Harashim: Vineyard, Forest and Views

Harashim can be explored through a variety of experiences: wine-growing on Mount Shazor, a forest section of the Beit Hakerem Trail with agricultural paths, and a nearby archaeological find. When planning your stay, you can choose whether to focus on the landscape and outdoor activities, wine or history.

Vineyard and Wine Bar

The Harashim Winery vineyard was established in Harashim in 1987. The winery describes its location on Mount Shazor, at an altitude of 860 metres, as one of the rainiest places in Israel. The elevation and rainfall give the vineyard a specific landscape setting, while the year it was established provides a historical point of reference.

The winery’s wine bar is also part of this local theme. Under the name “שישי בכרם”, it offers tastings of the winery’s wines on Fridays. Check before your visit whether the offering is available on your chosen date. This gives you a choice of different focuses: the landscape around the vineyard or a tasting as an opportunity to explore the winery’s wines.

Forest Trail and Viewpoint

Section 10 of the Beit Hakerem Trail passes through forest and, in places, along agricultural paths to the Harashim viewpoint. It is described as the highest viewpoint in the Misgav settlements. The alternation between forest and agricultural paths is a specific feature of the route; the viewpoint gives the section a named destination. If you are planning a hike, check the current route before setting out.

Tel Harashim is located near Harashim. Archaeological remains of an ironworking workshop have been discovered there. This find adds an archaeological perspective on the area to its landscape and wine-related themes. It is a distinct point of reference in local history, alongside the vineyard and trail section.

Archaeological Highlights in the Northern District

In the wider destination of the Northern District, Tel Hazor offers a distinct archaeological focus. The visit centres on the upper city. Its features include Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace at Tel Hazor was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE.

The underground water-collection system also demonstrates a distinctive engineering achievement in water storage, adapted to the geographical conditions. The excavated shaft is 45 metres deep; steps three metres wide are cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. The fortifications of Tel Hazor are considered the finest example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev. The national park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 towards Ayelet Hashahar; check your navigation before setting out.

Tel Megiddo is also in the Northern District. It is one of three tells with significant remains of cities with biblical connections, closely linked to events in the Bible. The Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of its religious activity and its documented ritual practices. From a later period, the orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. These examples add another historical dimension to the Northern District, distinct from Harashim’s local themes.

Plan a Stay That Suits You

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide on your preferred focus: the vineyard and wine bar, the trail section and its viewpoint, or archaeological sites in the Northern District. If you would like to combine several of these interests, plan your days around the specific locations and check each route.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Sheikh Danun, Karkom, Tsipori, Gita, Kfar Kama, Ramat Yishai, Me'ona, Gilon.

For the wider travel overview: Northern District.