We went to sleep on a kibbutz in the north, which is why we did not leave it

There are resorts in the country that should not be left out.

Such is Ein Zivan in the northern Golan, which beyond luxurious accommodation these days offers excellent summer attractions: cherry picking, a new farmers market, electric bike tours and wine, chickpeas and croissants that stand in line for them

Ziv Reinstein

23/06/2022

Thursday, 23 June 2022, 09:16 Updated: 09:24

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

• Share on general

• Comments

  Comments

Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the Golan (Photo: Ziv Reinstein, Editing: Nir Chen)

Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the northern Golan continues to renew its tourist attractions.

After anchors such as the well-known chocolate shop "De Karina" and the Pelter winery, which grew and will probably move to a new place not far from the kibbutz, more and more tourism businesses have started opening in the last two or three years

. Ein Zivan - a farmers' market called "

", which operates once every two weeks on Fridays.

In the market you will find the best Golan products, such as hard cheeses and breads, quality olive oil, fruits, natural juices, Druze sweets, jewelry, housewares and ceramics.

Everything is spread out on beautiful wooden carts that create a kind of path of stalls that goes out to the main plaza of the kibbutz, and even closed a road for vehicular traffic, so you can walk comfortably and safely.

Good to know (promoted)

The solution to knee pain is closer than ever - thanks to technology in the shoe

Served on behalf of Apostrophe Therapy

1968 Since.

Kibbutz Ein Zivan (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

The products of the area are fresh and delicious.

The entrance to the "Az-Is Market" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Between the stalls, housewares, ceramics and of course food (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

"If you have to choose one plant for a lonely island it is lavender"

Also in the news segment, it is a "field farm" of a field family that grows lavender and opened two months ago.

In general, lavender became a real interest in the Golan Heights when quite a few growing sites of the fragrant plant, which in Hebrew is called lavender, have emerged in recent years.

The more familiar ones are "Azizu" in the wing seat and "Novix" in the upper seat.

In the field farm, which is run by the couple Ruth and Rotem Sadeh from the kibbutz, you will find in these days of June-July the fragrant lavender blossom that paints 20 dunams of purple carpets.

"If you have to choose one plant for a lonely island, it's lavender," says Ruth, "because it also heals cuts, and especially soothes and helps with sleep."

The farm grows four types of lavender: Lavender and Gestapolia (which are for oil) as well as Phenomenal and Provence for dried flowers.

Along the way, they also grow bong, damask rose and other aromatic plants.

On a tour of the place (NIS 35) you can learn about the plant, why it grows great in the Golan (due to the cold and the good drainage soil of basalt) and you can buy soaps, oils and other fragrant lavender products in a charming shop renovated inside an old Circassian building.

In addition, a basket with cheeses, pastries, jams (NIS 195, without wine) is waiting (by prior arrangement) for those who want to have a picnic in one of the shady corners of the farm.

Field farm.

Monday through Friday, 3: 30-10: 00 p.m., 077-6020727.

She and her husband hung all this purple together with the family.

Ruth Sadeh on her farm (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

At the farm you can buy a basket of cheese, pastries and wine (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein system)

The croissant standing in line for him

The "Materlo" coffee in the kibbutz seems to no longer need to be introduced.

It only opened in January 2019 but Adi Peretz's special croissants have already made a name for themselves all over the country, and every Friday you will find people standing in line for them outside the cafe.

Some with charcoal, others with Camembert cheese or red tuna, which the locals take care to prepare in the morning.

"We mainly focus on croissants and that's what we're good at," says Adi Peretz, who adds that the most sought-after croissant is with Camembert cheese, but there are also croissants with a sweet filling according to the season.

For example, these days he and his team are adding to the French pastry patisserie cream, raspberry and cherry, or pistachio cream with white chocolate and geranium.

"Things change on a daily basis, the main thing is to be varied," he adds, referring to 30 sweet options to choose from and seven different savory sandwiches.

Materlo.

Tuesday-Saturday, 13: 00-09: 00.

"Focus on croissants and that's what we're good at."

Adi Peretz in "Materlo" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

These croissants put Camembert, red tuna and what not (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Legend Chickpeas

Above Matterlo is Rotem Spitzer's "hummus", which makes legendary hummus, with full of surprises like eggplant, fried onions and full of special dips.

In general, except for the Druze villages, you will hardly find hummus in the Golan, so this is great news and certainly when the hummus is excellent.

The hummus shop opened in the middle of the Corona days, in May 2020, and Rotem, who is originally from Kibbutz Ginosar on the Sea of ​​Galilee, went through several rounds in the north until he reached Kibbutz Ortal and found his place.

"The hummus-sabih and masbaha are our flagship dishes," says Rotem, who adds that everything you eat with him is made on the spot, except for the pitas, which are just perfect - soft, tender and warm that you feel like stroking and sticking to your cheek.

"The pitas come from Angel Bakery in Jerusalem and they go through a preparation process with us after they were frozen," Rotem explains.

And one more thing - try their excellent malabi which comes in three flavors: plain (rose water), caramel and most delicious - cherry.

Yum!

The hummus.

Every day except Sunday until 3pm, 077-6020723.

