Mount Carmel, Carmelites, sculptors and wineries

A sacred mountain in the Holy Land.

Picturesque slopes, the Mediterranean Sea, forest trails and the cleanest springs. Since the most ancient eras, springs of exciting events unfolded here.

Five religions honor these places and turn their prayers to the vicinity of Carmel: Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Baha'is. Mysticism and reality merge into a powerful stream of incredible stories.

Phoenicians, Persians, Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines, Samaritans, Jews and Arabs, Crusaders and Mamluks. The Ottomans, the British, who were not fascinated by these beauty! There are many paths that attract many.

Of course, the most charming outfits beautiful Carmel tries on in early spring. However, in the autumn, the name Carmel - God's vineyard - quite corresponds to its name. The slopes and valleys of this mountain delight winemakers with a rich harvest.

When the sun’s rays color the wonderful landscapes of the surroundings of Carmel, sea expanses open from the mountainside. Today we have a wine route. Carmel, translated as divine vine. Here are the most famous Israeli vineyards and wineries, and in biblical times, wine was prepared for libations on the altar in the Temple.

Baron Rothschild chose Carmel to revive winemaking. He brought the vine here from his plantations in Bordeaux and created the first wine mill.

Maybe he wanted winemakers to be inspired by the stunning landscapes that open up from the mountain?

The Mediterranean coast, the ancient sea route and the ruins of ancient Caesarea, the luxurious Roman port of Herod the Great.

Today we are waiting for a collection of masterpieces – paintings and sculptures of famous artists: the original paintings of Salvador Dali, sculptures of Rodin and Masson, as well as paintings by South American artists. We're going to the Rally Museum, Caesarea.

The founder of the museum is Harry Recanati, a philanthropist who created several similar museums in the world. And after a walk through the Recanati Museum, we will head to the historic site of Shuni Park.

Several millennia ago, there was an ancient Roman resort town, where all the nobility of Caesarea gathered to conduct rituals dedicated to the god of wine Bacchus and the goddess of love Aphrodite.

A well-groomed park with the remains of pools with a mosaic floor, in the center of which Shuni Castle is impressive in its size. The castle building was rebuilt by the Turks on the foundation of the destroyed Crusader fortress. And here is the courtyard of the castle... the ancient Roman theater of the III century with 1200 seats!

A hundred years ago, fascinated by this landscape, a successful London lawyer Herbert Bentwich, the legal adviser to Sir Montefiore, acquires a land here. He was in love with Eretz Israel and passed this love on to his children.

There were 11 children. Herbert’s third daughter, Netta Bentwich, marries Michael Lange and, with the permission of Herbert Bentwich, the young have built a wonderful estate on Mount Carmel. It was here that the first telephone in the land of Israel appeared.

World War I forced Michael Lange and Neta to return to London as British subjects. After the war, it was necessary to restore the estate and, it would seem, it was time for a happy life in love and harmony.

However, a series of unpredictable events in the family changes rapidly and mysteriously. With these mysteries of the saga about the descendants of Bentwich we will meet on a walk through the beautiful streets of Zichron Jacob.

A town that has retained its charm since the end of the XIX century. After the walk - free time for lunch and photo hunting.

And after lunch, the Wine Culture Center is waiting for us with a film and a visit to the basements of Baron Rothschild. At the end of the day - a walk through one of the parks of Mount Carmel with surprises and discoveries.