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An update from Evaneos
Gonder

Gonder (Ethiopia)

Practical information on Gonder

  • Mountain
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Music
  • Castle and fortress
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Unesco World Heritage
  • Essential
5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
1 hour by plane from Addis Ababa
When to go
All year round, but avoid the rainy season from May to September
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days

Reviews of Gonder

Loleh Rustenholz Seasoned Traveller
13 written opinions

A city scattered with impressive historical monuments

My suggestion:
Take a local guide with you if you intend to visit the fortifications. You'll learn a lot about the history of Ethiopia!
My review

When you pass through Gondar, you really shouldn't miss seeing the fort of Fasil Ghebbi. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, these fortifications are amazing. With crenels and towers, you'd think you were in Europe. You can walk in the gardens, admire the building's exterior and take a look inside some of the 5 palaces.

If you're about during Timkat (January), you can also attend the religious celebrations which take place at Fasiladas' Bath. The pool is filled with water and a crowd, dressed in white, comes to be blessed. For the rest of the year the pool is empty, but the site stays open and is still a POI all the same.

Two other places intrigued me: the Debre Berhan Selassie church, very well-known across the country and located on a hill in the north. Upon entry, you can admire very beautiful paintings on the ceiling and walls. Also, the Qusquam Monastery, built by Queen Mentewab, as well as her palace.

Fasiladas' Bath
The church of Debre Berhan Selassie