It's a huge place with several building and great history. However, it's under renovation now so most of the buildings are covered with scaffolding and hundreds of workers are all over the place. The project needs another year to finish.

Amazing and affordable experience. Gonder is very safe and protected by the government in 2024 (we went in March) and saw other tourists as well. So just fly to here from Addis even though it’s annoying, because the bus routes are blocked. The castles were incredible and has very big historical and cultural value. We didn’t want a tour guide but they insisted that we gave an additional 400 birr and asked if he could just give us quick information and leave us so we could observe it by ourselves (because we prefer to do research beforehand on the sights and then explore by ourselves). But really it was perfect. The guide was very informative and gave us a quick 15 min lecture about the place and the names of the castles in the compound. It was just right:) The ticket also included Fassilidas bath a 15-20 min walk from the sight. Please don’t be like 99% of tourists who gets driven in a big car with air conditioning from sight to sight. WALK AND EXPLORE THE CITY AND DRINK LOCAL COFEE ON THE WAY. Gonder is definitely a place worth visiting! Don’t believe what they say in Addis about safety🙉💗😍

Fasil Castle, more accurately known as Fasil Ghebbi (Amharic for "Fasil's Enclosure" or "Compound"), is a magnificent historical fortress-city located in Gondar, Ethiopia. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site and a true marvel of Ethiopian history and architecture. 1. Historical Significance: * Royal Residence and Capital: Fasil Ghebbi served as the royal residence and political center of the Ethiopian Empire from the 17th century until the mid-19th century. Emperor Fasilides established it as the capital in 1636, ending the previous tradition of migratory royal camps. * A Symbol of Power: It represents a period of significant prosperity and stability for the Ethiopian Empire, known as the Gondarine period. Many emperors ruled from within its walls, conducting royal ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and military planning. * "Camelot of Africa": It's often referred to as the "Camelot of Africa" due to its fairytale-like castles and historical importance. 2. Architectural Features: * Unique Blend of Influences: Fasil Ghebbi showcases a fascinating fusion of architectural styles. You can clearly see Hindu, Arab, and even Portuguese influences, later transformed by the Baroque style introduced by Jesuit missionaries. This mix reflects Ethiopia's historical connections with various cultures. * Fortified Complex: The entire complex is surrounded by a formidable 900-meter-long stone wall, pierced by 12 gates. * Diverse Buildings: Within the enclosure, there are numerous structures, including: * Emperor Fasilides' Castle: The most prominent structure, often described as a three-story, round-towered castle. * Palaces of Successive Emperors: Subsequent rulers, like Iyasu I, Dawit III, and Bakaffa, added their own palaces and buildings, each with distinct features. * Churches and Monasteries: Several highly decorated churches and monasteries are situated within the compound, reflecting the strong influence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. * Libraries and Chancelleries: Buildings like the Royal Library and Chancellery demonstrate the intellectual and administrative importance of the site. * Fasilides' Baths: A notable two-story pavilion overlooking a large rectangular pool, famous as the site of the annual Timkat (Epiphany) celebrations where the pool is filled for baptismal ceremonies. * Other Structures: Stables, lion cages (as lions were a symbol of emperors), and public/private buildings. 3. Cultural Importance: * Living Heritage Site: Fasil Ghebbi is not just a collection of ruins; it continues to be a site of cultural vibrancy. Traditional ceremonies and festivals are still held within its historic walls, connecting visitors to Ethiopia's rich past and present. * Testament to Ethiopian Civilization: It's recognized by UNESCO as faithfully representing modern Ethiopian civilization in the highlands during the early 17th century and its lasting influence on Ethiopian architecture. * Interface of Cultures: The site demonstrates a remarkable interaction between internal and external cultures, with elements related to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Jews, and Muslims. In essence, Fasil Ghebbi is a breathtaking historical complex that offers a deep dive into Ethiopia's royal past, showcasing remarkable architecture and profound cultural significance. It's a must-see for anyone interested in history, culture, and unique architectural styles.

Gonder Fasil Castles are a true wonder—grand stone fortresses that echo Ethiopia’s royal legacy. Walking through them feels like time travel, with history and beauty blending into an unforgettable experience.

