Baram National Park — Attraction in Galil Elyon Regional Council

Mixed feelings about this place... don't get me wrong it's beautiful, but the politics of this place (shared by the local Christians, and the Parks Commission) really aggravate me.

The old synagogue is quite impressive, but that's the extent of the actual park (that charges an entrance fee). If I didn't have a membership card, I wouldn't feel good about spending money on this location.

However, we did take it upon ourselves to ignore some signage and cross into the ruins of the Maronite village behind the church, and slightly downhill to the ruins of the village below the synagogue.

I think there's a huge potential to build out this park into an amazing location, but seeing as how the ruins are of the Maronite village, it's not worth it for the Israeli Parks Commission... understand what I mean about politics?

So, in Israel, the Parks Commission spends lots of money on managing and restoring Roman landmarks (the Romans that decimated the ancient Israelites), but ruins of more recent hostile factions are not...

Well preserved but out of the way. I had wanted to visit this site since...forever... Meaning since the 70ies, truly. But it is located so out of the regular trips to the North that I never had the chance to do it. But this year I had enough time and probably enough motivation to finally make it happen. So on my way from Kiryat Shmona to Safed I didn't choose the fastest way but the one passing by this synagogue. I must say it was worth the detour as it is very well preserved although not that big, meaning not that impressive. Didn't see any mosaics for instance (did I miss them).

There is also a Maronite church on the same site that you can look from outside only as it is close most of the time

Anyway, I still recommend it, if you can make time for it of course. As usual you can take a look at...

Very small site with only the Synagogue and Maroni Church to see. The great: Nice viewpoint on the area, with some nice trees and flowers

The less great: The location is 1 short path with some flowers and kept lawn, not more to see than 30 minutes. It appears there are some more dirt paths to see but they are not documented and there is no map. The paths are not accessible or relevant with children. There is no place to buy food/drink anything It is not clear why there is even an entrance cost. There are some more broken down structures in the area with no explanation Nothing to do with...