Zickron Yakov

This picturesque moshava (a form of rural settlement in Israel) semi-cooperative farming community built at the tip of the Carmel mountain range is the first moshava ever built in Israel and is a main tourism and vacation site in this region.

Anyone who visits Zikhron Ya’akov goes straight to Ha-Nadiv Street, and Ha-Meyasdim Street in the town center, which has become a very popular pedestrian mall, thanks to the special atmosphere in this place. The streets are paved with stones and pass between the moshava’s original houses (some of which have been reconstructed).

Two of the moshava’s original buildings have been turned into history museums: Beit Aharonson – dedicated to the history of the pre-state NILI underground resistance organization – and the Museum of the First Aliya (wave of immigration to Israel).

From its early days, Zikhron Ya’akov two main characteristics were: wine and tranquility. The moshava’s founding farmers cultivated vineyards and the large winery built here in 1889 became the area’s most important industry. The winery (now owned by Carmel Mizrahi wineries), has a visitors center with guided tours. During the British Mandate period (1917-1948), the moshava became a holiday resort and rural vacations site, and to this day has hotels, spas and guesthouses.