The impressive fortress city was the centre of the Ethiopian government in the 19th century. There are about twenty palaces, royal buildings, well renovated churches, monasteries and unique official and private buildings. Really enjoyed a good walk round the compound appreciating the historical, imperial and religious architecture

It’s definitely worth going there it is one of the historical places to visit in Ethiopia and my advice is that you should have a tour guide and also if you want to take some beautiful pictures then either you should go early morning or late in the afternoon to have the right angle of sunlight There is the entry fee but well worth spending it and also you can use the ticket to visit Fasilides bath if you visit it on the same day. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, it served as the Palace for Ethiopian emperors. The first Castle was built by Emperor Fasilides in the late 1630s. The compound is more than 70000 sq. It includes the Castles of Emperor Fasilides, Empress Mentewab Castle, Emperor Bakaffa's Castle, Dawit III’s Hall, Emperor Iyasu Palace, the Royal Library,  banquet hall, and Royal archive and Lion Cages.

In the sexteenth and seventeenth centuries, the fortress city of Gontar-Use Royal Enclosure served as the residence of the Ethiopsian emperor, Fasilides, who moved his capital bere in 1636 AD. By the late 1640s he had built a great castle here, the recently restored Fasilädes Palace. With its huge towers and looming battlement walls, it seems as if a piece of medieval Europe has been transported to Ethiopia Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, the palace, surrounded by an impressive 900-m (2,963-ft) wall, stands in a compound filled with juniper and wild olive trees, amid Enqulal Gemb, or Egg Castle, named after its domed roof, the royal archive. mary impressive churches and monastaries and a stable. These exemplify arcfitecture that is marked by both Hindu and Arab influences, subsequeritly transformed by the Baroque style that the Jesuit missionaries brought to Gondar, and have earned the city the nickname The Ethiopian Camelot. Beyond the city to the north-west, by the Qaha River, are the Fasilades Bathe. A nawo-storeyed, rustic battlement sits on the steps leading to a rectangular pool, while the bathing pavilion stands on pier atches and contains several rooms that may be reached via a stone linidge, part of which could be raised for defence in times of battle.

its the most articulated palace in fasil castle

Wow amazing arc

Admiring

(Translated by Google) Empress how beautiful 🌼 (Original) እቴጌ ምንትዋብ 🌼

I ordered a tuna sandwich from the menu and they got me a fried nile perch. Disappointing. ☹

Nice 👍 place to stay for a while

Not clean and hygienic

(Translated by Google) A cafe located near the palace of Faisal, a central place offers everything known from the west and what the city as a local culture offers. (Original) בית קפה שנמצא בסמוך לארמון של פסייל, מקום מרכזי מציע את כל המוכר מהמערב ואת מה שהעיר כתרבות מקומית מציעה.

(Translated by Google) Quiet hotel, clean and friendly staff.. in a tourist area, next to transportation stops.. and the tourist Fasil Castle (Original) فندق هادي نظيف العاملين ودودين..بمنطقة سياحية جوار مواقف المواصلات..وقلعة فاسيل السياحية

(Translated by Google) The beautiful center of the city, Gondar, you are beautiful, you are wonderful, you are the pride of my country, the exemplary city of Ethiopia (Original) የከተማዋ ውብ ስንተር በታ ጎንደር ውብ ነሽ ድንቅ ነሽ አገሬ መመካየ የኢትዮጵያ አርአያ ከተማ

(Translated by Google) Delicious avocado and mango juice (Original) Délicieux jus d'avocat et mangue

For the 17th Palace of Emperor Fasiledes The Camelot city of Gondar we had unforgettable time this place plan today Travel tomorrow

The entrance ticket office will be opened at 8:30 (local time) in the morning.

I had a great time while i visited the whole compound .

