Overview:

Bab Zuweila is one of the three remaining medieval gates of the old walls of Cairo, Egypt. The other two are Bab an-Nasr, or Bab el Futuh, and Bab el-Futuh. Bab Zuweila is situated Along the defensive walls of Fatimid Cairo, Bab Zuweila is the last survivor of the three city-gates that used to form the Bab-Zuweila/Bab-Futuh complex. Its twin, Bab an-Nasr no longer exists, having been destroyed in 1820 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. This gate was known as Bab el-Sultan Ibn-Tulun. The gate was built in 1087 and served as the main entrance to the north of Cairo. The gate features two towers enabled with machicolations and two smaller auxiliary entrances, all with pointed horseshoe arches in a characteristic Fatimid style. Today, Bab Zuweila is the site of an ongoing conservation project initiated in 2001 by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

Bab Zuweila is the remains of a medieval gate in Cairo, located near the city’s busiest market district. Dating back to 1092, it is one of the last remaining gates of Cairo’s historic wall stronghold; the Bab Zuweila was the only gateway to the city until around 1860. The gate is made of a combination of yellow stone and reddish brick and is decorated with two towers on each side. The entrance is carved with Quranic inscriptions and sculptures of two pharaonic lions. The gate is an important part of Cairo’s history and has been the site of numerous battles over recent centuries, including the Battle of Bab Zuweila in 1811 which saw the Ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Ali take control of the entire city. Today, the Bab Zuweila gate stands as a reminder of the city’s glorious history and is a major tourist attraction. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

, Bab Zuweila is the oldest of Cairo's city gates and the last surviving example of the original city walls. It was built in 1092 by the Shia Fatimid Caliph Al-Muizz Li Din Allah. It is located in the old city of Cairo, near the Khan el-Khalili market. The gate served as the main entrance to the city for centuries until the city's limits were extended. It was then used mainly as a grand entrance to the marketplace, where merchants and traders gathered in search of profit and trade. In its heyday, visitors to the city were said to have lined up to enter through the gate. They were amazed by the grandeur and imposing beauty of the stone arch gates of Bab Zuweila, which were decorated with intricate carvings and gilded calligraphy. The gate also served as the pinnacle of Cairo's defensive wall system at the time and helped protect the bustling city from invaders. Bab Zuweila has remained relatively unchanged since its construction in the 11th century. However, as the city grew and expanded around it, the outskirts of the gate became increasingly neglected and run down. In the 1980s, the government of Egypt undertook a major restoration project in an effort to preserve this historic monument. As a result, the gate was carefully restored to its original glory and is now recognized as a significant symbol of Cairo's rich history. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Bab Zuweila Gate is one of three remaining ancient gates of Cairo, and the last remaining in original form. 2. The gate was originally constructed in 1092, during the Fatimid era and bears inscriptions with mentions of Caliph al Muizz and his son az Zahir. 3. The minaret of the gate was added in 1340 by sultan An-Nasir. 4. The gate is located in between two tower gates, and is connected with the Islamic city of Cairo at its base. 5. The gate has been inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1979 by UNESCO. 6. The remains of earlier gates of the city, Bab Al-Futuh and Bab Al-Naksh, are located beyond Bab Zuweila gate. 7. The Bab Zuweila gate is one of the last surviving monuments from the Fatimid era, and a great example of Islamic architecture. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era