Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman layers, along with an olive press still in operation today, reveal two very different sides of Mi'ilya. Antiquities in the cellar of Chateau du Roi add to them. For travel planning, this offers a choice between archaeological finds, a visit after a meal and traditional oil production.
Archaeological Finds in Mi'ilya
Excavations in Mi'ilya uncovered settlement layers from the Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The finds also include a cistern whose construction, according to the evidence, dates to no later than Roman times. Another find is the remains of a structure with an eastern wing (Area A) and a western wing (Area B) that was used as a winery. Different kinds of archaeological traces can therefore be found side by side: settlement layers from several periods, a water structure and a building associated with wine production. The evidence cannot, therefore, be reduced to a single period or use.
Antiquities at Chateau du Roi
The cellar of Chateau du Roi contains a Crusader-era winery from the 12th century and a Roman cistern. After dining at Chateau du Roi, visitors can view the antiquities found in the cellar. Those who wish to combine the two can plan a restaurant visit and a look at the finds together. This is a different way to engage with the site than through archaeological excavation findings: here, the visit and the meal at Chateau du Roi go hand in hand.
Olive Oil and Traditional Production
El Maazara is a 400-year-old, family-run olive press in Mi'ilya that still produces oil using a traditional method. A donkey powers the millstone. Unlike the archaeological finds, this is an ongoing production process, not just traces from past periods. For those interested, the distinctive feature is this method of working and its continuation. If you would like to visit the press, check directly with the operator about visiting arrangements.
Archaeological Sites in the Northern District
In the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer further archaeological sites. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible; the visit focuses on the Upper City. Architectural and technical remains stand side by side there: Solomon's Gate, dating to the 10th century BCE, has six chambers and two towers, and a Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The water system includes a 45-meter-deep shaft with three-meter-wide steps cut into its walls. The system represents sophisticated engineering adapted to the geography for water storage.
Tel Megiddo is also a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible. Its orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. An Early Bronze Age temple complex is considered exceptional because of the number of its temples, the continuity of cult activity and the documented ritual practices. Comparing the two tells shows how different their archaeological highlights can be: at Tel Hazor, the gate, palace and water system stand out, among other features; at Tel Megiddo, the city plan and temple complex take center stage.
Finding a Hotel Based on Your Travel Interests
When looking for a hotel in Mi'ilya, it helps to first decide what interests you most: would you like to focus mainly on the local excavation findings, visit the antiquities in the cellar of Chateau du Roi after a meal, or learn about traditional olive production? These interests can guide your planning without setting a fixed itinerary. If you would like the olive press to be part of your stay, ask the operator directly about visiting arrangements.
Discover more destinations: Yesod Hamaala, Mizra‘, Lavi, Holon, Petah Tikva, Bet Oren, Udim, Shomera
For the main travel overview: Israel.
