Old Katamon

Old Katamon, built at the time of the British Mandate and known as the "Flower Garden of Jerusalem," is located between the neighborhoods of Talbieh to the north and the German and Greek Colonies to the East.. 

The two streets that constitute the center of the neighborhood are Rachel Imanu, which runs in the east-west direction, and Kovshe Katamon, which runs in the north-south direction.  These streets connect with the stylish and cosmopolitan Emek Refaim Street to the south and Palmach Street to the north.

In the early 1970s, a general process of renewal began in this area, and many of the inhabitants realized their dreams of having stone courtyards, fences, quality porches, tiled roofs and where major renovations were carried out, architectural styles not previously seen in the area.

 The neighborhood of Katamon has a romantic, sentimental style, with small, artistic houses with yards and all located within close proximity to the center of town. In addition, there are many schools, pre-schools, and synagogues in the neighbourhood.

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Baka

Even by Jerusalem standards, the story of 'Baka' is an interesting one. To begin with, Baka is a unique neighborhood in that it comprises mainly of traditional Arab houses, many of which have been recently renovated and expanded. Stretching along both sides of Beit Lechem Street , the neighborhood also takes in the Chan Theater and the original Jerusalem Railway station. 

The name Baka, was taken directly from the Arabic word meaning 'Valley', which of course is an indication of the topography of the area. It was established in the 1920s when wealthy Muslim and Christians families decided to build homes in that attractive valley – Baka – and beautiful private homes they were.

The Israeli professional middle-class soon spotted the potential of this neighborhood and particularly during the 1970's began en-masse to settle in Baka, renovating and updating those magnificence homes, surrounded as they were, by gardens and trees. If you didn't know it, you could be somewhere in Europe .

During this last decade, new immigrants from the U.S. , Europe , and France in particular, have bought heavily into the neighborhood, investing and further up-grading what was already a highly desirable area. Today Beit Lechem Street is bustling with life and lined with cute shops, designer stores, coffee houses, restaurants and more. A few steps off the main road and you are back into a quiet and idyllic neighborhood for young families or retirees. Excellent schools, public transport, various synagogues catering to all different sects, a five-minute walk from the German Colony and the nearby King David Hotel … Baka is simply a lovely area to live in.

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Talbiye

The neighborhood of Talbieh is one of the most beautiful in the city, and is thought of as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Jerusalem .

The wealth of the city can be seen in the number of buildings of important government officials like the President's House , the National Academy of Science , and the Van Leer Institute .  In the early 1970s the Jerusalem Theater was established.  The population consists of many celebrities, and the wealthiest streets of the neighborhood include Hovevei Tzion, Disraeli, and Dubnov.

In the neighborhood it is possible to see a rich variety of buildings from the Mandate period, as well as authentic Arab houses that have been expanded or have had additions made to their original structures.  In Talbieh, many houses have been declared historical preservations.  This is a quiet neighborhood with one-way streets and green gardens.  The famous Rose Garden can be found on Pinsker Street .

The neighborhood is located at the edge of the center of the city of Jerusalem , between the neighborhood of Rechavia in the north and Old Katamon in the south.  It is also a few minutes walk to the German Colony.  The neighborhood of Talbieh is located near the Inbal, King David & David Citadel Hotels ,and a short walking distance from the Old City .

Famous synagogues in the area include one on Hovevei Tzion street , and the Chopen synagogue.  Within a short walk are many different attractions, including the German Colony with its stylish, cosmopolitan Emek Refaim street.  In the neighborhood are various preschools and synagogues of all different sects.

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Shaare Hesed

The religious neighborhood of Shaare Hesed adjoins the neighborhood of Rechavia.  It is a quiet and wealthy neighborhood, with a warm. Family atmostphere.  Located between the streets of Ussishkin, Diskin, and Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael, the neighborhood was planned and built largely of adjacent, one-story houses, each with its own long, narrow yard. In the mid 70s, there was an acceleration of renewal and renovation in the area. Inhabitants began renovating the building structures and stonework, whilst the municipality took care of the road, pavements and neighbourhood gardens. Many new houses were built, often larger than the original structures and with additional floors.

Today, most of the properties are private, individual or ssmi-detached houses.  The area is especially popular with the orthodox community, and the new population is mostly religious Jews from the Western countries, including  France .  Due to the high demand in this area, few plots are left for sale.

