Kibbutz Tzuba and Tel Tzuba

Kibbutz Tzuba sits on a hilltop in the Jerusalem hills, west of the city, on a site that has been inhabited for thousands of years. The kibbutz, founded in 1948 by Palmach veterans, was established on the ruins of the Arab village of Suba, which itself was built over the remains of an ancient city. The tel beneath the kibbutz is identified by some scholars with the biblical Zobah, a kingdom that fought against King David: “David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at the Euphrates River” (2 Samuel 8:3). The hilltop’s strategic position, commanding views in every direction, explains why it attracted settlement across so many periods of history.

Tel Tzuba and the Crusader Fortress

The archaeological tel beneath the kibbutz contains remains from the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and later periods. The Crusaders built a fortress here called Belmont Castle, taking advantage of the hilltop’s commanding position overlooking the road to Jerusalem. The fortress was part of the Crusader chain of strongholds protecting the western approach to the holy city, and it served the Knights Hospitaller as a watchtower and garrison point. Fragments of the Crusader fortress are visible in the kibbutz grounds, including sections of walls and carved stone blocks that have been incorporated into later structures. The views from the hilltop encompass the Jerusalem Corridor, the Judean hills, and on clear days the coastal plain far to the west, explaining why every civilization that passed through this landscape built on this spot. Archaeological surveys have also identified pottery and remains from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, confirming that the site was occupied continuously for centuries before the Crusaders arrived.

The 1948 Battle and the Kibbutz

During the 1948 War of Independence, the hilltop of Suba was a strategic objective in the battle for the road to Jerusalem. Palmach fighters captured the village in a night operation, and the kibbutz was established shortly afterward by members of the Harel Brigade who had fought in the Jerusalem Corridor. The founding generation built their homes and agricultural infrastructure on the ancient tel, literally building their new community on top of layers of history. Today, the kibbutz operates a hotel with panoramic views of the Jerusalem hills, a winery that produces wines from local grape varieties, and agricultural enterprises. The quiet, green setting of the kibbutz offers a striking contrast to the intensity of Jerusalem, which is just 15 minutes to the east by car.

Hiking and the Jerusalem Hills

Kibbutz Tzuba is a natural base for exploring the Jerusalem hills on foot. Hiking trails lead from the kibbutz to nearby Sataf, where ancient agricultural terraces and spring-fed gardens have been restored, and to Ein Hemed (Aqua Bella), a Crusader-era farmstead with a spring and picnic grounds. The JNF forests surrounding Tzuba are among the most pleasant hiking areas near Jerusalem, with marked trails winding through pine and oak groves, past wildflower meadows, and along ridgelines with views over the corridor. In spring, the hillsides are covered with cyclamen, anemones, and wild orchids, and the birdsong in the forest canopy provides a soundtrack that feels far removed from the city nearby.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Kibbutz Tzuba and Tel Tzuba sit on a strategic hilltop in the Jerusalem Corridor. Hoshen Tours pairs it with the cemetery at Kiryat Anavim, the ancient terraces at Sataf, the Crusader spring at Ein Hemed, and the nature reserve at HaMasrek Nature Reserve.