42 Best Sights in Upper Galilee and the Golan, Israel

From the top of this volcanic cone, at an open-air lookout that was once a military outpost, you can see Mount Hermon rising majestically to the north and the Syrian side of the Golan stretching eastward. Opposite is the ruined town of Kuneitra, captured by Israel in 1967, lost and regained in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and returned to Syria in the subsequent disengagement agreement—it is now a demilitarized zone. Modern Kuneitra is in the distance. The cluster of white buildings south of old Kuneitra houses the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. A pine-cabin shop serving coffees, herbal teas, and a nice selection of snacks is the perfect place to get out of the wind that often sweeps this peak. The lookout is near Kibbutz Merom Golan; signs along the rural roads point the way. It's open all the time.

The summit of Mount Hermon—famous as Israel's highest mountain, at 9,230 feet above sea level—is actually in Syrian territory. Its lower slopes attract winter visitors to the country's only ski resort, though summer is arguably the most interesting time on Hermon. After the winter snows melt, hikers can discover chasms and hidden valleys here, the long-term result of extremes in temperature. A powerful array of colors and scents emerges from the earth as the summer sun draws out cockscomb, chamomile, and scores of other flowers and wild herbs. Approaching from Nimrod's Fortress, you'll pass Moshav Neve Ativ, designed to look like a little piece of the Alps in the Middle East, complete with A-frame chalet-style houses, a handful of which have guest rooms. A detour through the old Druze village of Majdal Shams offers a number of good eateries. Ein Kiniya, another Druze village, appears across a valley on your left as you head east into the Golan on Route 99, is the most picturesque in the area. The houses are built from the black basalt typical of the Golan.

The most important site on lovely Mount Meron—and one of the holiest places in Israel—is the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, survivor of the Bar Kochba Revolt almost 2,000 years ago. The simple building that houses the tomb is a place for quiet reflection and prayer, though you may encounter a bar mitzvah or other festive event in the courtyard outside. Women and men have separate prayer areas, and all are expected to dress modestly (cover-ups are available for those who don't have them).

Signs point to the Tomb of Rashbi, which is the Hebrew acronym of the rabbi's name.

Bar Yochai is said to have fled from the Romans with his son Elazar after the fall of Jerusalem to a cave at Peki'in, not far from here, where he remained for 13 years. The faithful, beginning with the 16th-century mystics who settled in Tzfat, believe that from his cave-hideout Bar Yochai penned the Zohar (The Book of Splendor), his commentary on the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Others claim that the Zohar dates from 13th-century Spain. Nevertheless, the constant flow of visitors is evidence of the pilgrims' devotion to the great rabbi and rebel.

The pilgrimage is still celebrated en masse on Lag Ba'Omer, the festive 33rd day of the seven solemn weeks that begin with Passover. At this time Mount Meron comes alive as a grand procession arrives on foot from Tzfat, with many participants carrying Torah scrolls and singing fervently. Bonfires are lighted, with celebrations lasting days.

Mount Meron is the highest peak in Israel after Mount Hermon, and parts of it are a nature reserve (www.parks.org.il) with hiking trails.

This family-owned boutique kosher winery, located between Majdal Shams and Merom Golan, produces 80,000 bottles a year, mostly dry reds nurtured by the area's volcanic soil, but also a crisp Chardonnay. There are lovely fortified wines and cherry wines as well. Drop in for an impromptu tasting, where local cheeses are also for sale. Half-hour tours of the vineyards are available by appointment.

Old and new cemeteries are set into the hillside below the Old Jewish Quarter. The old plots resonate with the names and fame of the Kabbalists of yore, as their graves are identifiable by sky-blue markers. It is said that if the legs of the devout suddenly get tired here, it is because they are walking over hidden graves. The new cemetery holds the graves of members of the pre-State underground Stern Gang and Irgun forces, who were executed by the British in Akko's prison. In a separate plot, bordered by cypresses, lie the 21 Tzfat teenagers killed by terrorists in 1974—they were taken hostage while on a field trip in the northern Galilee town of Ma'alot.

This office and house belonged to Professor Gideon Mer, a leading expert on malaria in the 1930s. Legend has it that Mer used to inject his wife and children with experimental remedies in his efforts to combat malaria in this region. (Happily, all survived.) The British were so impressed with Mer's work that they sent him to Burma to fight malaria epidemics there. Implements and household items from the early days of Rosh Pina are on display. Next door, a colorful audiovisual presentation showcases the founding of this pioneering community.

High atop one of the Galilee's peaks overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the Stern Winery has received numerous accolades over the years. As with many young Israeli wineries, the family-run visitor center involves an intimate tour and provides an informative overview of the country's wine industry. Blends at Stern Winery are all named after the owner's children and family members. Reservations are recommended to book a tasting tour.

The old synagogue's interior remains pretty much as it was when it was built in the mid-1880s. The dark pews, made of the timber brought from Romania, have aged gracefully. The painted ceiling has depictions of palm trees and biblical motifs. The building is usually locked, but ask around and you might find someone to open it for you.

Perched on the northern edge of Kiryat Shmona is Tel Hai, meaning "Hill of Life," a site that played an important role in Israel's history. In the aftermath of World War I, while Britain and France bickered over control of the Upper Hula Valley, bands of Arabs often harassed the Jewish farms, and finally overran Tel Hai in 1920. Only Kibbutz Kfar Giladi was successful in defending itself.

Following this incident, Tel Hai resident Josef Trumpeldor and seven comrades were called on to protect the place. Trumpeldor already had a reputation as a leader in the czar's army in his native Russia. Fired by Zionist ideals, he had moved to Palestine in 1912 at the age of 32. During the final battle in 1920, Trumpeldor and his comrades were killed, and it is for them that Kiryat Shmona—City of the Eight—is named. It is said that Trumpeldor's last words were: "It is good to die for our country." He is buried up the road from the Tel Hai Courtyard Museum, beneath the statue of a lion.

The heroic last stand at Tel Hai was important not only because it was the first modern instance of Jewish armed self-defense, but also because the survival of at least two of the Jewish settlements meant that when the final borders were drawn by the League of Nations in 1922, these settlements were included in the British-mandated territory of Palestine and thus, after 1948, in the State of Israel.

This museum displays agricultural tools used in the early 20th century when Josef Trumpeldor lived here. A moving audiovisual show highlights the history of the place. Call ahead for reservations.

This site on the Via Maris, an ancient trade route, is a good stop for archaeology buffs—its massive mound is made up of the remnants of 21 cities. The excavation and restoration of some of these antiquities have produced fascinating results.

The book of Joshua (11:13) notes that Joshua destroyed Canaanite Hatzor in the 13th century BC, and Israelites resettled it. Its next heyday came three centuries later, when King Solomon decided it would serve him well as a regional military and administrative center, like Megiddo and Gezer. In 732 BC, Hatzor met its end when invading Assyrian king Tiglath Pileser III conquered the Galilee and forced its Israelite inhabitants off the land in chains and into exile.

The huge site is divided into two areas: the Upper City, where you can explore the remains of some ancient settlements, and the Lower City, first settled in the 18th century BC. Only the Upper City, covering less than a fifth of the total excavation site, is open to the public. The Hatzor Museum (on the grounds of Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar, across the highway) houses figurines, weapons, stone pots, and other artifacts unearthed in the two areas; others are at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. It's open by appointment: check ahead.

A family business in every sense, father and son work together harvesting grapes at the Assaf Winery. The wines feature seven varieties that are harvested separately—and by hand—to maintain strict control over every cluster. A visit to the family's "wine village" can also include lunch at daughter Adi's adjacent restaurant. Call to make a reservation to visit.