Gonder: Medieval castles of Ethiopia

The Center of Ethiopian art and culture Gondar, founded by Emperor Fasilidas around 1635, is famous for its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches.

Gondar, historical city of Ethiopia situated 181 kms from Bahir Dar further north, became  the capital of the Ethiopian empire around 1635 and remained as such for over two centuries.  The design of its artworks used for decorating churches, the one found in the Debre Berhan Silassie Church in particular, represents a masterpiece of the Gondarine School of art. Having served as the capital of Ethiopia for 200 years, Gondar is famous for its massive ruins of imposing medieval castles which depict the old days of it’s emperors ambition and imagination.  The skill and  craftsmanship used to build the Fasil Gemb or the Fasil Building is very impressive. The Fasil Gimb was also larger than any structure in Ethiopia up to that time.

Gondar was once a vigorous and vital center for Religious Studies and Art. Skilled instructions in painting, music, dance, poetry and many disciplines thrived at this capital. Fasilidas and his successors saw their elegant capital as a phoenix and so patronized the arts. The ’Bathing place’ of Emperor Fasilidas gets filled with water every year for the Timket (Epiphany) ceremony.Today, visitors come to see the Imperial Compound, with the enchanting ‘Fasalidas’ castles still in good condition. At the ‘Bath of King Fasilidas’, during the Timkat (Epiphany) celebrations, a nearby river is diverted to Fillan area the size of a small swimming pool and worshippers plunge into the water in a re-enactment of Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan. Although many of Gondar’s churches were destroyed during the Mahdist invasion form Sudan in the 1880s, one particularly fine example, Debre Berhane Selassie, escaped. According to legend, a swarm of bees diverted the invaders. The walls and ceiling are covered with vivid murals: the angels’ faces on the ceiling have become a common motif in Ethiopian design.

Another site of interest is the ruined palace of Queen Mentewab at Kweskwam. The Mini Fogera is worth visiting in the evening for Asmari music and national food. Gondar is also the gateway town to the Simyen Mountains National Park.