Are you one of those who want to travel and hike in the Golan Heights but are not built for a long trek or overnight stay in the area? So just for you, we have a great suggestion – one of the most amazing sites in the Golan Heights: Nimrod’s Fortress.
The fortress is located on a ridge at an altitude of about 800 meters above sea level, at the foot of Mount Hermon. Beyond the stunning scenery, a walk around the ancient fortress will incorporate a glorious history: the archeological site, which was established in the Middle Ages, is one of the most popular national parks in Israel and suitable for families, groups, and perfect for those looking for a bit of a foreign atmosphere.
Nimrod’s Fortress National Park
1 km – about an hour and a half – easy difficulty level
For those looking for a light and interesting day trip, a tour of Nimrod’s Fortress is an excellent choice. The tour of the fort takes something like two hours, during which you can tour inside the fort itself and also in the stone wall and the 11 towers that surround it. From every corner you can overlook a breathtaking 360-degrees view: from the west facing balconies, we can see the wonderful Hula Valley that stretches to the foot of the mountain, and on a clear day we will even see Kibbutz Dafna and Dan, and the beginning of the Israel National Trail.
If we look north, we can see the village of Ra’gar, the rocky bank of the Banias River and the Israel-Lebanon border. By the way, the same proximity to the border fence and the surrounding Lebanese landscape were one of the reasons why Nimrod Fortress was used for the filming of the movie “Beaufort”.
Some History
Okay, here it gets a little complicated. One theory claims that the Nimrod Fortress is a Crusader fortress built in the late 1100s, while the Crusaders ruled the nearby city of Banias. On the other hand, another theory holds that the fortress was built only about a hundred years later, in 1228, as part of the attempts of the Ayyubid rulers to defend themselves against an attack by the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Frederick II. At first it was a relatively small and insignificant fortress, but when it was conquered by the Mamluk forces in 1260, led by their ruler Sultan Baibars, the fort was enlarged.
Baibars’ emblem, a young lion playing with a mouse by his foot , still adorns the fort, in addition to an inscription of four rows of writings that are engraved on a stone about six feet long.
With the expulsion of the Crusaders from Israel in the 13th century, the fortress lost its strategic importance, and from the 15th century served as a kind of prison for nobles who rebelled in power. During the Ottoman rule the fortress lost its status, until it was finally abandoned. It stood empty and neglected for centuries and served as an occasional shelter for shepherds and passers-by who sought temporary refuge from the ravages of nature.
During his visit to Israel in 1867, the writer Mark Twain described the fortress with the words: “This is probably the greatest mound of ruins of its kind in the world.” On the eve of the Six Day War, the fortress served as an observation post for Syrian artillery ranges, and with the liberation of the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon by Israel, it was declared a national park.
Inside the Fort
The tour begins at the impressive gate of the fort (1). After turning right along the fortress wall, you can notice a large block of stone with an inscription that tells about the construction of the fortress, this is the Baibars inscription (pictured above). We will continue along the guard towers and water reservoirs until we reach the keep tower, where to this day the remains of magnificent halls, water pools and many rooms have been preserved. (14, the keep is basically a “fortress within a fortress”, designed to provide a second line of defense in case the lower part of the fortress is occupied. From the top of the tower there is a spectacular view). Continuing along the northern wall of the fort will lead us to the “Secret Passage”, through which one can exit the fort without being exposed to an enemy outside it. The height of the space of the passage is impressive, and is more fitting for a glorious royal entrance than a secret passage.
Main Points of Attraction in Nimrod’s Fortress –
The Baibars inscription – near the western gate, inside the fortress, is the largest and most imposing inscription ever found in Israel to date. Four lines, engraved on a stone six meters long, glorify the Sultan Baibars, in whose period the main part of the fortress was constructed, other commanders and the date: 674 after the Hegira (1275 CE).
The south-western tower – an enormous 4-storey tower that was expanded during the Mamluk period. The tower is of great importance because it defended the relatively vulnerable southern side.
The cistern – located north of the south-western tower, a large cistern into which rainwater flows via a now-ruined system of channels. The drinking fountain is located on the external wall on the southern side of the reservoir.
“The Beautiful Tower” – a very impressive seven-sided building. Due to its size, a clustered column was built at its center, from which the arches of the roof spread out to the walls of the building. The carving of the stones is on a very high standard.
The moat – a channel carved out of the rock, separating Nimrod’s Fortress from its keep. The purpose of the moat was to protect the keep from enemy attack.
The keep – on the highest point in the castle is the keep, built as an independent fortress, with its own moat and wall. It provided a line of defense in case the lower part of the fort was captured. There is a spectacular view from the top of it.
The northern tower – an imposing tower at the western end of the northern wall, built in 1230 CE. The well-preserved tower includes a hall with arrow slits in its walls, from which a staircase can be climbed to the roof. In the 15th century, the place apparently served as a prison.
The western gate – the stones of the arch over the gate fell during an earthquake that occurred in 1759 CE.
The secret passage – alongside the gate there is a large opening leading to a beautiful staircase leading to a secret passage, through which it is possible to leave the fortress without being discovered by the enemy outside.
The cistern – outside the fortress, on its eastern side, there is a water cistern measuring 26X54 meters, and 5 meters deep. Its location on a slope enabled the collection of rainwater that served the inhabitants of the castle.
Getting to Nimrod’s Fortress
The fort is located on Road 989 between Kiryat Shmona and Hermon. About 30 minutes drive from Kiryat Shmona.
In Waze: Nimrod Fortress National Park.
Opening Hours
- Summer hours: Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 17:00 – 08:00, Friday and holiday eves: 16:00 – 08:00
- Winter hours: Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 16:00 – 08:00, Friday and holiday eves: 15:00 – 08:00
- Holiday eves: 13:00 – 08:00
- Yom Kippur eve: 13:00 – 08:00
Entrance to the park closes one hour before cited closing time