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Bab Zuweila

🇪🇬 Egypt · 11th century

Bab Zuweila in Egypt
Photo: JMCC1 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Bab Zuwayla or Bab Zuweila (Arabic: باب زويلة) is one of three remaining gates in the city walls of historic Cairo in Egypt. It was also known as Bawabat al-Mitwali or Bab al-Mitwali. The gate was built in 1092 by the Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali. The two minaret towers on top of it were added between 1415 and 1422 as part of the construction of the adjacent Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad. Today it remains one of the major landmarks of Cairo.

Text adapted from “Bab Zuwayla” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Bab Zuweila ranks #1,404 of 8,133 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #9 of the 37 mapped in Egypt. Founded 1092, it is older than 88% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 325 atlas entries founded in the 11th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 2,607 times in the last 60 days, more than 73% of the atlas. 15 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Cairo, 2 km away. See how Egypt compares in the castle statistics.

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Read the full history on Wikipedia ↗

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bab Zuweila?

Bab Zuweila stands in Egypt, at 30.0428°, 31.2578°.

When was Bab Zuweila built?

The atlas dates its founding to 1092. Earlier structures may have stood on the site; this is the earliest documented founding year.

Is Bab Zuweila a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes — it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, per its Wikidata entry.

How famous is Bab Zuweila?

In this atlas's fame ranking: #1,404 of 8,133 worldwide, and #9 in Egypt. Fame here combines how many Wikipedia language editions cover a landmark with how many people read them.

What is the nearest castle to Bab Zuweila?

Abdeen Palace, about 1 km away.

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