(Translated by Google) Under renovation (Original) 整修中

Unique architectural style for an empire's central buildings. The first and largest building is the most impressive. Useful to walk around with a guide to explain the functions of all of the palaces and point out the steam bath enclosure or the lion cages

The Royal Enclosure (Amharic: ፋሲል ግቢ, or Fasil Ghebbi) is the remains of a fortress-city in Gondar, Ethiopia. It was founded in the 17th century by Emperor Fasilides (Fasil) and was the home of Ethiopia's emperors. Its unique architecture shows diverse influences including Nubian styles. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Ghebbi is an Amharic word for a compound or enclosure.[1] The complex of buildings includes Fasilides' castle, Iyasu I's palace, Dawit III's Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Empress Mentewab's castle, a chancellery, library and three churches: Asasame Qeddus Mikael, Elfign Giyorgis and Gemjabet Mariyam.

it was "the most beautiful of glorious marvels built of stone and lime"

Great experience....and worth it to use a guide......to hear the history

This is an amazing place, totally unexpected, with many beautiful spots.

Such a beautiful and quiet place to wander around!

Real nice and pleasant place. The buildings look awesome and the grounds are green and lush. We stumbled upon a wedding taking place there and it was great fun, so try to get there on a Sunday

I am so satisfied to find this restaurant. Warm Hospitality and Great Food at Four Sisters Restaurant Four Sisters Restaurant in Gondar stands out for its exceptional hospitality. From the moment you arrive, the staff makes you feel genuinely welcome, creating a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with a cozy and traditional Ethiopian touch. The food is fresh and flavorful, with a great selection of traditional dishes. The staff is attentive and happy to explain the menu, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. Overall, Four Sisters Restaurant is a great place to experience Ethiopian hospitality and delicious food in Gondar. Highly recommended!

You can not come to gonder and leave without checking out this restaurant. It’s an amazing Ethiopian bib mixed with different culture and traditional clothes. They have amazing food with reasonable price for local and international tourists. I enjoy the traditional food and international food as well. They have a cleaver cloth that they give you when you’re cold. It’s Peruvian 🇵🇪 Very comfortable and warm 🙏🏽 Service is good and waiters are amazing. They start singing from the door gate (the guard) and continues until you sit down with a traditional music instrument. Quite impressive.

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea and dinner at Four Sisters Restaurant. Our host, Tina, the eldest sister, made sure we were well taken care of. The highlight of our meal was the friend banana with teff dessert (not on the menu) she recommended. Would not hesitate to return to Four Sisters.

This restaurant is popular among tourists, but manages to avoid feeling like a tourist trap. The prices are reasonable and the food and service are very good! It also has a very nice ambiance.

The restaurant it’s charming and the 4 sisters who runs it are welcoming and very amusing. Although it’s 100% catered for tourists it makes a great night out with home made quality food; nice ambience and energetic ethno-dance show. Recommended

Restaurant for tourists but very authentic and very hygienic. I felt confident consuming everything on the buffet spread. Very tasty food, great ambiance and although pricey compared to very local places, it was really reasonable and worth it in my opinion.

Great food. Best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had. Staff were incredibly warm; like I was a friend returning for dinner. I had the national dish; two days in a row. Great ambiance, great food and great waiters. Very reasonably priced. There is construction (paving the road by the looks of it) on the street outside so arriving felt like I was in the wrong place.

Looks boring on the outside but extraordinary on the inside. Ask a priest to open the gate for you and you can sit from different angles and enjoy the beautiful graphics on the walls and ceiling of the church. Gonder is definitely safe to visit in 2024 (we visited in march) if you just fly to here and back because roads for busses are blocked due to the armed conflict.

Extraordinary church dating back to 17th century but was re-developed in 19th century when original was destroyed. The exterior is beautiful and rustic and the interior is filled with stunning colourful murals. Marvelous church with lots of local history, culture and flavour. Definitely worth a visit to see something that is unique

This is a stunning traditional church in Gondar. Externally the church has beautiful stone walls and wooden arched doors. But it is the internal areas that are particularly interesting, with extensive sacred Ethiopian art. This is where you will find the original paintings of angels on the ceiling. You are also likely to see an Ethiopian Orthodox Church priest clothed in white with a hand cross.

