Jordan Star National Park

Israel, Israel

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Jordan Star National Park (Hebrew: Kokhav HaYarden, Arabic: Kawkab al‑Hawa) is an archaeological and nature reserve in northern Israel on the eastern edge of the Lower Galilee plateau, overlooking the Jordan River Valley about 20 km south of the Sea of Galilee.

The park’s main feature is the almost complete ruins of Belvoir Castle, a Crusader fortress begun by Grand Master Gilbert of Assailly in 1168, which with its massive square plan, inner citadel, towers, cisterns, and defensive walls stands as the best‑preserved Crusader castle in Israel and served as a strategic stronghold controlling the route from Gilead into the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The site is set on a high plateau 500 meters above the Jordan Valley, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and the landscape includes Galilean hills, valleys, springs and wild flora, making the park suitable for walking, nature appreciation and historical visits. Visitors can explore the castle’s outer wall, inner castle, churches, residential quarters, cisterns and underground chambers, while enjoying the open vistas and quieter setting compared with more crowded tourist sites, and the park is sometimes used for guided tours and educational programs about the Crusader period and the region’s cross‑cultural history.

Access is via Route 90 (the Jordan Rift Valley highway) with a short drive to the park entrance, and it is well‑connected to nearby towns such as Tiberias and Migdal, making it a convenient stop for travelers combining history with nature in the Galilee.