The Antipatris fortress built in 1571 by the Ottomans

National park Yarkon is the name of this park, and in it you can find the remains of the biblical city Afek and the ancient city of  Antipatris from the Roman and Byzantine era. The later was destroyed in an earth quake in the year 363 AC.

In the years of 1571-1574, a fortress was built by the Ottomans, on the remains of these cities.

The place is situated on what used to be a major route throughout history, a gate connecting Egypt to Mesopotamia, evidence by the many villages that were built in the area at this time or another. Earliest findings in this area, go back to 3300-4500 BC.

See video on the bottom of this page.

What to see:

• the Fortress in Tel Afek
• the Yarkon lake and spring
• the British water factory
• the British pill-box and rail bridge
• water lily ponds
• El-mir Ottoman old mill
• concrete house – the first concrete made house in Israel

Information:

• Entrance fee – 25 nis each person
• telephone: +972-3-9030760
• hours of operation:
  Apr-Sep- park closes on 17:00
  Oct-Mar- park closes on 16:00

How to get there:

See a Google map (it’s  “A” on the map)

A dry Silybum marianum

The Yarkon river

Heliotropium (Heliotropium bacciferum)

The Park near by