Gondar is one of Ethiopia's most fascinating cities and one of the world's most mysterious. Gondar, anicient settlement, which stands at the foot of the Semien Mountains, is 750 Kilo Meters north of capital Addis Ababa.

Set in a landscape of incomparable beauty, Gondar, which become the royal capital of Ethiopia in the 17th century under Emperor Fasiledas who built the first and most famous of its castles, is rich in fabulous history and anicient monuments.

The two-storyed castle of Fasiledas, with a rectangular corner tower, three smaller domed towers and two meter thick stone walls, was, from the beginning, so impersive and most marvellous of building.

Another edifice of the same era, the bathing palace, stood in a pool filled with water drawn by canal from a nearby river. It could only be reached by draw-bridge. The pool is generally empty today; however, once each year during the annual Epipany (Timket in Ethiopia), celebration, it is filled again.

Gondar continued to grow under the leadership of Fasiledas's son, Yohannes I and his grandson, Iyasu I. Book lover Yohannes I inspired the building of another two-storyed castle as his library, as well as a larger castle with an imposing tower, designed and built by master mason Wolde Giorgis, for use as a chancery.

Iyasu I (1682-1706) was perhaps the greatest of Gondar rulers. He endowed the city with another large castle which was built next to his grandfather's palace. Ivory, Gold and precious stones ware inlaid within its interior and so stunning was it all that it was described as "more beautiful than the house of Solomon".

The castles stand in the rolling park land within fortified walls. As you pace the empty halls, audience chambers, and battlements, your imagination will stir to the echoes of long ago battles and court intrigue.

Many interesting excursion can be made from the city - south to the shores of Lake Tana at Gorgora (where other anicint castles and churches are located) or north towards the wonderland of the Simien Mountains.

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