Want a bird’s-eye view of a seaside national park? In an effort to bring a new dimension to the beauty of Apollonia National Park in Israel on the Mediterranean Sea an amateur drone pilot Jesse Peters sent his aerial quadcopter high above the crashing surf and limestone cliffs – exposing the historical ruins, natural beauty, and eclectic wonders that make up this treasured site, a hobbit home, on the Mediterranean coastline – just an hour away from Tel Aviv.
But new demolition orders, based on safety concerns may mean losing this national treasure and hobbit house forever.
Located only a few miles outside the high-tech city of Herzliya, the hobbit home is part of the Apollonia National Park. This park is considered by some to be one of Israel’s best-kept secrets.
Like other coastal cities along the Mediterranean, the site features stunning sunset views and opportunities for hikes along the cliffs and sandy beaches. What really makes Apollonia stand out, however, is its history – stunning archeological sites feature a 13th-century fortress and the remains of a Roman villa – and hey, don’t forget the cliffside hobbit home of artist Nissim Kahlon.
Since the 1970s, Kahlon has been creating a maze of tunnels and hobbit-like rooms into the limestone under the ancient site of Apollonia. Those walking along the beach along the national park can witness firsthand his determination to literally carve out his own sprawling hobbit palace along the coast. Here and there you can run into Kahlon roaming the coast collecting seashells.
But Nissim’s dream may be pushed into the sand. His name means “miracles” in Hebrew and he is hoping for one. Nissim created the hobbit home with his own hands with no equal in the world. It is a palace carved out of a mountain, miraculously covered with shells and pottery and other debris that he collected from the sea and the surrounding area and turned into art.
The Municipality of Herzliya, which owns the house and the site, appealed to UNESCO to recognize this house as a world heritage site. But Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a demolition order on the place on the grounds that the place is dangerous and could collapse at any moment. A local fundraiser is in place to support strengthening the building and regulating it as a tourist site.
Nissim is now 77 and faces eviction and a glorious hobbit home that can be lost forever. The clock is ticking. Want to support the cause? Click here – links to crowdfunding site in Hebrew.
Apollonia is one of nearly 50 national parks found throughout Israel. Everything from unique geology to dense forest trails and hikes through verdant, unending plains await those explorers looking to stir their sense of wonder. Interested in a place to start exploring nature in Israel? Check out our top 10 list of environmental day trips, if you are exploring Israel.
Inspired by Nissim? Build your own Earthship our of trash.
Green Prophet has been covering Israel’s environmental news since 2007. Don’t stop exploring.
