Hi,
Qakun was a Crusaders fortress (it is now only ruins) and an Arab village of about 2,000 people (which even ruins not left of it). We had a small hike up, and around it on the way down. It is a national park, but free to enter.
The fortress sits on an hill 52 meters high, and gives a beautiful view over the Eastern part of Sharon plain and the slopes of Samria. It sits on the old Via Maris road that connected Egypt on Mesopotomia.
In Independence war (1948) the Arab village of Qakun was conquered by Alexandroni Brigade. A memorial for the fallen soldiers of the brigade in fight was built in the bottom of the hill, and a balcony was built for a view and to tell the story.
Take Care
Gad
Climbing the hill
The fortress from below with Israel flag on top of it
The ruins of the halls
More of ruins of the halls
The walls are made from inner core and outer flat stones
Inside one of the fortress halls, filled with soil
The Northern corner of the fortress and a link to the QR code to a game, I found on the other corner.
The panorama view of Eastern part of Sharon plain and the slopes of Samria
Alexandroni brigade story of conquering to the hill, the story of the fallen soldiers and about the renovation of Qakun national park
The view from the balcony
The panorama balcony and some concrete elements
The remains of the village are almost not seen on the surface. All the walls are new landscape development
Alexandroni Brigade fight over Qakun memorial
The story of the fight to conquer Qakun by Alexandroni Brigade in Independence War, and the name of the fallen soldiers of the Brigade
The story of the fight to conquer Qakun by Alexandroni Brigade in Independence War, and the name of the fallen soldiers of the Brigade
Signs in Alexandroni Brigade memorial.
The link to Alexandroni Brigade anthem in the QR code.
The Link to the interview about Kibbutz HaMa’apil in the QR code
Link to story on the conquer of Qakun and Alexandroni Brigade from the unit site from the QR code
Alexandroni Brigade memorial from the back
Qakun village renovated well
Renovated by David Guttman
Qakun village with the fortress on top, 1948 (Source: zochrot.org, Dr. Walid Khalidi)