>  Top Tour Destinations in Northern Israel   >  Haifa’s German Colony

Set in the heart of Haifa, the German Colony is one of the city’s main tour attractions. Founded over 150 years ago, the municipality  successfully restored the historical neighborhood, making it a populat commercial and cultural center. Its old stone buildings also present a less-known yet fascinating chapter in the history of the land of Israel – the modern-era Templers.

History of the Templers and Haifa’s German Colony

A pietist German protestant congregation called ‘Templers’ founded Haifa’s German Colony in 1868. Unrelated to the Medieval knight Templars, they believed in settling in the Holy Land to hasten the second coming of Jesus. Their colony in Haifa was the first of a few, including one in today’s Tel-Aviv (Sarona). These colonies also introduced modern technology in agriculture and small industries in Palestine. In the 1930s, many Templers enlisted in the Nazi party and even led Nazi Parades along the colony’s main street, ‘Carmel Strasse.’ During the Second World War, the British deported them, and later, their properties became under Israeli Control.

Most of the former Templer homes became governmental buildings, yet Haifa’s municipality restored most of them and combined them with trendy eateries, hotels, and boutique shops.

Touring Haifa’s German Colony

Today, Haifa’s German Colony is a popular hangout, with restaurants offering unique culinary experiences reflecting the city’s mixed population. If you are staying in Haifa, it is recommended that you stay near the German Colony and absorb its unique nightlife, including the lit-up Bahai Gardens in the back.

A tour of Haifa’s German Colony can be combined with a day tour in the north.

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