Jerusalem Real Estate Guide - A Pick Into The Most Desirable Districts Of Jerusalem

This article was written out of love to the holiestowners hired talented architects with creative
city on earth, Jerusalem. Jerusalem combinesnew designs. Rechavia was the "classic garden
modern life with tales and wonders spreadingneighborhood," founded on thirty acres of land,
thousands of years back in time. It's historicalbut the area has experienced change over time.
value is priceless and to this day it is the mostIn the 1960s, many internal roads such as Gaza
sacred place to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Ifstreet and Ramban street turned into external
you ever been to Jerusalem you know that thereroads linking the area with the city. A number of
is something in the air. In a way, it feels as if thethe houses were turned into private offices or
past was never gone and everywhere you looknew houses were built in their place. In spite of all
you see stories, old and new, combined into athis, the basic quality of the neighborhood has
magical experience of colorful sights, sounds,remained intact. Gaza street is a very lively street
smells and exotic tastes that appeal to all yourwith many fashionable places to spend time, as
senses. If you are a real-estate lover, this articlewell as banks and stores. Rechavia in the 1990s
will provide you with a glimpse into the mostremained, to some degree, a preservation of an
desirable districts of Jerusalem. But beware, noall-but-vanished world. A walk through the
words can do justice to these places - you mustneighborhood's streets, with buildings from the
sense it for yourself.Mandate period lined with trees, continues to be
The German Colonyan aesthetic treat. Rechavia is in a central location,
The historical German Colony is located inclose to The Great Synagogue, the Sheraton
southern Jerusalem and expands from both sidesPlaza and the downtown district. It is a few
of Emek Refaim street. It was established by theminutes walk from Shaare Hesed and Talbieh.
Templar community that came from Germany inRechavia owes its "rural" appearance mainly to its
1868. The neighborhood was built similar to aoverall garden neighborhood plan and abundant
German-style village with narrow streets, stonegreenery. Rechavia is becoming a "bourgeois"
fences, thatched rooftops of pine and cypressneighborhood, without a specific cultural or class
wood and a lot of greenery. In 1975 the Colonyidentity. Even more than a neighborhood, Rechavia
was declared as a historical site in order towas a concept, and its story, like that of other
preserve its unique flavor. The area's homes haveJerusalem quarters, is the story of the individual
exclusive features, such as fields of trees andfamilies living there.
green gardens. Today the main street of EmekShaare Hesed
Refaim is one of the most popular streets inThe religious neighborhood of Shaare Hesed is at
Jerusalem, with a cosmopolitan flavor, stylishthe edge of the neighborhood of Rechavia. It is a
boutiques, restaurants and coffee houses bustlingquiet and wealthy neighborhood with a warm
with life. The area is next to great cultural spotsatmostphere. Shaare Hesed is located between
like the Jerusalem Theatre, the Islamic Museumthe streets of Ussishkin, Diskin, and Keren
and the Natural Science Museum. It is also just aKayemet L'Yisrael. The neighborhood was built
few minutes walk to the Old City. In the Germanaccording to a plan of many adjacent one-story
Colony are two high schools, a grammar school,houses, each with its own long, narrow yard, but
preschools of all different sects, medical centers,starting in 1975 there was an acceleration of
community centers and various synagogues fromrenewal and people began to renovate with
all different denominations due to the manystonework and different pavements. The new
immigrants in the area from France and thehouses were bigger than the original structures
United States.and had additional floors. Today, most of the land
Bakais for individual houses or for two separate
Baka is a unique neighborhood with old Arabapartments. The area is especially popular for the
houses, many of which have been renovated andorthodox community, and the new population of
expanded. The neighborhood stretches out onthe area is mostly religious Jews from Western
both sides of Derech Beit Lechem. The Chaencountries, including France. Due to the high
Theater and the old train tracks are located in thedemand of apartments in this area, few plots are
neighborhood. The name "Baka" is taken directlyleft for sale. The neighborhood of Shaare Hesed is
from the Arabic word meaning "valley" as anbordered by the neighborhood of Nahalat Achim
indication of the topography of the area. Until theand Nachlaot, which are very close to one
1990s, Baka was quiet and empty. In 1922another. In the neighborhood are many
wealthy Muslim inhabitants and Christianssynagogues of many different religious varieties,
established beautiful private houses in the area.and it is close to The Great Synagogue, many
During the 1970s the middle-class began to settlehotels and the center of town. On Keren
in Baka, bringing aesthetic houses and paths withinKayemet L'Yisrael is a high school, pharmacies,
the heart of the neighborhood. Many houses werestores, and restaurants.
