Search
Close this search box.

Old Gesher Yard

Destinations in Israel

The old Gesher courtyard is a site in the Beit Shean Valley where the founders of Kibbutz Gesher first settled. During the War of Independence, the settlement was attacked and almost destroyed after the war. The kibbutz moved to its current location, and the abandoned courtyard was renovated and now serves as a heritage museum for the history of the place.


Old Gesher



The original site was originally a khan or caravanserai built around 1365, active from the Mamluk period to the early 19th century. Situated right next to the west end of Jisr Majami (“bridge of the meeting”), it was one of the earliest khans in Galilee and was a significant crossroads Bet Shean–Damascus road.


Things to See in Old Gesher Yard

The purpose of the site is to illustrate the first days of the Jewish settlement, to deepen the acquaintance with the battle heritage of the defenders of the settlement, and to introduce visitors to the sites in the vicinity.

The place offers several historical sites in which various activities are combined. Among the things visitors can see is:

The Museum of the Battles of the War of Independence: Located in the bunker that served as the headquarters of the settlement.

A Bakery: with a historic brick oven. Currently used as a Caffe

An Old Egged Bus: now standing at Gesher’s bus station with a display on public transportation during the establishment of the settlement.

The restored Dining Room – the only structure that survived the shelling.

The Quarantine: Used as a quarantine station for animals, has been restored and is now used as a restaurant.

An Armored car: Carrying a Bren machine gun.


Naharayim Park
Old Gesher Yard Locomaotive
In This Photo: The Old Locomotive
Credit: Dr. Avishai Teicher, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

The Steam Locomotive: Made by the Hunslet company, No. 353 PEC H7, wheel arrangement 4-6-0T, for a track with a width of 60 cm. The locomotive worked in the construction of a power station in Naharim View of the three bridges: Jasr al-Majma (Meeting Bridge, Jordan Yarmouk), the Ottoman Valley Railway Bridge (1904) and the Mandatory Road Bridge (1930)

An Audiovisual Show: that narrates and demonstrates the history of the power plant in Naharim.

A Lookout on the positions of the Jordanian army on the eastern side of the Jordan.

The restored Mamluk Khan – from the 14th century, was designed to protect Jasr al-Majma.

A tower and a large yard. At the bottom of the tower is a remote water system.

The (restored) Customs House: Part of the Jordan crossings complex.



There are three bridges at the site – a Byzantine stone bridge (the above-mentioned Jisr el-Majami); an Ottoman railroad bridge serving the Haifa-Dera’a segment of the Hejaz Railway, and a British Mandate road bridge serving the Haifa-Baghdad highway. The kibbutz was founded in 1939 on lands bought with the help of Edmond de Rothschild by a group of Yishuv Jews (Palestinian Jews), who were members of the youth movement HaNo’ar HaOved, and a group of young Jewish refugees from Germany.

Later, more Jewish immigrants from Poland, Germany, Austria, and additional Palestinian Jews were joined. The kibbutz grew up near the Naharayim bridge as a Tower and stockade settlement. On 27 April 1948, the Haganah took control of the Gesher police station, a Tegart fort evacuated by the British. The Arab Legion, still under British control, ordered them to evacuate it. Haganah refused and both troops exchanged fire for 3 days until the Arab Legion was ordered by his HQ to return to their barracks.



The Events That Lead to Abandoned The Site

In April–May 1948, 50 children of the kibbutz were evacuated to a 19th-century French monastery on the grounds of Rambam hospital in the Bat Galim neighborhood of Haifa, where they lived for 22 months. The building had been empty since 1933, when the Carmelite nuns had moved into their new monastery on the French Carmel.


Dining Room in Old Gesher
In This Photo: The Dining Room in Old Gesher

For seven days, beginning on May 15, 1948, the kibbutz and Tegart fort were attacked by Iraqi forces using armored cars and aerial bombing. The defenders repulsed the Iraqis, inflicting heavy losses, but the kibbutz was destroyed during combat. After the peace agreement between Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan, the kibbutz established a museum on the original site of the kibbutz that documents the history of Gesher and the Jewish-run power station of Naharayim.

arik-about

Hi! My name is Arik, an Israeli native who dedicated his life to sharing my passion for the Holy Land with those interested in knowing more about this incredible piece of land. I’m the Chief Guide at ‘APT Private Tours in Israel’.

Did you know the Hoopoe is Israel's national bird?! For more cool info about Israel, join our ever growing community and get exclusive travel tips, and giveaways!

Deir Hajla Monastery

RELATED POSTS

Banias Nature Reserve

Banias Nature Reserve houses the ancient city mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark as Caesarea Philippi.

Korazim National Park

Close to the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, just four kilometers from Capernaum; lies the Korazim National Park. Korazim (sometimes spelled “Chorazin”) was ...

Church of St. John the Baptist

The Church of St. John the Baptist (John BaHarim) is built at the site where Saint John the Baptist is believed to have been born.

Monastery of the Temptation

The Monastery of the Temptation in Jericho was built on the slopes of the Mount of Temptation, situated along a cliff overlooking Jericho.

Pool of Bethesda

The Pool of Bethesda located in Jerusalem is best known from the New Testament where Jesus miraculously healed a paralyzed man.

Ein Gedi Nature Reserve

Ein Gedi is a top popular attraction in Israel. A natural oasis in the middle of the desert you can explore and cool off during ...

Ein Prat Nature Reserve

Originating close to Jerusalem and stretching all the way to Jericho before flowing into the Dead Sea in the Wadi Qelt. Ein Prat Nature Reserve is the ...

Dome of the Chain

The Dome of the Chain on Temple Mt is dated to the 7th century and is one of the few remaining examples of Islamic architecture ...

Ramparts Walk Jerusalem

The Ramparts Walk is one of Jerusalem's offers visitors an unparalleled view of the city's rich history and culture.

Treasures in the Walls Museum

Treasures in the Walls Museum is an Ethnographic and Folklore Museum of Acre and the Galilee Region. The museum is located inside the ancient walls ...

Need help?

Skip to content