NATIONAL PARKS SAFARIS ETHIOPIA

HIGHLIGHTS, WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW TO VISIT

FASIL GHEBBI, ROYAL ENCLOSURE, GONDAR, ETHIOPIA

FASIL GHEBBI, GONDAR, the 7 ha Royal Enclosure is a fortress protected by an embattlemented curtail wall; the greatest masonry monument South of the Sahara

Royal Enclosture Gondar, Ethiopia

FAMOUS GONDAR CASTLES OF ETHIOPIA, LOCATED IN FASIL GHEBBI, a 7 ha royal enclosure or fortress city protected by an embattlemented curtain wall. This was the residence of Ethiopia's emperors from the 1640s until 1864; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a testimony to the most advanced sub-Saharan civilization.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Most of our hundreds of pictures are favored in Google! Why? Because no other website has so many beautiful high resolution pictures, all taken by ourselves. Our pictures not only show you the beauty of Ethiopia, but they also show that we have been everywhere when we researched all parks for the Ethiopian Wildlife Autharity, photographing wildlife, plants, people and culture. Read our PDF report to the Government on Parks an Culture! So why consider booking our our Ethiopia Culture & National Parks modules? Because only we combine the culture of Ethiopia with its nature. We don't mislead you like many tour operators do. When the Blue Nile falls are dry.... we tell you. When fog clouds the lava lake of Erte Ale Volcano? We let you know. Just drop us a mail info@nationalparks-worldwide.com  and we will check it out for you.

Our tours take you to ALL famous cultural places of Ethiopia, and on top of that, you get to see up to 20 large parks accompanied by a conservation professional, not a mere guide. There is nothing similar on the market. Check out our tours in modules like: Historical Circuit; Danakil Depression; Eastern Route; Simien Mountains; Bale Mountains; Southern Parks Safari; Gambella; Addis Ababa. BUT WAIT: if you buy your international ticket with Ethiopia Airlines, they will sell the internal flights at a price that you can't even ride the bus for. But you MUST plan it all in one package and making changes may be very costly. So let us help you plan your entire trip and book your local flights for an incredibly low price after you booked your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines! Also: Ethiopia can be combined with other East African countries, we organize.

From the 13th - 17th centuries, the predecessors of Emperor Fasilides lived in fortified camps, called katama, which they moved continuously through the empire. This custom that was brought to an end by by King Fasilides who declared Gondar as the capital in 1636 and commissioned the building of Fasil Ghebbi, often referred to as the Camelot of Africa.

The 900m crenellated wall of the royal enclosure was accessed through 12 gates, 3 with bridges. Details: Visiting hours, How to get there, Descriptions of each castle. Each subsequent emperor added a new palace, thus increasing the number of castles, palaces and churches. Eventually Fasil Ghebbi protected the following castles and churches: Fasilides castle - also referred to as Enqulal Gemb (Egg Castle, for its egg-shaped roofs on the towers)-, Iyasu's Palace, Dawit's Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Mentewab's Castle, a chancellery, library and Asasame Qeddus Mikael, Elfin Giyorgis and Gemjabet Mariyam Church, their architecture showing Arab, Indian, and Baroque styles and influences.

Iyasu I, Fasilides' grandson, was was the greatest king of the Gondar period. Supposedly, his castle was finer than the House of Solomon with its walls decorated with ivory, Venetian mirrors and paintings of palms and its ceiling covered with gold-leaf and precious stones.

Iyasu became very depressed when his favorite wife died and abandoned affairs of state. His son, Tekla Haimanot, murdered him after declaring himself emperor, but the latter in his turn was killed. His successor was set aside and the next king was killed by poisoning. Emperor Bakaffa finally brought stability and left behind 2 castles, one for himself and another for his wife, the Empress Mentewab. Bakaffa's son, Iyasu II, is was the last Gondar Emperor ruling with full authority.

There are excellent English speaking guides who will tell you all about the fabulous history of this fascinating country.

For additional reading we highly recommend: Emperors of Ethiopia as well as Palaces of Ethiopia.

Fasilides castle - also referred to as Enqulal Gemb (Egg Castle, for its egg-shaped roofs on the towers).

900m crenellated wall of the royal enclosure with crenels, merlots, turret and gate.

Overview Royal Enclosure at Gondar.

Palace of Iyasu I, left and Fasilides' Castle.

Fasil Ghebbi with view on Fasilides' archive.

Chancellery with library Library of Yohannes I.

Dining room Fasilides' Castle.

Passage between dining and reception areas.

Interior Fasilides' castle.

Ceiling dining room Fasilides' Castle

Above: Facilides' Archive tower.

Left: The Archive Castle of King Fasilides built it for archiving documents.

Yohannis I's Castle.

Above: Elfin Giyorgis Church. right: Mentewab's castle.

Top Left:  Banquet hall of the Emperor Bekaffa and the concert hall of Dawit III.

Top right: On the left in the picture stables and on the right the Banquet Hall of the Emperor Bekaffa.

Left: Interior of the Banquet Hall of Emperor Bekaffa.

Map Royal Enclosure, Fasil Ghebbi, with the Gondar Royal Enclosure.