renovated, but the old architectural style was leftOld Katamon
intact. In the last decade, new immigrants fromOld Katamon, built at the time of the British
Europe and America have bought large houses inMandate and known as the "Flower Garden of
the area and the integral aspects of theJerusalem," is located between the neighborhood
neighborhood include its varied population as wellof Talbieh to the north and the new
as the beautiful villas near the train tracks datingneighborhoods to the south and southeast. The
from the 1960s. Today the main street is Derecheastern border of Katamon is adjacent to the
Beit Lechem, a street bustling with life withGerman Colony and the Greek Colony. The two
various designer stores, produce stands,streets that constitute the foundation of the
restaurants, and laundromats. Baka is an idyllicneighborhood are Rachel Imanu, which runs in the
neighborhood for young families or retirees, witheast-west direction, and Kovshe Katamon, which
one main street and many excellent schools. Inruns in the north-south direction. These streets
the neighborhood are various synagogues of allare connected to the stylish, cosmopolitan Emek
different sects. Baka also has a large FrenchRefaim street and Palmach street in the north. In
community. In the 1920s construction of the Abuthe early 1970s, a process of renewal began in
Tur neighborhood began, east of Derech Hevron,the area, and many of the inhabitants began to
between Ein Rogel street in the north and Naomirealize their dreams of a stone courtyard with a
street in the south. Abu Tur is one of the oldestfence, a quality porch, a thatched roof, and
neighborhoods in the city with streets and pathsdifferent architectural styles not previously seen in
lined with trees and old Arab houses with gardensthe area. The neighborhood of Katamon has a
and wealthy, modern houses. The neighborhood isromantic, sentimental style, with small, artistic
enjoyable not only because of its central location -houses with yards, pragmatically located within
just a five-minute walk from Baka is the Germanclose proximity to the center of town. In the
Colony, the King David Hotel, and other importantneighborhood are many schools, preschools, and
hotels - but also because of the winding paths ofsynagogues of many different varieties.
olive trees.Arnona
TalbiehArnona, located on the edge of old Talpiyot and
The neighborhood of Talbieh is one of the mostBaka, is a pleasant neighborhood. It is a unique
beautiful in the city, and is thought of as one ofsuburb, divided into houses of many different
the wealthiest neighborhoods in Jerusalem. Thestyles and sizes, many with private entrances and
wealth of the city can be seen in the number ofprivate parking. Thatched rooftops can be found
buildings of important government officials like thein abundance, along with penthouses and pent
President's House on Jabotinsky, the Nationalcottages with individual stone gardens and
Academy of Science, and the Van Leer Institute.terraces that create a feeling of privacy and
In the early 1970s the Jerusalem Theater wascomfort. The neighborhood of Arnona is relatively
established. The population consists of manynew - it was founded only thirty years ago.
celebrities, and the wealthiest streets of theArnona is an ideal place for families and young
neighborhood include Hovevei Tzion, Disraeli, andcouples. The Tayelet, with its colonial design, and
Dubnov. In the neighborhood it is possible to see aKibbutz Ramat Rachel with its swimming pool and
rich variety of buildings from the Mandate period,health club can be found in the neighborhood. The
as well as authentic Arab houses that have beenneighborhood has an amazing view of the Dead
expanded or have had additions made to theirSea from each house, and it is known for its
original structures. In Talbieh, many houses havepanoramic views. The neighborhood also is along a
been declared historical preservations. This is amain transportation route to all major parts of the
quiet neighborhood with one-way streets andcity, near center city shopping and recreation in
green gardens. The famous Rose Garden can beTalpiyot. The main street is bustling with the life
found on Pinsker Street. The neighborhood isof Baka. In Arnona there is one high school, a
located at the edge of the center of the city ofmedical center, many preschools, parks, public
Jerusalem, between the neighborhood of Rechaviagardens, and synagogues of different streams.
in the north and Old Katamon in the south. It isRecently 1300 new houses have been built in the
also a few minutes walk to the German Colony.area in eight different projects. The new housing
The neighborhood of Talbieh also is located nearprojects have between three to five rooms in
the Inbal Hotel, a short walking distance from theeach apartment and have very attractive prices.
Old City, and near many hotels and The GreatThe projects are intended for a young population.
Synagogue. Famous synagogues in the areaCenter
include one on Hovevei Tzion street, and theThe center of the city of Jerusalem includes both
Chopen synagogue. Within a short walk are manyKing George street and Jaffa street, both running
different attractions, including the German Colonyin the north-south direction until intersecting at a
with its stylish, cosmopolitan Emek Refaim street.point. The area is a main commercial center as
In the neighborhood are various preschools andwell as a tourist attraction and an enjoyable place
synagogues of all different sects.to spend an afternoon. The city center includes
Rechaviamany first-class hotels, including the King David
The neighborhood of Rechavia, one of the mosthotel, the Prima Kings hotel, the Sheraton, and
interesting from an architectural and historicalLev Jerusalem. Next to the King David hotel is the
perspective, is located north of the neighborhoodCinematheque, where many university students
of Talbieh and Old Katamon, and is right next toand teenagers gather on the weekends. One of
Shaare Hesed. A lot of its inhabitants arethe main attractions of this area is the famous
well-educated and received their education fromBen Yehuda street with its many shops,
Central Europe as well as Western countries. Therestaurants, and cafes. The center city area is
large villas that were established reflect economicwithin walking distance to the religious
and social status as well as personal style - theneighborhood of Mea Shearim and the Old City.