Nimrod’s Castle, or Nimrod Fortress National Park, is part of Israel’s spectacular NationalPark scheme and The Israel Nature and Parks Authority maintains and preserves the site. It is perhaps the largest and best-preserved Crusader ruins in the region. It is located near Kiryat Shmona, between the Banias and Mt. Hermon of Route 989 in the Northern Golan.

The moshav of Nimrod is located adjacent to the park and though tiny it boasts a wonderful restaurant, the Witches Cauldron & the Milkman. This restaurantfeatures fresh goat’s milk cheese and makes a great pizza for the kids. Hundred’s of tiny kitchen witches adorn the ceilings and walls and the open air seating makes the country-style atmosphere even more pleasant.

The National Park itself likewise is known for its incredible clear views of the Hula Valley.

While the fortress itself is amazing, visitors can spend hours relaxing in the shade of trees flanked by the fortress on one side and the beauty of nature below. The view offers a bird’s eye look at Tel Dan Kibbutz, Kiryat Shmona, Mt. Hermon and the Hula Valley.

The Fortress grounds are the perfect place for a picnic, but visitors must come prepared as there are no refreshments onsite. It can be reached by car or as part of a 2-hour hike from Banias, though this is best reserved for the cooler winter months.

For an extraordinary view of the castle, try to take advantage of the Torchlight Tours of Nimrod Fortress. This is a guided tour available on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in the month of August.

Marc Twain visited the castle in 1867 while on a tour of Israel en route to Damascus. As he astutely observed, “This is probably the most exquisite ruin in the world.” For younger tourists, the visit is especially exciting as they experience the thrill of running through tunnels and passages of a castle with an extraordinary history that lets the imagination run wild.