The neighborhood of Shaare Hesed is bordered by the neighborhoods of Nahalat Achim and Nachlaot. There are many synagogues, catering to many different religious varieties, as well as being close to The Great Synagogue , hotels and the center of town.  On Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael Street , there is a high school, pharmacies, stores, and restaurants

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Rechavia

The neighborhood of Rechavia, one of the most interesting from an architectural and historical perspective, is located north of the neighborhood of Talbieh and Old Katamon, and is right next to Shaare Hesed. A lot of its inhabitants are well-educated and received their education from Central Europe as well as Western countries. The large villas that were established reflect economic and social status as well as personal style – the owners hired talented architects with creative new designs.

Rechavia was the "classic garden neighborhood," founded on thirty acres of land, but the area has experienced change over time. In the 1960s, many internal roads such as Gaza street and Ramban street turned into external roads linking the area with the city. A number of the houses were turned into private offices or new houses were built in their place. In spite of all this, the basic quality of the neighborhood has remained intact. Gaza street is a very lively street with many fashionable places to spend time, as well as banks and stores.

Rechavia in the 1990s remained, to some degree, a preservation of an all-but-vanished world. A walk through the neighborhood's streets, with buildings from the Mandate period lined with trees, continues to be an aesthetic treat.

Rechavia is in a central location, close to The Great Synagogue , the Sheraton Plaza and the downtown district. It is a few minutes walk from Shaare Hesed and Talbieh. Rechavia owes its "rural" appearance mainly to its overall garden neighborhood plan and abundant greenery. Rechavia is becoming a "bourgeois" neighborhood, without a specific cultural or class identity.

Even more than a neighborhood, Rechavia was a concept, and its story, like that of other Jerusalem quarters, is the story of the individual families living there.

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German Colony

The historical German Colony is located in southern Jerusalem and expands from both sides of Emek Refaim street . It was established by the Templar community that came from Germany in 1868. 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.

In 1975 the Colony was declared as a historical site in order to preserve its unique flavor. The area's homes have exclusive features, such as fields of trees and green gardens. Today the main street of Emek Refaim is one of the most popular streets in Jerusalem , with a cosmopolitan flavor, stylish boutiques, restaurants and coffee houses bustling with life.

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

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Abu Tor

Abu-tor is a long established quiet area with tree-lined streets & lanes.
Many old Arab-style buildings with gardens and some prestigious modern buildings.
In this centrally situated neighborhood just 5 minutes walk to Baka, German Colony & King David Hotel, the inhabitants also enjoy the beautiful Peace Forest with its long winding walkways and numerous plants of olive trees.
One of the most stunning views of Jerusalem can be seen from the Haas Promenade

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Yemin Moshe

Named for Sir Moses Montefiore, Yemin Moshe is a small, charming suburb facing the western side of the Old City. There are about 130 houses in this picturesque neighborhood, which was first established outside the Old City walls in 1891.

During the War of independence, Yemin Moshe was completely surrounded by the enemy for months, but it held out heroically. The border between Jordan and Israel was located just below Yemin Moshe in the Hinnom Valley. The quarter was abandoned during the 19 years of the Jordanian occupation of the Old City before the Six Day War in 1967, because of the danger of snipers from the Old City Walls and the neighborhood deteriorated dramatically.

After the Six Day War, the quarter was renovated and it has since attracted a number of artists whose works are sold in the area's galleries.

Yemin Moshe is very central and is close to the German colony, The Old city and to The King David Hotel.

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Mamila

Mamilla - in Arabic, "that which came from god" - is situated in the valley that links the Old City’s Jaffa Gate to the new city. It is the neighborhood closest to the old city. It was established at the end of the 19th century to house Jewish and Arab merchants and tradesmen, and flourished as part of the city’s commercial center. During the years 1948-1967 Mamilla was in the no man’s land between Israel and Jordan. Many of the neighborhood’s buildings were destroyed, its overall status deteriorated and it housed new immigrants and the poor. When Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967 (the Six Day War) the line was erased and Mamilla was ripe for an urban renewal project. It was decided to demolish Mamilla and rebuild it. After 20 years of public disagreements, the following project is nowadays being executed, to include a luxurious hotel, commercial and office areas and exclusive residential areas such as Davids Village, The Reichman Hotel & residence, The David Citadel apartments, Alrov development, Azorim development and Davids crown development. It is one of modern Jerusalem’s largest, longest, and most expensive development initiatives.

Mamila neighbourhood is one of the most central and is within walking distance to The Old City, Ben Yehuda St Emek Refaim St ,The Great Synagouge, The prestigious King David St which offers many shops and gallaries and to all major Hotels.

The borders of Mamila are the wall of The Old City, King David St, Jaffa St and King George St.

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City Center

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