For the castle in Taiz, Yemen, see Al-Qahira Castle.
"Citadel of Saladin" redirects here. Not to be confused with the Castle of Saladin in Syria nor the Castle of Saladin, Pharaoh's Island.
Cairo Citadel قلعة صلاح الدين الأيوبي
Islamic Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
View of the Citadel, with the Ottoman-era gate of Bab al-'Azab, and the 19th-century Muhammad Ali Mosque.
Type
Citadel
Site information
Condition
Intact
Site history
Built
1176–1183 (original construction)
1310–1341 (major modifications)
1805–1848 (major modifications)
Built by
Saladin (1176–1183)
An-Nasir Muhammad (1310–1341)
Muhammad Ali Pasha (1805–1848)
In use
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria
Cultural: (i)(v)(vi)
Designated
1979 (3rd session)
Part of
Historic Cairo
Reference no.
89-002
Materials
stone
The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin (Arabic: قلعة صلاح الدين, romanized: Qalaʿat Salāḥ ad-Dīn) is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt, built by Salah ad-Din (Saladin) and further developed by subsequent Egyptian rulers. It was the seat of government in Egypt and the residence of its rulers for nearly 700 years from the 13th century until the construction of Abdeen Palace in the 19th century. Its location on a promontory of the Mokattam hills near the center of Cairo commands a strategic position overlooking the city and dominating its skyline. When it was constructed it was among the most impressive and ambitious military fortification projects of its time.[1] It is now a preserved historic site, including mosques and museums.
In addition to the initial Ayyubid-era construction begun by Saladin in 1176, the Citadel underwent major development during the Mamluk Sultanate that followed, culminating with the construction projects of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad in the 14th century. In the first half of the 19th century Muhammad Ali Pasha demolished many of the older buildings and built new palaces and monuments all across the site, giving it much of its present form. In the 20th century it was used as a military garrison by the British occupation and then by the Egyptian Army until being opened to the public in 1983. In 1976, it was proclaimed by UNESCO as a part of the World Heritage Site Historic Cairo (Islamic Cairo) which was "the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching its golden age in the 14th century."[2]
^Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^UNESCO, Decision Text, World Heritage Centre, retrieved 21 July 2017
The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin (Arabic: قلعة صلاح الدين, romanized: Qalaʿat Salāḥ ad-Dīn) is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt...
The CairoCitadel Clock is a 19th century French clock tower situated at the CairoCitadel, and Egypt's first public ticking clock. For many decades, the...
The CairoCitadel Aqueduct or Mamluk Aqueduct (Arabic: سور مجرى العيون, romanized: sūr magra al-ʿayyūn) is a medieval aqueduct system in Cairo, Egypt....
Citadel is located east of the city centre around Islamic Cairo, which dates back to the Fatimid era and the foundation of Cairo. While western Cairo...
cared for this unique Citadel. They used it for shelter, as they had done with the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo and the Citadels of Damietta, Rosetta,...
the al-Rodah citadel was built, al-Salih took up residence there with his Mamluks. Later, the Mamluk sultans lived at the CairoCitadel which was situated...
situated in the Citadel of Cairo in Egypt and was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848. Situated on the summit of the citadel, this Ottoman...
file. Muhammad Ali invited the Mamluk leaders to a celebration at the CairoCitadel in honour of his son, Tusun Pasha, who was to lead a military expedition...
is the CairoCitadel Aqueduct, built during the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods (from the 12th to 16th centuries) to supply water to the CairoCitadel to the...
and reconstructing Cairo. The city walls were repaired and their extensions laid out, while the construction of the CairoCitadel was commenced. The 280...
clock in the 1840s, today known as the CairoCitadel Clock. The clock has rarely worked since its arrival in Cairo, but in 2021 the Supreme Council of Antiquities...
standard, in addition to its appearance on the flag of his empire. The CairoCitadel, built during Saladin's reign, has a large eagle on its west wall believed...
Ayyubid dynasty in the 12th century, was responsible for constructing the CairoCitadel, which remained the center of government until the 19th century. During...
Denmark CairoCitadel, Egypt Citadelle d'Ajaccio, France Citadel of Amiens, France Citadel of Arras, France Citadel of Belfort, France Citadel of Belle-Île-en-Mer...
construction of the CairoCitadel began under Saladin's orders. According to al-Maqrizi, Saladin chose the Muqattam Hills to build the citadel because the air...
structures sometimes included on such lists include: CairoCitadel, a 13th-century Islamic fortification in Cairo, Egypt. Cluny Abbey, a 10th-century Benedictine...
city, the historic cemeteries, the area around the Citadel of Cairo, parts of Bulaq, and Old Cairo (Arabic: مصر القديمة, lit. 'Misr al-Qadima') which...
World War. It was invented by the metallurgist Herbert Garland at the CairoCitadel, and more than 174,000 were issued to the Mediterranean Expeditionary...
centuries the Ottomans assigned an Asappes garrison associated with the CairoCitadel to guard the fortress at Khan Yunis. Pierre Jacotin named the village...
Al-Khadem, one of the Ottoman rulers of Egypt. It is located inside the CairoCitadel at the top of Mount Mokattam, and originally erected for the use of...
Mamluk Sultanate of Cairo, Mamluks were purchased while still young males. They were raised in the barracks of the Citadel of Cairo. Because of their isolated...
museum built in 1835 near the Ezbekieh Garden and later moved to the CairoCitadel. In 1855, Archduke Maximilian of Austria was given all of the artifacts...
in Cairo Gezira Roda Island Rivers in Cairo Nile World Heritage Sites in Cairo Islamic Cairo Coptic Cairo Downtown Cairo Islamic Cairo Old Cairo Azbakeya...