Gonder’s Art Deco Past

I would say that the main feature of Ethiopian towns is their diversity. Addis Ababa is a large modern energetic city set against a hilly backdrop, whereas Harar is a walled city with its roots firmly set in medieval times. In stark contrast to Addis Ababa is Axum a town located somewhere in the middle of nowhere, while Bahirdar is relaxed and tropical.

Gondar Ethiopia is beautiful, breath-taking and impressive. It is art-deco in style and very much Italian. It is on the list of must-to-be-seen in Ethiopia for every traveler. Whichever route tourists take, Gondar is always one of the destinations.

Gondar is re-known for its 300 year old Disney like castles and absorbing architecture from the 1930’s. One can also be tempted to linger much longer than planned by the sights and scents of a vast array of colorful flowers.

Gondar Ethiopia is located in the northwest region of Ethiopia with the Simien Mountains to the north and Lake Tana to the south. Travelers generally come here from Axum, Bahirdar or Simien and if not going further north turn eastward to Lalibela. The road north and east of Gondar is stunning.

This part of the Abyssinian plateau provides one of the greatest adventures in this region but is the most difficult to travel if we are talking about the main roads in the north of Ethiopia. Built in the 1930’s during the occupation by the Italians, the road to Axum is an extreme feat of engineering. The road crawls up and down with sharp bends that go on for much longer than any map would suggest. It crosses the highest Ethiopian mountain range Simien, which makes it another obligatory destination for tourists.

Trekking over the Simien Mountains is becoming more popular, appealing to those seeking the last untouched corners of the world. Simien is definitely one of those spots, obviously getting less and less so.

It does not matter how one gets to Gondar, you will find it alluring and want to stay longer. For those people looking for a glimpse of an ancient past Gondar has a great deal to offer including breathtaking views.

Ethiopia’s Capital
Gonder came into being as a trading post on the long distance routes that merchants used to carry gold, ivory and slaves. It is not known exactly when Gondar began life as a trading center.

It is however clear, that Gonder’s rise is closely tied to the movement of the empire’s political center that occurred in the 17th century. From that point in time, Gonder began to be the first capital of Ethiopia since the Axumite Empire.

During the so called “Gondarine Empire” and for some time after, the Emperor traveled with his court and ruled from pitched encampments. Gonder was at the center of the Empire’s seat of power until the mid-19th century after which time it was forsaken and slowly declined.

Ethiopia was occupied by Italy in 1936 following a bloody war. Emperor Selassie I, conscious that to stay in Ethiopia would mean certain death to him and his family, fled to Europe. By this time Gondar was a place of the past, with its castles left to fall into disrepair.

However, the town with its healthy climate and its charm attracted Italians the most. Those who destroyed the country and killed its people brought about a new beginning for Gondar. They made it the capital of the newly formed Amhara region and began the construction of houses, hotels and government buildings.

They also created a man-made lake, just to give the Governer a view from his residency which has since become one of Gonder’s most desirable hotels. Under the Italian influence the town developed an art-deco style, where Italian coffee houses and restaurants were plentiful as they still are to this day.

About the Author
Dr. Rubinkowska travels frequently to Ethiopia. She specializes in modern history of Ethiopia and currently lectures at Warsaw University, Department of African Languages and Cultures.

More information on ethiopia africa is available at ethiopiantour.com or you can follow the continuation about the castles and ruins at gondar ethiopia where you will also find more information and facts about travel to Ethiopia.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at 9:17 am and is filed under Travel and Leisure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Gonder’s Art Deco Past

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