The Royal Enclosure is situated in the centre of modern Gondar.
The five castles were built by a succession of Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century.

The castles, having survived several wars, are a testament of this once mighty African Empire.

In 1632, King Fasilidas proclaimed that Gondar, a previously obscure village, would be the site of the Empire's new capital and the population swelled to over 60,000.  

For the next 250 years, the Kings of Ethiopia ruled from Gondar's castles. 

There are 2 other very special sights in Gondar: The Church of Debrebirhan en the Bath of Fasillades.