Midreshet Ben Gurion: Archive, Gorge and Oasis

Midreshet Ben Gurion combines a distinctive historical connection with impressive scenery: the Ben-Gurion Archive is located in the town, while Nahal Zin cuts through a deep gorge at its foot. These themes give your trip planning a clear direction, depending on whether you are particularly interested in history, nature or both.

An Archive Closely Connected to the Town

The Ben-Gurion Archive is located in an educational centre named after Ben-Gurion, a midrasha. The present-day town of Midreshet Ben Gurion developed from this centre. The archive preserves his diaries, as well as letters to and from him dating from around 1900 to 1973. It also holds speeches, minutes of organisations and institutions in which he was active during the 20th century, and other items of this kind. The collections bring together personal documents and material relating to his work in various organisations and institutions.

The town's connection to Ben-Gurion is therefore not solely a matter of its setting: the town's origins and the educational centre named after Ben-Gurion are also linked. For your trip planning, the archive may be a point of reference if you are interested in historical and cultural connections.

Gorge, Springs and a Footpath to the Hut

At the foot of Midreshet Ben Gurion, Nahal Zin cuts through a deep gorge. Three springs feed a stream that flows year-round and an oasis. The gorge, watercourse and oasis form a striking natural focal point in the immediate surroundings of the destination.

Ben-Gurion's hut is also nearby, in Kibbutz Sde Boker. It can be reached by a footpath along the promenade. This brings together different interests in the surrounding area: Ben-Gurion's history and a landscape shaped by a gorge, springs and water. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can use these highlights to help plan your trip.

More Highlights Across the Southern District

The wider destination of the Southern District offers further distinct nature and culture themes. Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve encompasses Israel's largest oasis, with springs, waterfalls, ibex, rock hyraxes and flowing streams. A hiking trail there follows Nahal Arugot, which carries water year-round, to a hidden waterfall and pools in its upper reaches. Trail conditions may change after floods.

Masada offers a different historical perspective: the site is a symbol of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the final resistance of Jewish patriots against the Roman army in 73 AD. The remains of Herod's palaces and intact Roman siege works are preserved there; the latter are among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world. Registering in advance through the visit coordination system secures a place at Masada National Park for your selected visit date. Check the details for your date.

The Ramon Crater is also part of the wider Southern District and lies within the Zin Cliffs and Negev Highlands nature reserves. The visitor centre at the crater combines the life story of Israel's first astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel Ilan Ramon, with an introduction to the world's largest crater and its distinctive natural phenomena. Registering in advance through the visit coordination system secures a place at the visitor centre for your selected visit date; check the details beforehand.

Besor Park (Eshkol) lies on the river's eastern bank by the Ein Besor spring. This oasis has extensive lawns, picnic facilities and children's playgrounds. Marked cycling trails and a disc golf course add to the activities described there. The Southern District thus offers green parklands and active pursuits as distinct travel interests alongside its historic sites.

Discover more destinations: Zuqim, Maslul, Idan, Ein Bokek, Ashkelon, Mitzpe Ramon, Kfar Menahem, Kokhav Michael.

See the wider travel overview: Southern District.