Metulla: Landscapes, Views and History

You can get to know Metulla from several perspectives: a scenic road leads into the town, viewpoints open up sweeping panoramas, and historic sites offer insight into its history. Nearby, the Nahal Iyyon Nature Reserve adds to the landscape. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between attractions in Metulla and destinations in the surrounding area.

Scenic Road and Views

The Mitzpe Adi–Metula scenic road is about eight kilometers long and can be driven by private car; road conditions may vary. It ends in Metulla at the roundabout where HaGolan and Ma'ale Dado streets meet. Along the way, there are views of Mount Hermon, the northern Golan Heights, the Hula Valley and Lebanese villages.

Another viewpoint in the area is Mitzpe Dado. Located at a high elevation, it offers a panorama of the Upper Galilee, the Hula Valley, the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon. Information panels around the viewpoint identify the visible places and help put the view in context. The descriptions emphasize different features: Lebanese villages are also in view from the scenic road, while the Upper Galilee is additionally mentioned for Mitzpe Dado.

Nature in the Surrounding Area

The short route in Nahal Iyyon Nature Reserve includes a paved loop trail, the Gafni viewpoint and an observation terrace with an unobstructed view of Tanur Waterfall. The route therefore focuses on a loop trail and several distinct viewpoints or vantage points.

The season also shapes nature-watching in the area around Metulla: in autumn, magnificent sea squills bloom on the slope west of the Nahal Iyyon Gorge, near Metula Cemetery. This seasonal feature differs from the landscapes and viewpoints described as available year-round.

History in Metulla

The abandoned historic police station stands next to the corner of Rishonim and HaArazim streets. The building is constructed in the style of a Tegart fort. Until the end of the Mandate in 1948, the station served the British police. Its location, architectural style and use connect the specific history of the place with a clear historical timeframe.

Another historic landmark is the memorial to the fallen soldiers of the South Lebanon Army in Metulla. It includes a memorial plaza with an eternal flame, a memorial path and a viewpoint. Information features describe the history of the South Lebanon Army's fighters and commanders.

Archaeology in the broader Northern District destination

The broader Northern District destination also includes the archaeological sites of Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with biblical history; the visit focuses on the Upper City. Its structures include Solomon's Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating from the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most important in the Levant.

The water system at Tel Hazor also demonstrates the engineering skill involved in water storage at the time: an underground water-collection system was adapted to the geography. The excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, with three-meter-wide steps carved into its vertical walls.

Tel Megiddo is also a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with biblical history. The Early Bronze Age temple complex is distinguished by the number of its temples, the continuity of its cultic activity and its documented ritual practices. The orthogonal city plan dates from the Iron Age and has few parallels in the Levant.

Discover more destinations: Hazon, Rishon LeZion, Mizra‘, Kfar Tavor, Yarka, Havatzelet Hasharon, Giv'at Ze'ev, Beit Hashita

View the broader travel overview: Israel.