LA COLONIE ALLEMANDE

The German Colony neighborhood was built from 1869 onwards by German immigrants who were members of the Society of the Knights Templar. This Christian religious movement (which had nothing to do with the Knights Templar of the Middle Ages), which emerged in the ^mid-19th century, wanted to help prepare for the second coming of the Messiah to Palestine. They established themselves in seven locations in Palestine, including Haifa and the Sarona district of Tel Aviv. Although the Knights Templar never numbered more than 1,700 representatives in the Holy Land, they contributed to the country's development, particularly in agriculture, construction and transportation. During the Second World War, the Knights Templar, who had become citizens of an enemy country and largely supported the Nazi party, were expelled and interned by the British, before being deported to Australia for the most part. They did not return at the end of hostilities. In the 1990s, the neighborhood underwent a major renovation, and the stone houses along Avenue Ben Gourion were restored to their former glory. The street has even been moved a little over a metre to align it perfectly with the staircases of the Baha'i gardens at the foot of which it runs. Today, the district has become one of the most popular in the city. There are a number of boutique hotels and restaurants where it's pleasant to dine on the terrace, especially in the evening when the Bâb sanctuary and its gardens are illuminated.