Have you thought about a visit to a Druze village in Israel? The Druze are a unique ethnic minority among Arab citizens of this country. Their villages are located in some of the most beautiful places in Israel and are known to have amazing hospitality and food.
Even though in Druze villages in Israel, the Arabic language is spoken they are still regarded as a separate grout from the Israeli Arabs. Most of the Druze men even serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
Druze are a religious minority too, but even though the religion of this community originated from Ismaili Islam, generally speaking, Druze people are not considered Muslims. They have their own secret religion with their own customs.
They mostly inhabit several lovely villages and multi-religious Arabic towns, particularly in the north of Israel, in Upper Galilee and Lower Galilee, Mount Carmel, and the Golan Heights. In this article, we will go over a few wonderful Druze villages in Israel.
How many Druze live in Israel?
There are about 150,000 Druze people living in Israel. As mentioned most of them are located in the north of the country and are extremely nice and welcoming people. There isn’t a downward trend in the Druze population as they mostly will stay near their family in the village and raise new families.
What country has the most Druze?
Though Israel is home to many Druze it is not the biggest population center for them – it is Syria. There are around one million Druze people in the world, and 45-50 percent live in Syria, while 35% in Lebanon, and Israel is home to only 10%.
What is so unique about Druze Hospitality?
Druze are well known for their warm hospitality. In their villages one can find many unique experiences for spontaneous invitations into their homes, amazing cuisine, interesting architecture of the villages, and just lovely people that wish to help. Some organized activities are things such as learning about Druze culture and religion, traditional music and dance, and exploring the Druze houses of prayer.
Let’s get on and see what Druze villages to visit
Daliyat El Karmel
For a first visit to a Druze village in Israel, try Daliyat El Karmel. This lovely Druze town is located in the Haifa District, some 20km from the city of Haifa, on Mount Carmel, in the very heart of the Carmel National Park. As a matter of fact, this is Israel’s southernmost and largest Druze town, established four centuries ago.
There are many things to see here: start with the popular market in the town center, maybe buy one of many beautiful traditional Druze and Arab products, then proceed to the memorial center for fallen Druze IDF soldiers, the home of the author Sir Laurence Oliphant, and to the shrine of Abu Ibrahim who is considered a prophet by Druze people in the Druze religion.
Nearby, you’ll find the Muhraqa Monastery and the Carmel Center for Druze Heritage –this Druze heritage center is a museum of Druze history, culture, and Druze religion. In 2011, the Garden of the Mothers was opened in this town. It symbolizes the sisterhood of Druze, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian women from the Women’s Interfaith Network.
Near the town, you can visit the gorgeous Mount Carmel National Park, Israel’s largest national park, home to many bicycle and walking paths, dedicated nature reserves, and over 250 archaeological sites.
If you’re up for exploration, visit the Caves of Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara, in the Carmel mountain range, declared a site of “outstanding universal value” by UNESCO. This Druze village has so many places to explore, it should be on everyone’s travel list when they visit Israel.
ISFIYA
Not really a Druze village in Israel, this charming Druze-majority town is located on Mount Carmel, as a part of Haifa District. It was established in the early 18th century on the ruins of an ancient, Byzantine settlement. Many Crusader ornaments and relics were found here, which is why historians believe that this village used to be a Crusader center.
Visitors can see the excavated remains of the 5th-century Jewish settlement of Husifah, which includes a synagogue and its mosaic floor with Jewish symbols. That’s not all, as some. 4,500 gold coins from the Roman Period were also discovered, as well as a building, ceramics, and coins from the 2nd-4th centuries CE.
Isfiya is also home to the tomb of Abu Abdallah who was one of three religious leaders chosen in 996 CE to proclaim the Druze faith, and who is believed to be the first Druze qadi (religious judge). This is a really interesting location for learning about Druze religion and culture.
Some of these Druze villages are close by amazing stargazing spots. Check where they are here.
MAGHAR
Maghar is a beautiful Druze-majority village in the Northern District of the country, and one of our favorite Druze villages in Israel. It is the home of numerous notable residents. Its name comes from the Arabic word for “the caves”, and it is a place filled with ancient treasures and a very interesting place for Druze in Israel.
A quarry has been excavated in Maghar, while pottery remnants from the early Roman period, as well as architectural and pottery, remains from the Late Roman period were unearthed. In 2003, the Israel Circus School and Circus Maghar established a joint Jewish-Arab “Children’s Circus”. The children toured Cyprus and gave performances and workshops for Christian and Muslim schools and community centers.
Peki’in
The picturesque Peki’in, a perfect place for a visit to a Druze village in Israel, with its specialty shops and enjoy local restaurants, is located 8km from Ma’alot-Tarshiha in the Upper Galilee.
This was likely a large village of Druze in Israel, judged from the many ancient objects and sites discovered in these locations, such as potsherds and Ossuaries of the Chalcolithic period, and a burial site nearby.
Many also believe that a Jewish community has lived here continuously since the Second Temple period, given that a number of Jewish traditions are associated with a town called Peki’in, written also as Baka and Paka, though the first written record where this particular site is mentioned without a doubt is a 1765 Hebrew travel book.
The Druze Youth Movement in Israel has its headquarters in this town, while around 60,000 tourists visit Peki’in each year.
Missing the sea? Find here information on breathtaking port cities to visit in Israel.
Sajur
The last Druze town on this list is no less charming. Known in the Crusader era as Seisor or Saor, Sajur is situated in the Galilee region. In 1249, land which included Sajur, Nahf, Majd al-Krum, and Beit Jann was transferred to the Teutonic Knights by John Aleman, the Lord of Caesarea.
Several fascinating archeological remains were unearthed in Sajur in 2002: a tomb with thirteen loculi (types of tombs, catacombs, or mausoleums) dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods, a tomb with eight or nine loculi dating back to the end of the 2nd century CE, and a small tomb with one room dating to the 1st–2nd centuries CE.
Furthermore, there is evidence of the Iron Age occupation at Sajur. Also, according to Jewish tradition, the tombs of Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen and Simeon Shezuri are located here.
While Israel is an impressive location to learn about Jewish history, especially Jewish history, one way to deepen your relationship with the country is to learn more about the variety of different peoples that make the country their home. Druze are an important part of Israeli society, with its own culture, communities, and religion to learn about. A visit to at least one of these fascinating villages is worth the trip. Find out more about our Israel tours here.
