Background
The fortified historic town of Harar lies in eastern Ethiopia on a plateau with deep gorges, surrounded by deserts and savannah. UNESCO says its walls were built between the 13th and 16th centuries; Harar Jugol, called the fourth holiest city of Islam, has 82 mosques, three from the 10th century, and 102 shrines, though the townhouses with their exceptional interiors are the most spectacular part of its heritage. African and Islamic traditions together shaped its building types and layout.
Wikipedia: Harar sits at 1,885 m about 500 km from Addis Ababa and was for centuries a trading hub linked to the Horn of Africa and Arabia; a 13th-century history records the saint Abadir settling the plateau around 1216, and in 1520 the city became capital of the Adal Sultanate. Demolishing or interfering with its historic sites is a criminal offence. Wikivoyage: the Jugol is very walkable, and residents are friendly even by Ethiopian standards.
- 10th c.The oldest three mosques date from this century
- c. 1216The saint Abadir Umar ar-Rida settles the Harar plateau
- 13th–16th c.The walls of the Jugol are built
- 1520Harar becomes capital of the Adal Sultanate
- 2006Inscribed as World Heritage
Find Your Way Around
The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them
- 1The Walls and GatesHarar Gate at the western end is the main entry; Shoa Gate is one of several others.
- 2The Mosques and Shrines82 mosques and 102 shrines within the walls.
- 3Harari TownhousesThe interiors UNESCO singles out; guides can show which houses welcome visitors.
- 4Rimbaud's HouseThe house and museum associated with the French poet.
- 5Aweday Khat MarketWikivoyage: the largest khat market in Ethiopia, west of town.
Know Before You Go
From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides
Inside the Walls
Not yet in a GoGo guide
- 09:00Harar Gate and the Jugol Lanes2.5 hrsWalk the old town's lanes, mosques and shrines.
- 12:00A Harari Townhouse1 hrOne of the houses open to visitors, with a guide.
- 14:30Rimbaud's House1 hrThe museum in the old town.
Best Time to Visit
Best months: Oct–Jan.
Typical highs
Climate: NASA POWER
Pair It With
Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance
