In the center of Gondar city, the Royal Enclosure containing several medieval castles and churches lies surrounded by tall stone walls. This 70000 square meter compound contains a complex of buildings which includes Fasiladas’ castle, Iyasu’s Palace, Dawit’s Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Empress Mentewab’s castle, a chancery, library, and three churches.

The original castle, built-in 1640 by Emperor Fasiladas, is by far the most remarkable building within the compound. Built of stone and displaying a range of architectural influences such as Nubian, Arab, and Baroque styles, Fasliadas’ castle is an impressive achievement of architecture which served a double purpose as a palace as well as a defensible structure complete with gothic style ramparts and walkways. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 Fasiladas, credited with founding the city of Gondar in 1636, was proclaimed emperor in 1630 during a revolt led by Sartre Kristos, but did not reach the throne until his father abdicated in 1632. Once he became emperor, Fasiladas immediately restored the official status of the traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church expelling the Jesuits and restoring the ancient relationship that had been allowed to lapse with the Patriarch of Alexandria.