A guide to explore the urban and historical heritage of Gondar

PUBLICATION CFEE / CFEE PUBLICATION

A. Wion, Sisay Sahile, S. Hardy, J. Le Péchon, M. J. Ramos, 2014, Ethiopian City Guides: Gondar, Addis Ababa, CFEE/Shama Books, 69 p.

Après Dire Dawa (2012), le second volume de la collection des Ethiopian City Guides, Gondar, vient de paraître. Publié par le CFEE avec le soutien de l’Ambassade de France en Éthiopie, et distribué par Shama Books, ce guide (en anglais) fait partager aux visiteurs de l’ancienne capitale éthiopienne l’expérience de terrain de spécialistes de Gondar, de son histoire et de son patrimoine urbain à travers trois itinéraires richement illustrés.

Following Dire Dawa (2012), the second volume of the Ethiopian City Guides collection, Gondar, has just been released. Published by CFEE with the support of the French Embassy to Ethiopia, distributed by Shama Books, this guide (in English) offers to visitors of the ancient Ethiopian capital the field experience of specialists of Gondar, its history and its urban heritage through three richly illustrated itineraries.

Debre Berhan Selassie Church seen from the entrance gate (© Manuel João Ramos)

Ethiopian City Guides: Gondar

Located in the North of Ethiopia, Gondar is the former capital of 17^th and 18^th c. Ethiopian Kingdom. Founded in 1636, the city was a commercial centre that linked the Kingdom to the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean world. The castles of Gondarian Kings, registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites, still dominate the city’s landscape. this City Guide provides historical insights written by Ethiopian and foreign experts and historians as well as helpful itineraries to discover this charming city.

About he authors:

Dr. Anaïs Wion is a historian, specialist of the Gondarine period. She is a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), based in Addis Ababa at the French Centre for Ethiopian Studies (CFEE). Sisay Sahile, born and raised in one of the oldest families of Gondar, is a historian. He is the project coordinator of Ras Ghimb Museum, Gondar. Simon Hardy was an International Volunteer in Gondar (2011-2012) in charge of the cooperation between the twin cities Gondar and Vincennes. Jonathan Le Péchon is a graphic designer. He has been living in the Ethiopian capital since 2007. After working for several visual communication agencies in France and Ethiopia, he is now an independent graphic designer in Addis Ababa. Pr. Manuel João Ramos is an anthropologist, he wrote several books and articles on Ethiopia. He teaches at ISCTE in Lisbon, Portugal. He is the author of the illustrations of this Gondar City Guide.