The Rock Plateau The Oak Tree and The Hollow Olive

Tree

Tzuba MountainThe remnants of the Arab village Soba sit on top of the ruins of the Belmont Crusader fortress. The ruins of a Crusader church sit on the top of the mountain together with many buildings from the Arab period and several wells. On the slopes there

view of the Jerusalem Mountains and the Hebron Mountains (the Gush Etzion area). Two crusaders castles – Nebi Samuel and Castel can be seen in the east. The Belmont castle was destroyed by the Egyptian leader Ibrahim Pasha in 1835. The Arab village of Soba was built on its ruins and was conquered by the Palmach

Wine Press St John the Baptist Cave Ein Tzuba

Look out from the Tzuba Mountain

Entrance

To Ein Hemed

Vineyard

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Longings for Yitzhak Rabin

Ancient Road

Tzuba Mountain Observation point

Remains of the ancient agriculture and the burial

cave of the Biblical city of Tzuba; at the entrance to the

site there is a metal gate and a memorial “Longings for Yitzhak

Rabin”.From the memorial, we proceed southeastwards on the lower terrace and then west along the rock until we reach two burial caves. Olive trees stand at the entrance to the caves. Those burial caves, from the First Temple period, have been well excavated and preserved and illustrate the burial method used at the time. Here one can understand the meaning of the expressions: “He lied down with his ancestors” or “He rejoined his peoples”. Down the track,

and a wine press.

At the foot of Tzuba Mountain, there is a

wooden sign “TO THE OAK TREE”.

A walk down the trail will bring you to the oldest oak tree in the

Jerusalem Mountains (It is thought to be 700 years old) and next to it an

ancient olive tree with a hollow trunk.Those trees were preserved because they are located in the Muslim cemetery of the Arab village Soba. Families who came to visit the tombs of their dear ones sat in the shade of the trees and ate their food there. The remnants that the visitors threw enriched the soil and their sitting there destroyed the wild weeds and impeded their growth. The trees enjoy abundant water to this very day and they thrive and keep growing. Close by you can discover an ancient Crusader building which housed an oil press.

Conventions

Tours

Events

A unique archaeological site housing a mighty water system, from the period of King Hezekiah (8th Century B.C.E.), that probably served the clay industry. The remnants show that during the

reservoir was used for special baptism practices. In the sixth century C.E., Byzantine monks inhabited the cave

drawings depicting the life and death of St. John the Baptist.

Ein Tzuba is a subterranean source system alimented by two major sources which are excavated along 11 meters and by additional smaller sources that all converge to a subterranean hall which were constructed around

hall is situated 5.8 meters below the ground and its size is 39.5 square meters; it is divided by a partition into two rooms. The supporting wall hold arched ceilings of hewn stone. The water is conducted through a 43 meters long tunnel which brings it to an outdoor pool that served as a

further follows an aqueduct which brings it to an underground reservoir holding 235 cubic meters of water. The source has been tended to by all the generations and served as

Tzuba Kibbutz. Keep aneye on the children.

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1. Oak Tree2-3. Burial caves from the First Temple period4-5. Olive Trees6. Ruins

(Mikve)8. Water hole9. Tower Keeping10. Nadav Memorial11. The Rock Plateau12. Cave13. Threshing Floor

Beit Meir

Shoeva

Kyriat Yeraim

Kyriat Anavim

Neve Samuel

Beit Iksa

A Castel

Abu Gosh Beit NekofaMevasseret Tzion

Sataf

Mount Hertzl

Hadassah Hospital

Ora

Har Hadar

Givat Yearim

Ein NekubaEin Rafa

Maale Hahamisha

Tzuba Mountain

Even Sapir

Aminadav

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6Tours & Tourism Activities TZUBA

Fun Family experience

www.tzuba.co.ilTzuba Hotel: 0907435-20Kiftzuba: 2597435-20G a l i t a : 0 2 - 5 3 4 7 6 5 0Tzuba Winery: 02-5347678

