After 6,000 years of human habitation, one family and lots of. The citadel has been inscribed on the world heritage list since 21 june 2014. Parallels the citadel, at the heart of the kurdish city of erbil, has been inhabited for six millennia. However, the period from the establishment of iraq in 1920 to 20 is the focus. Ibn mustawfi referred to it as the fortress mosque in his book the history of. Erbil citadel represents a distinct urban entity and should be treated as such. Government representatives support combining cultural heritage sites. Erbil citadel town is situated on top of an artifi cial, 32meters high earthen mound, and visually dominating the expansive modern city of erbil. Pdf summaryerbil citadel poster jambally a mohammed.
Combining different data sources for city growth analysis and. The citadel is the unique heritage of human experience and genius of thousands of years. Top 15 things to see and do in erbil, kurdistan, iraq. The overall form of the citadel town is ellipt ical. Closed for renovations in 2007, all but one family were evicted as to maintain its record for being continuously inhabited.
These days, most backpackers that make the decision to visit iraq will end up at some point in. Urban aspects of erbil metro station as the predesign procedure studies have lead, the ems, to have two metrolines, red, and green lines that represent elevated and underground metrolines, respectively, that intersect at the center of the city in a way that these two lines cover the most areas of the city, whilst they merge into one line. Erbil as it is perhaps the oldest presentday city in the world is a clear example of organic growth of. Erbil citadel is a fortified settlement on top of an imposing ovoidshaped tell a hill created by many generations of people living and rebuilding on the same spot in the kurdistan region, erbil governorate. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 3.
After 6,000 years of human habitation, one family and lots of mice. The erbil citadel is a fortified settlement on top of a 2030 meter high tell. Family mall is the most popular modern mall in erbil, it located in very good place. Return to kurdistan was exhibited in a recently restored ottomanera building within the 6,000 yearold erbil citadel. A preliminary archaeological survey on erbil citadel. Erbil citadel is considered as a unique case as it of is concerned with a historical city to be revitalized as a wholeempty, and to be effective, adaptive reuse needs to be structured to insure that the decisions related to the bigger urban scale become a. The erbil citadel is considered a very powerful monument in the kurdish culture, as it has been inhabited. A visit to erbil citadel starts at the large bazaar at. These days, most backpackers that make the decision to visit iraq will end up at some point in the city of erbil. Seen from above, the mound of earth sprouts from the otherwise flat surrounding terrain.
Qelay hewler is a tell or occupied mound, and the historical city centre of. Erbil also arbil, irbil, or, in kurdish, hawler is the capital of iraqi kurdistan. Today erbil is the capital of iraqs autonomous province of kurdistan. The erbil alqala citadel is located on a distinct hill tell in the foothills north of iraq, in kurdistan. Beethoven concerto for violin and orchestra hilary hahn, violin. More than half of the governorates population lives in the district of erbil, the location of the city of erbil which is also the governorates and the krgs capital city. The earliest evidence for occupation of the citadel mound dates to the 5th millennium bc. The erbil citadel, locally called qelat is a tell or occupied mound, and the historical city centre.
The citadel is uninhabited since 2006 and undergoing reconstructions. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Urban aspects as the predesign procedure studies have lead, the ems, to have two metrolines, red, and green lines that represent elevated and underground metrolines, respectively, that intersect at the centre of the city in a way that these two lines cover the most areas of the city, whilst they merge into one line in some places. The central breakthrough straight street,which penetrate the urban fabric of erbil citadel from the south to the north where a new gate was created, had a drastic geometric impact upon urban space pattern of the citadel, because the inserted straight street has different geometric logic. Erbil citadel is a characteristic urban settlement on top of an imposing ovoidshaped tell, with a diameter of 300 meters, a hill created by many generations of people living and rebuilding on the same spot over 6. This addition has caused a significant increase in the values of global and local integratio n, changed the shape of the core of integration in the citadel. Dating back to the 5 th millennium bc, the erbil citadel sits atop a large archaeological mound in the heart of erbil, the capital of the kurdish autonomous region in iraq also known as iraqi. When erbil city was founded it was only the citadel, the entrances had iron doors 10 to protect the city from kurdish incursions to which all the turkmen villages on the kurdish line were repeatedly subjected.
Erbil citadel gallery unesco world heritage centre. Pdf erbil citadel joined the unesco world heritage list in june 2014, and is one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabited human settlements. The citadel of erbil is a tell or occupied mound in the historical heart of erbil, rising between 25 and 32 metres 82 and 105 ft from the surrounding plain. It has a long settlement history, dating back to at least the chalcolithic period and gaining prominence as arbela during the assyrian period. This is represented in the citadel at the centre of it. The citadel of erbil comes back to life lafargeholcim. Erbil is the city with the longest continuity of population. Visitors last week at the erbil citadel, a unesco world heritage site in iraq that is one of the oldest continuously occupied. The citadel of erbil is at the heart of the city and is the centre around which the surrounding urban pattern has grown in concentric rings 48.
