Migdal Tsedek

Hi,
We spent the sunny but a bit cold weather and went on visiting Migdal Tsedek National Park. The place being renovated now and looks different from the last time Atzva and I visited it.

The last time was during the time Atzva and I were dating. We planned on spending the weekend at my parent house, so we took their car and drove here. As the site was not organized as it today we just parked the car nearby.  And we come back we found the car window broken and Atzva bag with her wallet in it

At least now we had a better experience in the site which is a Crusader castle set on the route of the ancient Via Maris, while on the other side of this crossing there is Tel Afek (Park HaYarkon).

Take Care
Gad

Looking on the castle from below - Migdal TsedekLooking on the castle from below

The site had 4 trails around: The fortress way, The Stone way, Tomb hill path, cycling trail around the site. We only took the first two.The site had 4 trails around: The fortress way, The Stone way, Tomb hill path, cycling trail around the site. We only took the first two.

 

The village at the foot of the fortress

Remains of the village - Migdal TsedekRemains of the village

Climbing up the hill to the castleClimbing up the hill to Migdal Tsedek castle

Last ascend (only when we got to the bottom of it, we found there is a a parking lot up here) - Migdal TsedekLast ascend (only when we got to the bottom of it, we found there is a a parking lot up here)

The entrance to the castle - Migdal TsedekThe entrance to the Migdal Tsedek castle

Ruins of the castle, not yet renovatedRuins of the castle, not yet renovated

Some information on the site (although some of it seems to be coming from the Site Wikipedia page)Some information on the site (although some of it seems to be coming from the Site Wikipedia page)

Tombstone, tower and home - The entrance to the castle fortressTombstone, tower and home – The entrance to the castle fortress

Nowadays the it is the entrance to a video about the site - Migdal TsedekNowadays the it is the entrance to a video about the site

The room on the second floor looking to the west over the Via Maris (Way of sea) (where also Sirkin airport is)The room on the second floor looking to the west over the Via Maris (Way of sea) and towards the Tel-Afek fortress on the other side of the crossing (where also Sirkin airport is)

Camels and European Porcelain - Migdal TsedekCamels and European Porcelain

The castle courtyard now hosts a coffee shop - Migdal TsedekThe castle courtyard now hosts a coffee shop

The arches holding the rooms aboveThe arches holding the rooms above

The lintel robberyThe lintel robbery

Renovated lintelRenovated lintel

One Stone Left Stone upon another - Migdal TsedekOne Stone Left Stone upon another

Another view over the castle courtyard Another view over the castle courtyard

An invitation to learn about the site via an interactive game in Whatsapp - Migdal TsedekAn invitation to learn about the site via an interactive game in Whatsapp

Retrofitting the castle: holding the bottom of the arches (by adding an element that can stand tension on the bottom of the arches) and holding the columns by adding confining steel hoops to hold the columns.

The other entrance to the castle from the North - Migdal TsedekThe other entrance to the castle from the East

The view from the East gate - Migdal TsedekThe view from the East gate

The hill of tombs, and the trail around it (Tomb hill path) - which we did not take - Migdal TsedekThe hill of tombs, and the trail around it (Tomb hill path) – which we did not take

The fortress way and a view East

The castle from North-EastThe castle from North-East

And from the East - Migdal TsedekAnd from the East

The castle from South-EastThe castle from South-East

Digging and planting cyclamen that were pull up from a land near Elad, that will soon be covered with new industry area - Migdal TsedekDigging and planting cyclamen that were pull up from a land near Elad, that will soon be covered with new industry area

Jannaeus planting one - Migdal TsedekJannaeus planting one

The entrance to the stone way - walking around the quarries and the lime kilnThe entrance to the stone way – walking around the quarries and the lime kiln

The triple kilnThe triple kiln

An explanation on how they were built and been used - Migdal TsedekAn explanation on how they were built and been used

One of the three kilnsOne of the three kilns

A Kiln from the inside - Migdal TsedekA Kiln from the inside

Been explained about it by a guide - Migdal TsedekBeen explained about it by a guide

 

Additional kilns and the Concrete Giant remains - Migdal TsedekAdditional kilns and the Concrete Giant remains

The castle from South-East again - Migdal TsedekThe castle from South-East again

Ruined kilns on a closer look - Migdal TsedekRuined kilns on a closer look

A view from the top of the kilns from left (South) to right (North): nowadays quarry, the winter pool, the citadel, the Concrete Giant and Rosh HaAyin - Migdal Tsedek

A view from the top of the kilns from left (South) to right (North): nowadays quarry, the winter pool, the citadel, the Concrete Giant and Rosh HaAyin

The remains of the Concrete Giant - Migdal TsedekThe remains of the Concrete Giant

The winter poolThe winter pool

The kilns we were standing on top - Migdal TsedekThe kilns we were standing on top

Cooperation between Arabs and Jews working in the quarry and the kilns - Migdal TsedekCooperation between Arabs and Jews working in the quarry and the kilns

The rail carts

The Concrete Giant - Migdal TsedekThe Concrete Giant

Rebar inside the concrete - Migdal Tsedek
Rebar inside the concrete

The Concrete Giant
The Concrete Giant

The dream of quarry workers' village - Migdal Tsedek
The dream of quarry workers’ village

The crisis - Migdal TsedekThe crisis

The pools of the concrete giant - Migdal TsedekThe pools of the concrete giant

Winter pool path - Migdal Tsedek
Winter pool path

Solel  Bone Kilns

Hebrew Labor - Migdal Tsedek
Hebrew Labor

Some more kiln pictures around the site

 

The quarries were use as a place to damp garbage. The site was cleaned up One pile was left as reminder. - Migdal Tsedek

The quarries were use as a place to damp garbage. The site was cleaned up One pile was left as reminder.