Fax: 02-5347091Fax: 02-5341210Fax: 02-5347651Fax: 02-5347678

Kibbutz Tzuba, Mobile P.B.Judean Hills 9087000

02-5347000Phone for information and reservations:

Around the kibbutz, we have discovered a great number of wine presses that produced wine in ancient times. From their number and size, we can deduce that ancient Tzuba was an important wine producer. Two of the presses are easy to reach. The western press – in front of the entrance to KIFTZUBA there is a large Arab house. A track goes down (southwards) from the building and after some

the upper terrace left of the track where you

pressing grounds, three sedimentation holes and one fermenting pool. There are holes in the wall that held the pressing device. The eastern press – at the beginning of the track to

small olive grove on your right and 20 meters further down a beautiful wine press. It has two pressing grounds, two sedimentation holes and two fermentation holes and of course the holes that held the pressing device. The pottery shreds found in the presses prove that they were in use until the end of the Second Temple

century CE.

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Legend

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The Rock Plateau12 St John the Baptist Cave11 Ein Tzuba9 Wine Press7

Tzuba HotelKiftzuba2Tzuba Winery3Galita4“HaTzrif”5Dining Room6

The Tzuba Mountain8The Oak Tree and The Hollow Olive Tree

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Parking “Hayovel” 19

Basket Ball Court18

Tennis Courts17

Swimming pool16

Garage and Gas Station15

Oran Factory 214

Oran Factory 113

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The Antique Wine press Trail

Starting from the “Oran” factory via the Eastern wine press, follow the trail through the forest to the Western wine press. On the way you will pass by olive groves and forest vegetation. Antique wine presses are visible along the way.

A healthy walk trail. Length of track: 1.5 km. Duration: 40 minutes. Emphasis on history and nature. Babies in carriers

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St John the Baptist cave

Only accessible with a guide – Drive on the road to the direction of the cave site which is located near Ein Tzuba (spring). Park along the road and walk some 300 meters. The guided visit of the cave takes some 40 minutes. Return to the cars and end of the tour.

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The Stone Plateau trail (Ba'mat ha'selah)

We suggest taking a local guide who can provide access to hidden and unknown spots. Start walking from the parking lot of the “Oran” factory northwards through the orchards or down the eastern face of Tzuba Mountain along the green track. Walk for about an hour along the vineyards and continue walking until you reach the “Longing for Rabin Memorial”; a shaded corner facing the panoramic view. Refer to #12: the stone plateau.

Healthy walking track. Length of track: 2 km. Duration: 1.5 hours. Emphasis on history, nature,agriculture and panorama. Suitable for families with babycarriers and bicycles. For all ages. Not accessible by car.

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The vineyards Trail

Various walking trails through our vineyards in the Northeastern part of the kibbutz. We suggest resting under the shade of the giant carob tree and to observe the huge “Scales” sculpture standing out against the panoramic background of the scenic Judean Hills. From this trail, you can connect up with trails 4 and 5.

Length of trail: approx. 2 km. Duration: Approx. an hour. Epanorama scenic trail with anemphasis on agriculture and nature. Not accessible by car. Suitable for families

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Trail from the Biblical period to the War of Independence

Climb Tzuba Mountain for a beautiful scenic view. Familiarize yourself with the battles of the War of Independence with the help of the signs in the Rabin Park. Walk through the remnants of the Belmont fortress and then down to the trail to visit two ancient trees. Climb back up to the main trail, continue eastwards to the Jubilee camping ground and walk down to Ein Tzuba (Tzuba Spring). Walk back to the kibbutz through the orchards. Tzuba Mountain track, the ancient oak and hollow olive tree track.

Healthy walking track. Length of track: 2 km. Duration: 2 hours. Emphasis on history, nature andagriculture. Suitable for families, bicycles. For all ages. By car: Drive the main roaduntil the Jubilee picnic ground.

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Length of trail: 300 meters each way Duration: One hour. Emphasis on history, Old and NewTestaments. Suitable for history lovers. Suitable for families and children

over 10 years old. You must provide your own

By reservation only

transportation to the cave site parking area.

40 min.

60 min.

1 hour

1.5 hour

2 hour