"The hummus-sabih and masbaha are our flagship dishes."

Rotem Spitzer in "The Hummusia" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

The excellent malabi in the "hummus" comes in three flavors (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Evening wine

In the evening, it is fun to enter the Bahat winery of Ofer Bahat, which started producing 100 bottles of wine a year in an old bucket, and now produces about 20,000 bottles a year, mainly from grapes grown mainly in the Golan, but not only.

In his vineyards, which are about a thousand meters above sea level and on basaltic soil, he grows Gvirztraminer, Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes from which white and red wine are made.

But not only wine you will find in the winery, in fact it is also a small restaurant that serves a variety of dishes, including pizzas, burgers, steak and chicken, and of course a cheese platter worth taking to the beautiful terrace adorned with green vine foliage these days, and just savoring a pleasant evening breeze and sipping wine.

Those who want can also book a tasting tour with eight types of wine that are aged in the barrel room with 47 French and American oak barrels, and also taste sweet liqueurs flavored with cherry, limoncello, chocolate and coffee that he makes from grape skins.

Bahat Winery.

Open every day except Saturday. Bottle price: from NIS 150-95.

Twilight is the best time.

The balcony at Bahat Winery (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Bahat Winery produces 20,000 bottles a year, but also not bad food at all (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Carnivore?

under arrest!

In the evening, not far from the kibbutz, to drive about 15 minutes on Route 91, which connects Ziv Zivan to the Gilboa Farm.

The old meat restaurant recently renewed its menu and also removed the kosher so that it is open on weekends.

The restaurant was founded by Avi Lalush in the late 90's and it went through several incarnations, until his son Nir joined it, and together in 2010 they founded the meat restaurant.

The meat dishes are based on Golan pasture, and agricultural produce from local farmers.

The menu includes a selection of dishes for carnivores, including the "double farm meal" (NIS 329), which is a treat of entrecote, butcher steak and sausages weighing 900 grams, in addition to salad, French fries and bread with dips, but vegetarians will also find how to for a week.

In addition, the best Golan wines - such as Gamla, Basalt and others are offered on the menu and of course children's dishes - Junior Burger and Schnitzel with French Fries.

On Thursday-Friday between 19:00 and 20:30 the restaurant is full, so try to come before or after and of course book a place in advance.

The Gilboa Farm.

Monday-Saturday 22: 00-12: 00, by prior arrangement.

Changed menu and removed kosher.

The Gilbon Farm Restaurant (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

900 grams of meat.

"The Double Farmers' Meal" (Photo: Walla !, The Gilbon Farm)

A cabin in the woods

Ein Zivan also offers quality accommodation in 49 guest rooms and wooden cabins, some of which are immersed in oak trees, so you do not have to look for a hotel in the Hula Valley and the Galilee.

The rooms are spacious and the rooms are suitable for families, and have a children's gallery on the second floor.

There is also cable TV for those who must, as well as a coffee machine (just a pity there is no small milk), a kitchenette and a small refrigerator (just a pity there is no bottle of water because the tap water is white at first. The small (and inexpensive) ones which are pretty basic for not a cheap price in the

summer.Besides, surrounded by wide and shady lawns which are a great "lawn" for family play and play, there is also a BBQ and a cozy sitting area on the terrace.Breakfast is probably one of the best Everything you can think of and feel like in the morning, and everything is fresh and delicious.

Ein Zivan Holiday Village.

Weekend night in the cabin: starting at NIS 1,500 per couple, and for such a price you can also put some cherries in the fridge.

Spacious and pleasant.

A cabin in the holiday village (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Inside the cabin there is a division into a master bedroom and a children's gallery (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Breakfast in the holiday village is probably one of the best in the country (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

The Goddess Season

And when it comes to cherries, this is the cherry season in the Golan, and the fruit is sweet and delicious.

Ein Zivan has the well-known "Genesis" orchard, which these days receives hundreds of weekend travelers for its annual harvesting experience.

The picking at the moment is for cherries and berries - blueberries, red raspberries, osna (blackberries) and every week it changes and different fruits are added, like pear nectarine and more.

In the beginning, they incorporated a new attraction this year - a guided tour on an electric bicycle that passes on the "Eli Cohen Trail" near the orchard. There is quite a bit to do in Genesis, just do yourself a favor: If you are planning on Saturday (and you are planning on Saturday), try to arrive as early as possible - from 10:00 dozens of cars dot the parking lot, and the load is heavy.

And another thing, the sweet cherry you eat is called in Hebrew "Godgaden", while the name of the cherry actually refers to a sour cherry.

Orchard in Genesis.

16: 00-09: 00, price: NIS 39 per person, family card for a couple + 2 children - NIS 140.

Eat at a free place, if you take pay.

Cherries in the Genesis Orchard (Photo: Roni Oz Reisner)

A new attraction in the orchard.

Electric bike rides in Genesis (Photo: Ein Zivan)

The writer was a guest of Ein Zivan Tourism.

• Tourism

• Excursions in the country

• Excursions in the north

Tags

• Ein Zivan

• The Golan Heights

• Cherries

• summer

• farmer's Market