Zichron Yaakov Things to Do

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"Ha-Nadiv ha-Yadooa" ("the well known benefactor") was the nickname of Baron Binyamin Edmond de-Rothschild, who generously supported some of the first Zionist agricultural settlements ("Moshavot") in the Land of Israel in the late 19th century. His support was essential for the fledgling farms, struggling to survive against all odds.

In 1954 the Baron's bones, together with his wife Ada's, were transferred from Europe by an Israeli Navy ship to a new memorial park south of Zichron-Yaakov, one of the Moshavot he had supported in the past and were so dear to his heart.
Today this is a beautiful, large park (4500 dunams), situated on a gentle slope of Mt. Carmel, and unique in Israel for beauty and size.
Above the entrance gate you can see the Rothschild family's coat of arms, with five arrows representing the five sons of the founder of the family. Among other attractions, there is a rose garden with a sun-dial, an "aroma garden" with spices and other aromatic plants, a tropical palm-tree garden and a small cascade garden.

In 2008 a new visitor center was built, with an exhibition, an auditorium showing a short film about the history of the Rothschilds and about the site, and other services. Outside the memorial park there is a large nature park with short and medium-length hiking trails in nature. Trail maps can be downloaded from the website, or purchased for NIS 2 in the visitor center. There is also a picnic sute nearby.

After a morning in the historical center of Zichron-Yaakov, this is a perfect place to spend the afternoon!

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Zichron Yaakov is fortunate that it escaped the construction frenzy which turned many former Israeli villages and small towns into modern cities.

Its old Main Street, "Rehov Ha-Meyasdim" (Street of the Founders), as most of the old Moshava (village), has escaped modern development and retains its original character.
In more recent years it was lovingly restored and is now a very pleasant pedestrian street.
The facades were restored with original architectural elements of the old farmhouses. You can still see the enclosures which used to be farmyards and are now lined with old-style shops and galleries.

The street has been renamed "Wine Road", as it ends in the Carmel winery.
It has many specialty shops, restaurants and cafes, and is a focus of attraction for many visitors from Israel and abroad.

You can stroll up and down the street, dine or have a drink, and feel the spirit of the founding fathers and the Baron Rothschild still lingering here.

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Zikhron Ya'akov (meaning in Hebrew: "Jacob's Memorial") is a town in Israel) south of Haifa, and part of the Haifa District. We ' in Israel, just call it by a shortened"Zikhron") .
It is located at the southern end of the Carmel mountain range overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, near the coastal highway (Highway 2).
It was one of the first Jewish settlements and it was founded in 1882 by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild and named in honor of his father.
The original Carmel-Mizrahi Winery continues to make wine in Zikhron Yaakov. The town draws many tourists attracted to its picturesque setting and historic city center whose restored main street of landmark buildings, called Derekh HaYayin ("Path of the Wine"), houses coffeehouses and boutique shops selling locally-made crafts, jewellery, and antiques.
Visiting Zichron is easy to do if you are on the way to Haifa.
If you have free time before going Haifa, make a little jump to Zichron, and you'll find little city , with a mix style of old and new.
If wines are your favorite - the Zichron winery is one of the most popular in Israel, you can go visit and taste.

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Visit the beautiful gardens and the tomb of Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his wide Ada at Ramat Ha'Nadiv, a little south of Zikhron Ya'aqov. The gardens are located on the western slope of the Carmel mountains, overlooking the Mediterranean. There is no entrance fee and you can also enjoy a wide selection of hiking trails in the nature park surrounding the gardens.

Here at the Tishbi Vineyard is the ONLY place that I know of that provides you with a "filling station"..you bring your own bottle and fill it. You pay per liter and the last time we were there it was only 17 Israeli Shekel per liter (that is about US3.5), a very good price.

This is Arie my friend who goes with us on our Wine&Cheese trips...yes, exactly, we take trips just for the express purpose of visiting vineyards and producers of cheese..you can find them in their dozens all over Israel, so each time we choose a different area and just go from one to the next till we acquire enough for a picnic and to take home of course !!

This is the sign you have to keep your eyes open for, it is just around a curve of the road and if you are coming from the south, the road also has a white line that you cannot cross, so you must drive a few hundred meters further to make a turn and come back.

The view from Zichron Yaakov is very beautiful.
You can see the mountains and from the other side you can enjoy the beautiful view of the sea.
The place itself looks like something european and people called Zichron Yaakov "small provance"

Benjamin's pool is a big water pool that The baron (Edmond de Rothschild) built for the citizens of the town to help them to carry water.
You can enjoy beautiful landscapes from the top of the tower.

Carmel Mizrahi Winery is the larget winery in Israel with 75% from the market.
This winery is working since 1882 and you can enjoy a nice tour here , learn about the winery , how they are making wine and from what and more.