Amhara National Regional State 

Bureau of Culture and Tourism   GONDAR, Ethiopia

THE EMPERICAL CITY OF GONDAR AND ITS SURROUNDING

Gondar is the center of the medieval royal period and other historical and natural attractions. From the 9 World Heritage Sites of Ethiopia, the two, the castles of Gondar and the Simien Mountains National Park, are found in and around Gondar. The center of Ethiopian art and culture is famous for its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches. This land of castles and churches was founded by King Fasilidas in the 1930s and served as the royal capital of Ethiopian Emperors for about 250 years. The foundation of this imperial capital witnessed a period of optimism and renaissance of the golden days of Aksum and Lalibela architecture, literature, education, music, painting, and commerce that had been perished after the fall of ancient Aksum rose to prominence. Gondar is situated in northwestern Ethiopia, about 727 and 180 kilometers away from Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar respectively. Its altitude is 2200 meters above sea level.