With some 10,000 residents, Majdal Shams is considered to be the center of the Druze community in the Golan. The most important residents – both spiritually and politically – are the Abu-Salah and Safdie families. Majdal Shams is situated in the southern foothills of Mount Hermon, and is surrounded by hundreds of acres of orchards, the main crops being first class apples and cherries.
The largest of the Golan’s four Druze towns – big enough to have traffic jams – Majdal Shams serves as the commercial and cultural center of the Golan Druze community. Druze flags flutter in the wind, and you often see men with elaborate curling moustaches sporting traditional Druze attire, including a black shirwal (baggy pants) and a white fez. That said, the town is considerably less conservative than most Druze villages: young women dress like typical secular Israelis and alcohol is available in several pubs. It is not uncommon to see high end vehicles and ATV’s along with children playing and people visiting on the streets of Majdal Shams.
Majdal Shams may not look like much, but the Druze town is a hub for skiers in the winter and berry pickers in the fall. It's also a year-round destination for wine lovers because of the local vineyards, and foodies, as Druze cuisine is renowned in the region.
