The historical German Colony is one of the famous demanded neighborhoods located in Southern Jerusalem. It expands from both sides of the cosmopolitan Emek Refaim Street till its parallel Bethlehem Road—the two streets connected by small streets and pastoral lanes.
Some history…
It was established by the Templar community that came from Germany in 1858 by Christoff Hoffman. In 1873, Arabs sold the Templers a large area situated in the biblical Rephaim Valley, southwest of the Old City. There, they built a colony similar to villages in southern Germany: one- and two-story houses with green shutters, red tile roofs and fenced-in gardens. Middle Eastern elements were added and Jerusalem stone was used as the building material. In 1948 new immigrants became the residents of the German Colony. In 1975 the Colony was declared as an historical site in order to preserve its unique flavor.
Some architecture…
Most of the existing buildings are one-story and two-story structures with tiled roofs, wide yards, and well-nurtured gardens. Throughout the years, luxurious oriental style buildings with high ceilings and decorated windows were added to the pastoral neighborhood adding an eclectic nature to the colony.
The neighborhood was built similar to a German-style village with narrow streets, stone fences, thatched rooftops of pine and cypress wood and a lot of greenery. The area's homes have exclusive features, such as fields of trees and green gardens.
The cosmopolitan life…
Today the main street of German Colony is Emek Refaim St., one of the most popular streets in Jerusalem, with a cosmopolitan flavor, stylish boutiques, restaurants and coffee houses bustling with life, banks and a unique movie theater.
The area has evolved into a high-quality leisure and entertainment hub for both city residents and tourists.
The location…
In addition to the special character and optimal neighborhood amenities, German Colony offers excellent proximity to the city center, the Old City, Mount Zion, and the neighborhoods of Rechavia, Talbieh and Baka. The area is next to great cultural spots like the Jerusalem Theatre, the Islamic Museum and the Natural Science Museum. It is also just a few minutes walk to the Old City. In the German Colony are two high schools, a grammar school, preschools of all different sects, medical centers, community centers and various synagogues from all different denominations due to the many immigrants in the area from France and the United States.
Properties in German Colony
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