An ancient and beautiful church with full of wall and roof painting known for its second Gondarian style. The biblical scenes are vividly remarkable and the interior paintings cover the walls and ceilings in richly applied red, blue and golden hues. Subjects include the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, seated above Christ on the Cross. There are a lot of stories attached with these paintings. It is an Stone building

Lovely church. Be respectful of their customs: shoes off, separate entrances for men and women, no chewing, no flash photography. We went during a service but were allowed to look around the church. Detailed paintings cover all of the walls and ceilings.

Was interesting, unforgettable movement, amazing place and fell to good, peace. Debire Birhan Selassie Church, meaning 'Trinity and Mountain of Light' is the most famous place of worship in Gondar. On approach, twelve rounded stone towers - representing the 12 apostles - stand stoically guarding the church, as they have done for centuries. The 13th tower, the tallest of the bunch, represents the Lion of Judah. Eagle-eyed visitors can see an imprint of the Lion on the top half of the tower. Originally built in the 17th century by Emperor Eyasu II, the present structure was redeveloped during the 1880s following a raid by marauding Sudanese Dervishes and lightning strike that reduced the original building to rubble.

Amazing experience. We went there on the 7th of the (Silassie celebration day). There were preaching services and songs and hymns troughout the morning. It was lovely. Entrance is 50 birr

A must visit place in Gonder. Well preserved. Better be visited during the baptism festival in January.

Fasilides' Bath's is an important cultural and historic monument during the Ethiopian festival of Timket when pilgrims from across the country arrive to take part and witness the festivities. Timkat is celebrated on the 19th January every year when the bath is filled to replicate Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan. Should be an interesting experience to participate this festival

The Fasiladas Bath, where Timkat celebrations occur in Gondar, represents the Jordan River. At the Ketera marking the eve of the Timkat celebration, fifteen or more of the 44 Tabots of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church within the city flock towards the Bath from all directions. At the center of each parish church is the Tabot, the wooden slab believed to be a replica of the Ark of the Covenant. The celebration is on 19th of January. It is one of the beautiful and colourful holidays in Ethiopia. Don't Miss it.

I love the trees here - so beautiful - what a site to behold

Nice trees and historic feel especially with not many people there. Pity about recent timkat festival deaths when this temporary seating collapsed a few weeks after we visited. So sad

Fasiledes' Bathis located about 2.5 kilometers from Fasil Ghebbi in Gondar, Ethiopia. It was built during the time of emperor Fasiledes in the 17th century. The palace is thought to have been the summer retreat for the royal family. In modern day it's home to the Timket Festival, epiphany, which celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

Interesting tree formations in the wall, but no signs or explanations and not much more to see apart from the pool, which is empty. Also a bit tricky to find if you’re using google maps.

Debre Tsehai Qusqam Mariam is a church built in Debre Tsehai Qusqam, located west of Gondar city. Debre Tsehai Qusqam was built by Empress Mentwab, from 1725 AD to 1738 AD. It was a church that was admired at the time, with 360 windows, decorated with red and blue silk fabrics, and decorated with gold and silver church utensils, like Debre Birhan Selassie. Debre Tsehai had its own power at the time, which was spread over Ebnat, Balsa and Armachho; therefore, it was under the control of 260 priests. In terms of the structure, it is believed to be similar to Narga Selassie, which was built in Mentwab at the same time. The church was damaged three times. First, in 1858, when Emperor Tewodros II took various items from the church for the purpose of building a church. The second damage occurred in the 1870s, when the Derbuses set fire to the church. This fire destroyed the church. The church took its current form during the Italian period, and its current appearance is very different from its previous one. The remains of Empress Mentwab, her son Iyasu II, and her grandson Iyowas are kept in a casket in this church. The relics of Empress Mentwab that survived the fire are still in the church.

One of historical places in Gondar built during Etege (Empress) Mintwabe , where James Bruce stole the holy book (The book of ENOCH) to be frank I always get bad tempered remembering this !!! now this place is one of tourist attraction site , being visited by many tourists every year. the Church, the ruins of ancient buildings , the tomb of Mintwabe are few of things to be visited.

Much better than the other important church in town

What a great pleace This is a pleace that an American geograper stool one of tge earliest Ethiopian book

The palace of queen Mintwab. A very historic and magnificent building with church and special prayer chamber.

It is one of the ancient church in gondar

B/c It is my born place