Fortress of Babylon Travel Guide: Top Sights in Egypt, Tours & Travel

⁰

Fortress of Babylon- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Egypt; 5 Reviews

+1 Photos

Suggested Duration: 4 hours

The Fortress of Babylon, located on the eastern bank of the Nile in Coptic Cairo, was built around 300 AD under Emperor Diocletian. Originally constructed to protect the strategic canal linking the Nile to the Red Sea, it played a key role in trade and military movements while marking the boundary between Lower and Middle Egypt. The fortress' legacy is rooted in its association with earlier historical events, including connections to Nebuchadnezzar II and the ancient Canal of the Pharaohs. Expanded under Trajan and Diocletian, it became a significant military site. Over time, the fortress transformed into a center of Christian life, housing the Coptic Museum, the Church of St. George, and the Hanging Church, which still stand as symbols of its ecclesiastical importance.

Operators offering tours in Egypt

Attractions in Cairo

Khan el-Khalili

Egyptian Museum

4.4

Al-Azhar Mosque

4.6

Citadel Saladin

4.8

Ibn Tulun Mosque

4.2

Coptic Museum

Al-Mu'izz Street

4.8

Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

Reviews of Babylon Fortress

nora shoieb

5
Reviewed: 2024-03-08

It's the oldest Roman fortress in old Cairo. You can see it from the hanging church or the Coptic museum.
EDGAR RICARDO PEREZ NOVA

5
Reviewed: 2024-01-06

Impressive construction, near the metro station Mer Girgis. Nice walk in the evening but also nice to see all the convents, museums and sanctuaries open during the day
AHMED BADAWI

4
Reviewed: 2022-09-27

The towers of the fort were decorated with illuminated candles at the beginning of each month, allowing visitors to trace the path of the sun as it moved from one tower to the next, earning this fort the nickname Qasr el Shamee, or the candles palace. Within the fortress's perimeter are six Coptic churches, a convent, and the Coptic Museum. According to historians, the name Babylon originally referred to the capital of a neighboring nation by that name. However, another possibility links the name to the old Pr-Hapi-n-Iwnw (Nile house of Heliopolis), which was the deity's residence in Heliopolis city; Habi was the Nile's god.
Marcos Rodrigues

5
Reviewed: 2022-05-28

A must see in Cairo. There are lot of churches and history here. You can go by metro. Is very easy to access. There is no need to tickets. It’s free of charge.
Mohamed Soliman

5
Reviewed: 2022-05-16

The Babylon Fortress is often called the birthplace of Cairo. It is the oldest part of the city and dates back to the Bronze Age. The Babylon Fortress gets its name from Babylon in Mesopotamia. It is believed that the area was once ruled by the Mesopotamian King, Nebuchadnezzar. It was later the site where the Roman Emperor Trajan placed his legions to subjugate the people of Egypt. At the time it marked the boundary between Middle and Lower Egypt. Today it is part of Coptic Cairo where the Christian population of the city lives. When the Arabs invaded Egypt, the fortress defended the city for seven months before falling to the army led by General Amr Ibn Al As. Today the Babylon Fortress has several Coptic structures built into its walls. The towers are 10 meters high and have a diameter of 31 meters. It has a pattern typical of Roman fortresses with five blocks of limestone and three blocks of brick. There are six Coptic churches, a convent and the Coptic Museum within the walls. It is also called the Qasr el Shamee or the Palace of Candles because candles illuminated the towers on the first of every month.