Chorazin: Ancient Paths and Settlement Remains

Around Chorazin, ancient paths, settlement remains and olive presses take centre stage. Two routes offer different highlights: the Olive Press Trail in Korazim National Park circles the western ridge; the four-kilometre Korazim–Capernaum Trail runs alongside Nahal Korazim and ends at Capernaum National Park. Finds in Korazim National Park add insights into the layout of the ancient settlement to the route descriptions.

Ancient Paths and Olive Presses near Chorazin

The family-friendly Olive Press Trail follows an ancient path and leads to an ancient olive press that is almost completely preserved. Here, the route and destination go hand in hand: alongside the path itself, a tangible example of olive processing takes centre stage. The Korazim–Capernaum Trail is four kilometres long. It runs alongside Nahal Korazim, passes an inactive ancient farm and ends at Capernaum National Park. This offers a choice of different highlights: an ancient ridge path with an olive press, or a route alongside the Nahal with an old farm and the national park as its destination. Check the latest park information before your visit.

Five quarters of the ancient settlement are known in Korazim National Park. The central, wealthiest quarter has been partially excavated and restored. A few buildings in the western quarter have also been restored. Olive presses are part of the archaeological picture, too: three ancient presses have been found in the national park. One is located on the edge of the western quarter, dates from the 4th or 5th century AD and has been partially restored. Together, the quarters, buildings and presses provide different points of reference for exploring the settlement remains.

More Archaeological Sites in the Northern District

Beyond Chorazin, the wider destination of the Northern District offers more archaeological sites. Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo represent different structures, periods and archaeological contexts.

Tel Hazor: Upper City, Gates and Water System

A visit to Tel Hazor focuses on the Upper City. Tel Hazor is home to Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating from the 10th century BC. A Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BC. The Late Bronze Age palace is described as the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most important in the Levant. The fortifications are also considered the finest example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.

Tel Hazor also preserves significant remains of an underground water collection system. It is an ingenious, geographically adapted engineering achievement for storing water. The excavated shaft is 45 metres deep; steps three metres wide are cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. Tel Hazor National Park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 towards Ayelet HaShahar. Check your navigation before setting out.

Tel Megiddo: City Plan and Temple Complex

Tel Megiddo is one of three tells preserving significant remains of cities with biblical connections and closely linked to events in the Bible. The orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. The Early Bronze Age temple complex belongs to a different period: it is exceptional in terms of the number of its temples, the continuity of cultic activity and the documented ritual practices. Comparing the two highlights the difference in period: Tel Megiddo is home to both an Iron Age city plan and an Early Bronze Age temple complex.

Discover more destinations: Almagor, Yarka, Ein Gev, Amuka, Kiryat Ono, Ani'am, Elon, Kahal

For the wider travel overview: Israel.