Arad, Israel.
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Hotels we recommend in Arad, click on these detailed links: Inbar Hotel and Margoa Hotel.
About Arad:
Arad ערד is a modern city in the south district of Israel, on the border of the Negev and Judean Deserts, 25 km west of the Dead Sea and 45 km east of Beersheba, near the famous Masada (Metzada).Arad was founded in 1962 by a group of young Israelis, most of them ex-kibbutzniks and ex-moshavniks who were seeking an environment free of the urban ills of overcrowding, traffic, noise, and pollution. The founding ceremony was held on November 21, and attended by then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Arad's present population is about 23,300 and reflects the broad spectrum of Israeli society.
It is notable for its clean, dry air and therefore serves as a major attraction to asthmatics worldwide.
Culture and Tourism:
Music festival
Arad has been widely known for its Hebrew Music Festival, held annually around summertime since 1982. The festival was a great opportunity for new artists to become known, but also attracted Israel's best musicians and bands as it grew. In 1995, three teenagers were crushed to death in the large crowd, and since then the festival has become a minor event.
Eshet Lot Artists Quarter
The Eshet Lot Artists Quarter is a section of Arad's industrial center, according to its initiators, with "its own brand of desert atmosphere, combining creativity and artistry is in the heart of the industrial zone, on the road leading down to the Dead Sea". The artists who are all inhabitants of Arad, aim to create a productive community with an enhanced sensitivity towards the environment.
Some of the galleries can be found at:
Mitzpe Mo'av
On the outskirts of Arad, near the hotel area, there is a large white monument by Yigal Tumarkin, called Mitzpe Mo'av which also offers a view of the Judean Desert. Nearby is a hikers' trail, called the Sculptural Walk (tayelet pisulit) and two hotels: Margo'a Arad and Inbar Arad.
In accordance with the March 7, 2007 decision taken by the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee to move the national archive of Israel from Jerusalem to Arad, a museum is planned, which will display various gifts given to Israeli politicians over the years.
Transportation:
Arad does not have any railways and therefore there are only two ways to get to Arad: by air or by bus. Arad's airfield is located to the south of the city, and serves domestic flights according to demand.
The main bus station of Arad, Arad Central Bus Station, was located on the corner of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) Street and Jeuda (Yehuda) Street. It has however been closed due to operating without a license, and its bus stops are now located nearby on Jerusalem St. A multitude of Egged inter-city bus routes are served by the station, as well as two inner routes. The inter-city routes are as follows:
| Line | Route |
|---|---|
| 384 | Beersheba CBS - Ein Gedi |
| 385 | Beersheba CBS - Ein Bokek |
| 386 | Arad CBS - Beersheba CBS |
| 388 | Arad CBS - Beersheba CBS |
| 389 | Arad CBS - Tel Aviv CBS |
| 441 | Arad CBS - Jerusalem CBS (Sundays only) |
