Citadel of Saladin in Egypt

 Saladin Castle and the Citadel of Saladin is a famous tourist attraction in Egypt. Cairo Citadel Hill is Mokattam in Cairo,Egypt. Originally conceived as a royal house and as a barracks by the ruler Saladin.

The Ayouby built by Saladin , the famous leader of the king and the army and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty in the late 12th century , the Citadel has witnessed many important events in Egyptian history .

The Citadel is considered one of the most popular historical sites in Cairo , as it is included in almost all visits designed to visit the capital of Egypt.

The citadel was used as the seat of the king and his government in Egypt for many centuries and many dynasties including the Ayyubids , the Mamluks , and even some Ottomans ruled Egypt from the Citadel .

Many monuments were built in the Citadel of Saladin throughout its long history. This includes wonderful such as:

** Mohamed Ali Mosque, which is the best example of Ottoman architecture in Egypt, Mamluk Mosque of El Nasser Mohamed , and the small mosque of Suleiman Pasha El Khadim charm .

**There are four interesting museums , the Military Museum , Police Museum , the Royal Museum of Transport and the Museum of Qasr Gawhara .

Situated on top of a cliff , the citadel is also offered with his particular situation , which offers tourists a beautiful view of the different sections around Cairo .

The reasons for the construction of the Citadel of EGYPT and its location

When Saladin took control of Egypt, without resistance to be mentioned in the Fatimids, who ruled Egypt from the 8th to the 12th century , decided that Cairo should be a fortified citadel to protect the city against foreign attacks including the threat of cross ' wearing military campaigns in the Middle East in this period .

Saladin was influenced by fortresses and citadels you see on Syria and Lebanon and how they have been enriched and protectors. Recognizing the importance of this citadel to protect Cairo , led all the resources he had to build a large military structure. 

After seeing many different places around Cairo , Saladin decided to build the citadel of Mokatam Hill overlooking the city of Cairo and is located in an elevated position that is difficult to reach or attacked.

Saladin insisted strongly fortified citadel built to protect the city of Cairo against all types of threats. Maybe that's why they say that destroyed a small pyramids of Giza and used its stones to build their fortress and ramparts. 

Many soldiers of the army of Saladin , with some crusaders who were captured by Saladin worked together to build the citadel which was regarded as a wonderful piece of military architecture when it was finished .

Saladin also dig a water well inside the citadel to be used by the soldiers if the citadel under siege and it is also considered one of the toughest buildings made during this period in the 12th century as was 90 meters deep and dig in the hardest rocks Mokatam Mountain. 

Considered one of the most beautiful forts were built in the Middle Ages , the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo comes with its strategic location overlooking the two neighboring towns who were alive at the time, Fustat and Cairo.

In addition, being located between the two cities , the Citadel offers good connections between different parts of the city and served as a place to use and to be protected in case of a sudden attack in Cairo. 

The Citadel of Saladin in Cairo has witnessed several important events in the history of Egypt during the Ayyubid and Mamluk period . Even during the French invasion of Egypt, under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 , the Citadel has an important role in the defense of the city until the French soldiers took control of the latter role.