One of the places most closely associated with Zichron Yaakov is the historic pedestrian street on HaMeyasdim (Founders’) Street, also known as the Wine Route (Derech HaYayin). This is where the village’s history meets the Zichron Yaakov of today – historic buildings, shops, galleries, cafés, restaurants, wine and old courtyards that have become places to go out.
For guests on holiday in Zichron Yaakov, it is one of the easiest places to fit into the day – and you can easily spend a few hours here at a relaxed pace.
What exactly is the “Wine Route”?
The Wine Route is the name given to the pedestrian street on HaMeyasdim Street, the historic street running through the heart of the village. Along the street stand the buildings where Zichron Yaakov’s founding families lived, and alongside them businesses, galleries and venues that now operate in the historic buildings.
The name “Wine Route” is no coincidence. Wine is a significant part of Zichron Yaakov’s history, and in the area you can also find places connected to the local wine culture.
Just start walking
One of the nicest things about the pedestrian street is that you don’t need to plan a complicated route. Start on HaMeyasdim Street, walk along it, pop into the shops and courtyards, stop for a coffee or a meal and simply enjoy the atmosphere.
The restored street has different corners along the way, and in some places it is worth looking beyond the façade to discover the courtyards behind it.
The farmers’ courtyards – what’s hidden behind the street?
One of the most interesting features of the pedestrian street is its farmers’ courtyards. Behind the buildings facing the main street are courtyards that the village’s residents once used for farming and everyday life.
Over the years, some of the courtyards have been preserved and developed into spaces for art, crafts, shopping and leisure.
So when you walk along the pedestrian street, don’t settle for the main street alone. Look out for the passageways and small courtyards hidden behind it.
Coffee, restaurants and food
After a walk along the pedestrian street you can stop for a meal or a coffee. Along the Wine Route and the nearby alleys there are cafés, restaurants and venues of all kinds.
You can come in the morning for breakfast and coffee, return at midday for lunch, or come in the evening to enjoy the atmosphere of the pedestrian street later in the day.
Galleries and local crafts
The pedestrian street is not only about food and shopping. Along the street there are also galleries and businesses showcasing local crafts and applied art.
For example, there are places where local artists exhibit and sell work in fields such as ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, textiles and applied art.
It can also be a chance to find a slightly different souvenir from Zichron Yaakov – something made locally rather than a generic tourist product.
History around every corner
First-time visitors may mainly see a pretty street with shops and cafés, but its history is an important part of the experience.
In the village centre you will come across sites connected to the beginnings of Zichron Yaakov, its founding families and different periods in the place’s history.
Among the sites in the area is the Aaronsohn House, associated with the Aaronsohn family and the story of the NILI underground.
You can include a visit to a historic site during your walk, turning a pleasant stroll along the pedestrian street into a tour that tells the story of the village.
Binyamin Pool
One of the historic sites you can include in the area is Binyamin Pool. The pool was built in 1891 as part of the village’s water system, in the time of Baron Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild.
It is another place that shows how much of Zichron Yaakov’s history lies within the very streets visitors walk today.
Fridays on the pedestrian street
If you are coming to Zichron Yaakov on a Friday, check what is happening on the pedestrian street that week.
The “Friday in the Moshava” events include music and a makers’ and farmers’ market on the pedestrian street, and can add even more to your visit.
As events and opening hours may change, it is best to check the latest details before you arrive.
How much time should you spend on the pedestrian street?
You can visit the pedestrian street in an hour, but if you really want to enjoy it, allow at least two to three hours.
For example:
- Coffee and breakfast
- A walk along HaMeyasdim Street
- A visit to the farmers’ courtyards
- Galleries and shops
- A historic site
- A meal or a glass of wine
That way, the pedestrian street becomes a real attraction rather than a box to tick.
The Zichron Yaakov pedestrian street for couples
The pedestrian street is especially well suited to couples. Come in the afternoon, browse the shops and galleries, stop for a glass of wine or a coffee and finish with dinner.
The historic streets and small courtyards give the area a character quite different from modern shopping centres, and a visit fits easily into a couples’ weekend in Zichron Yaakov.
What can you combine with the pedestrian street?
One of Zichron Yaakov’s advantages is that you can combine several different places in the same day.
You could, for example, start at Ramat Hanadiv, continue to the pedestrian street, stop at a local winery and finish with dinner.
Another option is to combine the pedestrian street with a historic site or a walk in nature. That way you can build a day that brings together nature, history, wine, food and shopping – without long drives between stops.
A holiday in Zichron Yaakov – the pedestrian street is close by
For anyone on holiday in Zichron Yaakov, the pedestrian street is one of the most convenient places to spend time. There is no need to devote a whole day to travelling to a distant attraction. You can leave the hotel, walk to the village centre, explore, eat and come back to rest.
Zamarin Hotel lets you include the pedestrian street as part of a more relaxed holiday in the area – with time for wine, nature, restaurants and Zichron Yaakov’s other attractions.
So what shouldn’t you miss?
If it’s your first visit, put these on your list:
- HaMeyasdim Street and the Wine Route
- The farmers’ courtyards
- The local galleries and shops
- The cafés and restaurants
- The heritage sites in the area
- Binyamin Pool
- Aaronsohn House and the NILI Museum
- The events and markets held on the pedestrian street
The Zichron Yaakov pedestrian street – a place that tells the village’s story
The beauty of the Zichron Yaakov pedestrian street is that it is not just a street of shops and restaurants. It is a place where you can see the village’s different layers – the historic buildings, the farmers’ courtyards, the family stories, the world of wine and today’s local businesses.
So if you are planning a visit to Zichron Yaakov, set aside a few hours for the Wine Route and HaMeyasdim Street. Start by walking, step into the courtyards, stop for a coffee, discover a new place to eat and, above all – don’t rush.
Sometimes the best way to get to know Zichron Yaakov is simply to walk through it.
