Majdal Shams, Druze village in the Golan Heights, Syria and Israel
Majdal Shams is a Druze village in the Golan Heights situated at about 1,200 meters elevation on the foothills of Mount Hermon. Stone houses with thick walls characterize the settlement and overlook the surrounding valleys and mountain ranges.
The village was founded in the late 1500s under the rule of the Druze leader Fakhr-al-Din II. Its residents later participated in the Great Syrian Revolt from 1925 to 1927 against French mandate rule.
The Druze people who live here maintain their own customs in daily life, speak their own Arabic dialect, and gather in community spaces following religious practices that shape their identity.
The village sits along hiking trails around Mount Hermon and offers accommodations and restaurants for visitors. The best time to explore is outside of winter or peak summer months since elevation affects the weather.
Residents speak across the ceasefire line to relatives in Syria using amplified voices to maintain contact despite geopolitical separation. This unusual practice shows how people stay connected across a closed border.
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