After decades in its current location, the Golan Antiquities Museum is set to move to the Ancient Katzrin Park, where a new museum will be established at an investment of NIS 8.5 million. The goal is to take the archaeological and heritage treasures of the Golan and transform them from items behind glass into an interactive experience that integrates technology, artificial intelligence, and multimedia.
The project is being promoted by the Ministry for the Development of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience under Government Decision 4057. It is expected to be integrated into a broader initiative to develop the Ancient Katzrin Park and turn it into a major tourism and heritage hub in the North. The target completion date for the project is 2028.
The museum will be built in a new facility spanning approximately 900 square meters and designed as an interactive, multisensory experience. Alongside the original artifacts, there will be experiential display spaces, multimedia features, hands-on activities, and solutions based on artificial intelligence. The journey through the museum will traverse thousands of years of Golan history – from Rujm el-Hiri (Wheel of Giants) and the basalt landscape, through Gamla and the Great Revolt, to ancient synagogues and daily life during the Mishnah and Talmud periods.
Among the findings on display will be items related to the battle at Gamla, Hebrew inscriptions, menorah decorations, and additional archaeological discoveries uncovered throughout the Golan.
Not only antiques – stars as well
The most intriguing aspect of the project is the connection between what lies beneath one's feet and what is above one's head. Alongside the museum, an innovative planetarium is planned, with both sites operating under the concept "Between Heaven and Earth." The idea is to create a journey that begins with the treasures found in the soil of the Golan and continues to the stars and celestial bodies above it.
The museum and planetarium will be part of the development process of the Ancient Katzrin Park, which spans about 25 dunams and reconstructs Jewish village life in the Golan during the Mishnah and Talmudic periods.
The museum will not be the only addition to the complex. The development process is also expected to include a visitors' center, a night show, the planetarium, and additional content initiatives, aimed at extending visitors' length of stay and creating a broader tourist destination. The existing Talmudic park was developed by the Government Tourism Company, and currently features antiquities, interactive activities, and a paddling pool.
Now, the new museum is intended to connect the archaeological findings with the place and landscape where the historical story they tell actually took place.
Up to 216,000 visitors a year
According to the plan, the museum will be able to host up to 200 visitors simultaneously. The average visit duration is expected to be 90 to 120 minutes. Estimates suggest that the complex will be able to accommodate between 162,000 and 216,000 visitors per year, though this represents operational capacity rather than a definitive forecast of actual visitor numbers.
Yohanan Mali, director-general of the Ministry for the Development of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, said: "The Golan has a unique story, and we seek to turn it into a source of growth and renewal. The new Golan Museum will connect a thousands-of-years-old heritage with technology and innovation, creating a visitor experience that will allow new audiences to get to know the Golan in a different way." He added that the investment in the project is part of an effort to strengthen Katzrin and the Golan, expand the tourism map in the North, and create attractions that will bring visitors and economic activity to the region.
Yehuda Dua, head of the Katzrin Local Council, said that "the new Golan Museum is another significant milestone in Katzrin's development momentum and its positioning as the capital of the Golan and a leading tourism hub in the North." He noted that the connection between the antiquities museum, the Ancient Katzrin Park, and the planetarium will create an experience moving "from the treasures found in the Golan soil to the skies above it," along with potential to attract visitors and strengthen economic activity in the region.