Old windmill that was built out of the Old City to process grain. It’s nice to see from a historical site. It currently is a site of wine sales and sampling
Montefiore Windmill
One of the first Jerusalem landmarks to crop up outside the Old City walls, the Montefiore Windmill was named for its funder, British Jewish philanthropist Moses (or Moshe in Hebrew) Montefiore. It was built in 1857 at the site where the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood would be established some 12 years later.
It was originally designed as a flour mill, and was part of Montefiore’s project to help the Old Yishuv (the pre-20th-century Jewish community of Palestine) become more self-sufficient. Montefiore, who was devoted to promoting industry in the Holy Land, also built a printing press and a textile factory and undertook many more projects.
The windmill was phased out of use as a flour mill in 1891, after the Jewish community began using steam-powered mills to grind their wheat. However, it continued to bear a cultural significance and during the 1948 War of Independence was used by Jewish fighters as an observation point. British authorities responded by bombing the windmill, an assault aptly titled “Operation Don Quixote.”
Today, the windmill houses the Jerusalem Vineyard Wineries Visitor Center, and blends right in with its quaint, picturesque surrounding in the upscale Yemin Moshe neighborhood (which is also named after the philanthropist). The windmill is an essential stop for anyone wishing to learn more about the transition from old to new Jerusalem in the late 19th century and the ambitious endeavors of Moshe Montefiore, one of the true icons of the old Jewish community in the Land of Israel.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 102 traveler reviews“Not worth a special tourist trip”
Our family came here to visit and see this place. We did it as part of an excursion tour. My impression- “eh.” It’s OK- it’s not a big deal- a non functional windmill- very nice. A recreation of the philanthropist’s 1880 carriage- very nice. A little bar type beverage place at the foot of the...
MoreOur family came here to visit and see this place. We did it as part of an excursion tour. My impression- “eh.” It’s OK- it’s not a big deal- a non functional windmill- very nice. A recreation of the philanthropist’s 1880 carriage- very nice. A little bar type beverage place at the foot of the windmill- very nice. Yes- the view of the Old City walls from here is very nice and postcard-perfect picturesque- that is certainly true. And yes- there is the history of the European aristocrat benefactor establishing the first Jewish community neighborhood in 1880 here outside of the Old City walls and away from the filth and poverty with fear of starvation and life- threatening danger of neighbors. So we can read about it. This is not a place that I found exciting and I’m not in a hurry to come back- for me, after “I visited this place,” my feeling is decidedly neutral. I could have done without coming here.
Less“Interesting site”
“Philanthropy”
Sir Moshe Montefiori had this windmill built in the 19th century. He was a British trader and banker, a philanthropist and a Zionist. He was convinced that the windmill might help poor people in its surroundings to make a living. That worked around 20 years. Then the windmill stood still until it was reopened...
MoreSir Moshe Montefiori had this windmill built in the 19th century. He was a British trader and banker, a philanthropist and a Zionist. He was convinced that the windmill might help poor people in its surroundings to make a living. That worked around 20 years. Then the windmill stood still until it was reopened in 2012. Most Jerusalem tourists know the windmill as a landmark from which you can oversee large parts of the old city.
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