The Yoav Yehuda Regional Council area has so much going for
it.
Stretching out from the southern reaches of the Jerusalem Hills in
the direction of Kiryat Gat, it is close to where most of the country’s
population lives and has plenty of eye-catching landscapes to offer city
dwellers.
In fact, the region has lots to offer both indoors and out,
with museums, a well appointed spa center, stables, mountain biking trails,
sprawling vineyards, jeep trips, goat farms and a honey-producing facility, all
within short driving distances.
Visitors interested in the history of the
locale should enjoy a trip to the Eran Shamir Moshava Museum in Mazkeret Batya,
which houses a wide range of items of historical and aesthetic value. The
institution also plays an active role in the documentation and preservation of
historic sites in the area, and some of the results of its fieldwork are on
display in the museum.
For more information: (08) 939-4525;
www.mazkeret-batya.muni.il Moshav Naham, near Beit Shemesh, has a more active
museum experience on offer, which it calls A Tour of the Remains of the Har Tuv
Colony. The colony was founded by Bulgarian immigrants in 1895 and led a
checkered existence until the site was ultimately abandoned in 1948. The tour
starts with a visit to the Colony Museum (Muzeon Hamoshava), with a look at
photographs and documents relating to the colony, followed by a tour of a number
of historic local spots, including the ruins of the 19th-century Mission House,
and remains of the colony and the cemetery.
For more information: (02)
533-0007; 052-228-6777 Farther south, the Katif Center Visitors’ Center at
Nitzan, on Route 4 between Ashkelon and Ashdod, offers a two-hour program that
takes in an experiential tour relating to the Israeli community in Gush Katif,
with movies and items of art made by the former residents, who have been
evacuated.
For more information: 077-432-0515; 054- 777-5604;
www.mkatif.org.There is a visitors’ center of a different kind at Moshav
Tal Shahar, off Route 3 near the Nahshon Junction, located at the Shvil Izim (Goat Path) dairy farm. The center runs workshops and activities for all ages
and groups, on topics relating to goat rearing, milking and cheese
production.
For more information: (08) 949-5964; www.shvilizim.co.il Milk
is not the only liquid produced in the Yoav Yehuda region. There are a large
number of wineries dotted all over the area that make a wide range of quality
wines.
The Kahanov Winery at Gedera (052-393- 6999; www.kahanov.co.il),
for example, produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and port-style
wines, while the Raman Winery (054-459-8080) at Moshav Nir Banim near Kiryat Gat
produces and sells wines and cheeses, as well as offering catering
services.In recent years, boutique breweries have proliferated around
the region, most of which are only too happy to admit members of the public and
show them around.
One such outfit, the Abeer Haela brewery, can be found
on Moshav Tzafririm. It holds beer tasting events and also sells organic goats’
cheeses and yogurt.
For more information: 050-555-7847 Just across the
other side of the main road to Kiryat Gat, Srigim Brewery, on Moshav
Li’on-Srigim, produces several varieties of beer and operates a visitors’ center
with 45-minute tours.
For more information: 052-622-7679; 052- 593-8287;
www.srigim-beer.co.il The Yoav Yehuda region also has plenty of natural and
other outdoor fun things to see and do. The Stalactite Cave near Ness Harim is a
truly breathtaking natural phenomenon, while the Action Park near Lachish offers
a wide range of attractions and facilities for children up to age 14.
For
more information: (08) 681-8818 And if you want to get a compact overview of
some of the country’s most important and beautiful urban spots, the Mini Israel
site has most of our prominent buildings – in miniature – and has all sorts of
fun activities for children.
For more information: 1-700-559-559;
www.minisrael.co.il
The more energetic visitor to the region can enjoy the
numerous mountain bike trails that crisscross the area and take in some
delightful landscapes through areas such as Canada Park, the Adullam Park trail
and Haruvit Forest.
If you’re looking to chill out in the most relaxing
way or perhaps recover from a thrilling but strenuous bike ride around the
region, you might want to get yourself over to the Hamei Yoav Thermo-mineral
Baths of Israel, located between Kiryat Gat and Ashkelon, just off Route
35.
The spa and treatment center nestles in a charming compound, replete
with bubbling springs. The facility, which is under new management, is designed
to maintain the natural harmony around it. The owners are renovating the baths
and introducing new features to include a high-quality spa, VIP hall,
thermo-mineral baths, cozy luxury hosting suites, a restaurant, and three
conference and events auditoriums. A new amphitheater, to host shows, is now
under construction.
The water used for the Hamei Yoav baths is rich in
minerals and sulfur, which help to renew skin cell growth and cleanse the body
of excess fats and sweat. The high temperature of the thermo-mineral water also
reduces blood pressure and enhances cardiovascular performance. The center
offers a range of packages, including a massage plus breakfast or business
lunch, and there are special rates for senior citizens.
For more
information: (08) 672-1150; www.hamei-yoav.co.il.
This article was made
possible with the help of the Israel Ministry of
Tourism.
www.goisrael.gov.il