Gondar: a guide to the royal castles
A guide to Gondar’s castles at Fasil Ghebbi, the painted church of Debre Berhan Selassie, and Timkat at Fasilides Bath.
Gondar was Ethiopia’s capital from the 17th century, and unlike anywhere else in the country it left behind a compound of stone castles. Its royal enclosure, Fasil Ghebbi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the centrepiece of any visit.
Fasil Ghebbi
Behind the enclosure walls stand the castles and palaces of a line of emperors, beginning with Fasilides. The architecture blends Ethiopian, Portuguese and Indian influences and is remarkably well preserved. Allow a couple of hours, ideally with a guide.
Beyond the enclosure
- Debre Berhan Selassie — a small church whose ceiling, painted with rows of winged angel faces, is one of the most photographed images in Ethiopia.
- Fasilides Bath — a stone pool that becomes the dramatic centre of the Timkat (Epiphany) celebrations each January, when it is filled and crowds gather for the blessing of the waters.
Timkat
If you can time a visit for Timkat (19 January), Gondar is one of the best places in the country to experience it — but book your accommodation well in advance, as the city fills up.
Getting there
Ethiopian Airlines flies into Gondar from Addis Ababa and the other northern towns, and the airport is a short drive from the centre. Overland, Gondar is about three hours from Bahir Dar on a good road, which is why the two are so often combined.
Day trips from Gondar
- The Simien Mountains — the trailhead town of Debark is two to three hours north, making Gondar the natural staging point for a trek.
- Wolleka, just outside town, the former village of Ethiopia’s Beta Israel (Falasha) Jewish community.
- The countryside churches and the road down to Lake Tana and Bahir Dar.
Gondar is also the gateway to the Simien Mountains. Find places to stay in Gondar within easy reach of the castles.