Nimrod’s Fortress (Qal’at Nimrod) stands 1.5km northeast of the Banyas, on a ; knobby hill visible through the trees. According to the biblical table of Noah’s , descendants, Nimrod was “the first on earth to be a mighty man” (Genesis 10:8). ; Legend holds that, besides fashioning sandals and building the Tower of Babel, he erected tliis humongous fortress high enough to shoot arrows up to God, A plaque ‘ above one of the many gates reads in Arabic: “God gave him the power to build this castle with his own strength.” The strength of his slaves must have been phenomenal as well, judging from the size of the stones they schlepped up the steep cliffs.

Historians spoil all the fun and claim that the fortress was actually built by the Muslims, and originally named QaTat Suheiba. The view from the top of the fortress is unrivaled anywhere in the Upper Galilee or Golan. You can see Mt. Hermon to the north and the Hula Valley to the southeast. The approach to the castle, from which there is a clear view into the tiny Dmze village of Ein Qinya, is just off bus route #55 between Kiryat Shmona and Katzrin; the gate to the road leading to the casile is directly across from the bus stop. Bus #14 from Kiryat Shmona to Neve Ativ passes by; the site is a one-hour walk uphill. The castle is also accessible by a footpath from the Banyas, beginning directly above the springs. The shadeless walk takes about an hour and a half each way. (Tel 94 23 60; site open 8am-4pm. Admission NIS7.)