Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
የጀጎል ግምብ ሐረር
የጀጎል ግምብ ሐረር
The fortified historic town of Harar is located in the eastern part of
the country on a plateau with deep gorges surrounded by deserts and
savannah. The walls surrounding this sacred Muslim city were built
between the 13th and 16th centuries. Harar Jugol, said to be the fourth
holiest city of Islam, numbers 82 mosques, three of which date from the
10th century, and 102 shrines, but the townhouses with their exceptional
interior design constitute the most spectacular part of Harar's
cultural heritage. The impact of African and Islamic traditions on the
development of the town's building types and urban layout make for its
particular character and uniqueness.
Harar is an ancient city in eastern Ethiopia. Harar (sometimes spelled Harrar or Harer)
has a population of about 75,000. For centuries, Harar has been a major
commercial center, linked by the trade routes with the rest of
Ethiopia, the entire Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and, through
its ports, the outside world.
Harar Jugol has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006 in recognition of its cultural heritage. It is considered the fourth holiest city of Islam with 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines.
Get in
By bus
- There is a bus service from the capital, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
By plane
- Harar is served by Dire Dawa international airport.
