Gescher: History and tours at Gesher HaYashana

At Gesher HaYashana, kibbutz history and memories of the battles for Gesher meet topics relating to Naharayim. The courtyard tells the story of Jewish settlement in the region since the early 20th century, and especially of the Israeli War of Independence. Tours add the Israeli-Jordanian border region, the Naharayim power station and old bridges over the Jordan River to this perspective. When choosing a holiday apartment in Gescher, this focus offers practical guidance: would you like to make historical topics the main focus of your stay, or include a hands-on experience as well?

Local history and educational activities

The courtyard at Gesher HaYashana tells the story of Jewish settlement in the region since the early 20th century. The battles for Gesher during the Israeli War of Independence are a particularly prominent focus. The period covered thus ranges from the history of settlement to a specific conflict, offering two perspectives on the region’s history. The courtyard also serves as an educational center for schoolchildren, groups and families. In this way, local history is combined with an educational focus that appeals to different groups of visitors.

Tours between the power station, the border and kibbutz life

The tours cover different topics. One introduces visitors to the surrounding area and covers the Naharayim power station and the battles for Gesher during the Israeli War of Independence. The Naharayim at Gesher tour focuses on the Israeli-Jordanian border region, the power station and the old bridges over the Jordan River. The power station is a shared theme, while the tours differ in their emphasis on the battles for Gesher versus the history of the border and bridges. Check the current tour arrangements before your visit.

In the kibbutz’s original dining hall, visitors learn about the way of life of its former residents and their role in the Israeli War of Independence. This turns the focus to people’s everyday lives without overlooking the wartime period. The courtyard, tours and dining hall each offer a different perspective: the history of settlement, the border region and power station, and the lives of former kibbutz residents.

Breadmaking as a hands-on activity

The Agadat Lehem bakery is located near Gesher. If you are interested in breadmaking, you can include its workshops in your plans: they use an original brick oven and traditional techniques. This hands-on activity differs from the historical focus of the tours and offers another possible theme for your stay. Check in advance whether the workshops are currently available.

Archaeological sites in the Northern District

The wider travel destination of the Northern District is also home to two other archaeological sites: Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. Both are biblical tells with significant remains of cities connected to the Bible. These Bronze and Iron Age sites are from a much earlier period than the more recent settlement and kibbutz history at Gesher HaYashana.

A visit to Tel Hazor National Park focuses on the Upper City. Among its notable finds is Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. It is described as the most elaborate palace in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant. The fortifications are also considered the best example of their kind in the area stretching from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.

Another highlight at Tel Hazor is the underground water-collection system, whose remains represent a sophisticated engineering achievement for storing water, adapted to the geography. The excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, and three-meter-wide steps are cut into its vertical walls. Its dimensions make the scale of this waterworks especially clear.

Tel Megiddo also preserves significant remains of a city connected to the Bible and is closely associated with biblical events. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of cult activity and the documented ritual practices. The orthogonal city plan dates to the Iron Age and has few parallels in the Levant. Tel Megiddo thus offers a different archaeological perspective from the settlement and wartime history at Gesher HaYashana.

Discover more destinations: Yizre'el, Midrakh Oz.

See the wider travel overview: Yizrael.