part in one of these activities, confirm the current arrangements in advance. This lets you shape your visit around the activities that interest you most, rather than assuming a particular schedule.
Another way to spend the day is to walk the circular trail in the nearby Alonei Abba Nature Reserve. The trail is 1.5 kilometres long and passes through oak forest and meadows. It is considered easy and suitable for families. Its length, circular route and landscape give you practical points to consider if you would like to complement Alonei Abba’s cultural focus with time in nature. The trail is within the nature reserve and is therefore a separate point of interest from the church and the day visits in the settlement.
More archaeological perspectives in the Northern District
The wider Northern District destination adds another historical perspective to Alonei Abba’s Templar history: the archaeology of ancient cities and sites. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with biblical history; the visit focuses on the upper city. Its features include Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE, and the Canaanite palace used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The underground water collection system is an example of sophisticated engineering adapted to the geography for water storage. Three-metre-wide steps are carved into the walls of the vertical shaft.
Tel Megiddo is also among the historical sites in the Northern District. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of temples, the continuity of religious activity and the documented ritual practices. The orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. This gives you a clear distinction when choosing a theme: Alonei Abba offers the Templar church and its local history, while Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo focus on archaeological remains and city sites.
Discover more destinations: Ya'ara, Chorazin, Petah Tikva, Tze'elim, Kokhav Ya'ir, Even Menachem, Lochamei Hageta'ot, Yokne'am
For the main travel overview: Israel.
