Arziv

Arziv

Location: Israel, Mediterranean coast (between Nahariya and the Lebanese border)

Village type: avant-garde polyhedrons followed by huts.
Year opened: 1961.
Year closed: 2001.

For the record: It began in 1959-60, when Gilbert TRIGANO became interested in Israel.

Dominique Lebourgeois and François Hubert were sent to prospect in the "promised land" in order to locate a site suitable for a village. Their journey yielded little. However, towards the end of their stay, they discovered an interesting site. Located in northern Israel, 5 kilometers from the Lebanese border, it featured a fine sandy beach overlooked by an old Arab village and a eucalyptus grove. The place had a certain charm and was called Arzhiv.
The location for the future club had been found!

Gilbert Trigano was in charge of negotiations with the Israeli government of Ben-Gurion

A 50-year lease agreement is issued by the Jewish National Trust (manager of all state assets in trust) along with a special permit which officially stipulates that the beach in front of the village is not open to the public.

A trio of Israeli architects—Eldar Sharon, Alfred Neumann, and Zvi Hecker—were tasked with designing the village. They worked to create a different kind of resort. For accommodation, they replaced the Polynesian huts found in other villages with 350 unusual, "avant-garde" structures, a kind of polyhedron made of assembled reeds. Each one consisted of three slightly convex hexagonal panels, closed by a triangular roof panel that could be opened for ventilation. 

Palm trees are planted, lawns are laid, and stones and amphorae decorate the common areas. The old Arab village is also restored. Initially, it serves as accommodation for the GOs (Gentils Organisateurs, or Club Med staff) before the bar and traditional restaurant are installed there.

The newly opened village has attracted the attention of many Israelis. The Club has had to erect a 2-meter-high fence topped with barbed wire to prevent being overwhelmed by visitors.

One of them will come all the way from Caesarea to mingle with the GMs at an evening event. It will be his first time experiencing Club Med. His name is Edmond de Rothschild.

In the first year, the activities offered were mainly nautical, including spearfishing and swimming. Sailing was introduced in 1962-63, and then from 1964 onwards, horseback riding was offered at the village ranch.

Over the years, Arziv's profitability declined. The village filled up mainly on weekends. In 1974, the idea of ​​offering weekly packages in July and August was a considerable success. The village was fully booked during the two summer months.  

During the 1970s, the village underwent a transformation. The original hexagonal polyhedrons were replaced by traditional Polynesian huts. This period also marked the beginning of difficult years for the village, with tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and Syria. The village is only 5 kilometers from the Lebanese border. A 24/7 surveillance operation was implemented by about ten armed IDF soldiers. General Haim Bar Levde established his headquarters in the village. To prevent any invasion by sea, the coastline was also guarded. Woe to anyone who ventured too far out under sail!.  

The village was accidentally struck several times by rocket fire launched from Lebanon towards Israel. In 1995, a Club Med cook was killed, and several GMs (Gentils Organisateurs) were injured. Normally open from mid-May to mid-October, the club was forced, on several occasions, to shorten the season for the safety of its GOs (Gentils Organisateurs) and GMs.

The journey

By plane Paris to Tel Aviv then transfer by bus to the village. 

Village Chiefs

Pierre Levrard opened the village in 1961. Avner took over for 3 years. Other notable figures involved included Charly Benillouz, Victor Bourlas, Pop's, Toutoune (Jean Tournaire), etc

Vincent BENASSY closed the village in 2001

And today.

The Club closed to sales on the international market, and the village was put up for sale in 2001, but the leases signed in 1961 are for a period of 60 years. A renovation was even planned in 2005 (project entrusted to DATOO Architecture), but it did not come to fruition.

In 2012, the Club beach reverted to public ownership. It was incorporated into the Arzhiv Nature Park. As for the village itself, time has taken its toll. It has become desolate, like other former villages.

Unfortunately, sadly…