Exploration of Gondar Castle in the Camelot of Africa

Exploration of Gondar Castle in the Camelot of Africa

Before a three-day hike in the Simien Wildnis we take a breather to explore the magnificent castle of Gondar

Burg Gondar is unlikely. It is unlikely in size, style and design, but above all able. After all, this is Ethiopia, and if you want to believe Tia, we should look at desert landscapes with monkey bread trees, not a camelot in the sun.

gondar Castle in the fortress city of Fasil Ghebbi indeed conjures up legends from past times. In view of the Great Mosque of Djenné and the other architectural miracle of Africa, this should not be a big surprise, but I find the summoning of the medieval Europe amazing, perhaps all the more as Ethiopians will tell them that Ethiopia is one of only two African countries who were never colonized (the other is Liberia).

alt = “Gondar Castle in the Fasil Ghebbi”> Atlas & Boots Castle Gondar in the fortress city of Fasil Ghebbi

How did this unlikely structure come about? As with many things, his origin lies in religion.

Religion in Ethiopia dates back thousands of years. In fact, after Armenia, Ethiopia was only the second nation that Christianity assumed as a state religion (around 330 AD).

around 1622 the Ethiopian Emperor Susenyos I converted to the Roman Catholic faith under the influence of Portuguese missionaries, which led to years of rebellion. His son of Fasilada took over his rule in 1632 and restored the traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

alt = “The bonfinded parapet of the Gondar Castle”> Atlas & Boots The barcomed parapet of the Gondar Castle

According to legend, Fasiladas met a venerable hermit near the River Angereb in the north of the country a few years after his rule. The hermit asked Fasiladas to build his capital there, and the emperor duly committed to founding the city that should become gondar, home of the castles and fortifications by Fasil Ghebbi.

gondar served as the capital of Ethiopia from around 1636 to 1855 and today not only houses the castle of Gondar (also known as the castle of Fasiladas), but also several other castles, churches, monasteries and royal buildings that were built by Fasilada's successors.

alt = “The Castle of Emperor Iyasu”> Atlas & Boots The Castle of Emperor Iyasu

We reached Fasil Ghebbi through one of the 12 goals that interrupt the 900 m (2,900 ft) high wall, which surrounds the royal enclosure. With tickets in hand, we politely gave way to the waiting group of guides and went on a tour of the exploration. (We were told that the guides are worth the 200 ETB / 7 USD, but we generally prefer to explore on our own.)

Of course we started at the main attraction: the imposing castle of Gondar. This great building is said to have been built by an Indian architect and conjures up a sense of the surreal. The huge coupling towers and the tastn -excited parapet are reminiscent of the medieval Europe, which is moved to Ethiopia. The huge walls made of roughly hewn brown basalt stone, which are held together with mortar, are crowned by a flat roof and a rectangular tower in the southwestern corner, which offers a wide view of the Tana lake.

When we walked along the towering mass, it was easy to imagine the festivals described in history books with raw meat and honey wine.

Fasil Ghebbi was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, but is not entirely restored at 70,000 square meters. We were captivated by the size and splendor, but on closer inspection we noticed peeling walls and crumbling stones, undoubtedly a lasting remains of the Second World War, when the Italians caused damage during the occupation of the city and the British bombed them during the liberation.

Nevertheless, Fasil Ghebbi wears his scars well. Any decay only contributes to his aura of a long -forgotten camelot, but his original splendor is still obvious.

We took a look at Gondar Castle before we have explored the rest of the site that can easily be confused with Robin Hood's set.

  


            


            


            


            


            


            


            


            


            


            


            
 
 Atlas & Boots 
 In addition to the impressive collection of royal buildings within the enclosure, there are several others who are scattered in Gondar.  We visited the Debre Berhan Selassie Church for the service on Sunday morning. 
 also worth a visit is the bathroom of Fasilidas, which you can enter with your Fasil Ghebbi ticket. 
 alt = “Debre Berhan Selassie is a short tuk-tuk trip from the city center”>  Atlas & Boots  deBre Berhan Selassie is a short tuk tuk trip from the city center 
In a way, the castle of Gondar with its huge domes and crenellated walls is the least expected sight in Ethiopia.  But in others the country means perfectly.  Ethiopia is a country that undermines expectations;  that suffers from the grip of the presumption;  that holds the newcomer with a constant surprise.  A structure like this or any kind should not be a shock at all.  As the slogan already says, Ethiopia is the country of origin. 

 exploration of Gondar Castle: The essentials 
 Was: Visiting Gondar Castle, also known as Fasilides Castle, in Ethiopia. 
 Where: We stayed in the Lodge du Chateau, just a few seconds from the royal enclosure of Fasil Ghebbi.  The lodge is run by Simon, a locals made of gondar and perfect host.  Simon picked us up from Axum Airport, gave us excellent insider tips about Gondar and even sent an employee who put us on the right bus when I left. 

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 Atlas & Boots 
 Simon claims to be the best breakfast in Ethiopia, and we have to say it was definitely delicious: honey from the region and mature avocado accompany fresh bread and ethiopian coffee, while the wheat pfann cake or the special omelet ensure a particularly good start to the day.  The view of gondar is also pleasant. 
 The rooms are simple, but functional.  The walls are thin, so bring earplugs with you.  The WLAN was incomplete during our stay, but that seemed to be quite standard in Ethiopia.  All in all, the Lodge du Chateau is a super cheap place to explore the Gondar Castle. 
 When: The best time to visit the Gondar Castle in Ethiopia is October to March, when most parts of the country have pleasant temperatures, blue sky and low rainfall. 
 like: Gondar Castle in the royal enclosure of Fasil Ghebbi is only a few seconds away from the Lodge du Chateau.  Entry costs 200 ETB ($ 7) per person.  This includes a day in the Fasil Ghebbi (opening times 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) and a second in Fasiladas bath 2 km away.  Note that an additional fee is available for using a video camera: 75 ETB (3 USD) for a small camera and 125 ETB (4.5 USD) for a professional camera.  You can pick up a guide at the entrance.  We preferred to explore on our own. 
 We flew from Axum to Gondar Airport and received a transfer to the Lodge du Chateau, which was arranged by the owner Simon (lodge@lodftechateau.com). 
 After our stay in Gondar, we drove to Bahir with a public coaster bus: 100 ETB ($ 4) per person.  Advertisers at the bus stop are very aggressive, so they are prepared to ward off them.  Avoid sitting at the back of the bus.  We had five people on four seats (six people if you count the baby!).  Note that we get into the bus at 9 a.m. and take off at 10.15 a.m. while we were waiting for the bus to be full. 
 You can organize a private transfer via your hotel, but note that there is no official taxi service, so that you are delivered to the local dealers. 
 domestic flights are the fastest way to travel to Ethiopia (check the latest routes here).  It is much cheaper to book flights in an Ethiopian Airlines office in the country.  Be sure to state whether you have flown internationally with you because you are entitled to a significant discount. 
 Addis Ababa is the most important international airport in the country.  Book international flights via skyscanner.net. 
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 LONELY PLANET ETHIOPIA is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads.  If you prefer to travel on a tour, we recommend G Adventures and their Ethiopia tours in small groups. 
 Mission statement: Atlas & Boots 
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