Oct 10, 2017 after 6,000 years of human habitation, one family and lots of mice. The erbil citadel dates back thousands of years, to the first settlers of erbil. A vast project is under way that will make it possible to open the citadel to the public and to repopulate it. Pdf study of erbil alqala citadel time changes by comparison of. But i am here to visit the ancient citadel that sits gently decrepit atop the tell in the midst of the 21st century bustle. Erbil is easy to reach from everywhere, as wellknown airlines such as air arabia, atlasglobal, austrian, egypt air, fly baghdad, fly dubai. The erbil citadel, also known as the hawler castle, is unescodesignated world heritage site in erbil, the capital of iraqi kurdistan.
Jan 27, 2020 4000 years old citadel in the middle of most ancient city in the world erbil hawler, the citadel is inhabited during 4000yrs, it is the residence of turkmens until 1950, after big immigration of kurds from villages toward cities, caused by wars and foul of governments against kurdistan. Today, the citadel is an historical and archaeological symbol of the city in terms of its cultural and hereditary fabric awaiting more care and interest to be. Citadel of erbil was inscribed as a world heritage site in july 2014. In iraqi kurdistan, lafarge has been playing a part in the preservation of erbil, one of the most ancient cities in history, founded around 8,000 years ago. It has been claimed that the site is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world. Restoration plan for the rashid agha diwan khanah on erbil citadel. There are many events there like new year eve, christmas, islamic events. A continuous wall of tall 19thcentury facades still conveys the visual impression of an impregnable fortress. Conservation of erbil citadel, iraq assessment of the.
A mini city unto itself, though the streets along the crumbling mudbrick houses are quiet these days. Jun 26, 2015 in iraqi kurdistan, lafarge has been playing a part in the preservation of erbil, one of the most ancient cities in history, founded around 8,000 years ago. Dating back at least 6,000 years, erbil citadel is the oldest continuously inhabited urban settlement in the world and well worth a visit. May 24, 20 known as the citadel of erbil, this fortified town, measuring a meager 430 by 340 meters and occupying 102,000 square meters in area has been in continuous occupation since at least the 5th millennium bc, and possibly earlier. May 02, 2014 top 15 things to see and do in erbil, kurdistan, iraq. The citadel has thus continued to maintain the existence of erbil the city in this spot as well as the continuation of life in it, rather it has helped the city preserve its ancient name. The citadel, which rises some 30 meters above the plain, is surrounded by a lower town that developed in the modern city of erbil. Erbil citadel, which is considered the symbol of erbil city, is as old as the city of erbil. Erbil as it is perhaps the oldest presentday city in. Ensag, may 2011 david gandreau, archaeologist sebastien moriset, architect craterre project code. Ibn mustawfi referred to it as the fortress mosque in his book the history of erbil. The buildings on top of the tell stretch over a roughly oval area of 430 by 340 metres 1,410 ft.
The positive side of mall is everything is available here but the price may be up for someone who are on budget. Apr 28, 2015 erbil citadel town is situated on top of an artifi cial, 32meters high earthen mound, and visually dominating the expansive modern city of erbil. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. It is believed to have been in continuous existence for 7000 years or even more. Erbil is easy to reach from everywhere, as wellknown airlines such as air arabia, atlasglobal, austrian, egypt air, fly baghdad, fly dubai, iraqi, lufthansa, mahan air, middle east, pegasus, qatar airways, royal jordanian, saudi airline, turkish airlines and many others operate regular flights to. The citadel remains at the heart of a thriving city with a population of 1. Erbil, shaqlawa, koisinjaq, soran, choman, mergasur and makhmur. This page was last edited on 10 december 2018, at 09. Known as the citadel of erbil, this fortified town, measuring a meager 430 by 340 meters and occupying 102,000 square meters in area has been in continuous occupation since at least the 5th millennium bc, and possibly earlier.
There is an impressive view over shar garden square and the rooftops of the covered bazaar below. Erbil citadel is a fortified ovoidshaped ancient mound. Over the millenia, the erbil citadel has taken shape, each generation building new structures on top. The erbil citadel is a tell or occupied mound, and the historical city centre of erbil in the kurdistan region of iraq. Alexander the great defeated the persian king darius iii on the plains surrounding erbil in 331 b. The erbil citadel, locally called qelat is a tell or occupied mound, the historical city centre of erbil in the kurdistan region of iraq. The organic pattern of erbil city citadel and its surrounding area in 1930s. The exhibition showed contemporary colour photography of kurdistan by richard wilding accompanied by black and white photographs taken in the 1940s by anthony kersting, courtesy of the courtauld institute of art, london. Erbil citadel world heritage site pictures, info and. The first mosque to be built on its grounds, the citadel mosque is located in the center of the citadel. Erbil citadel revitalization and the presence of its emergence history. Erbil citadel documents unesco world heritage centre.
Pdf erbil citadel revitalization and the presence of its. The citadel is a historical city centre of presently rapidly growing erbil. Erbil citadel mosque unbelievable kurdistan official. After 6,000 years, time for a renovation at iraqs citadel. Visitors can still have a tour of the ancient citadel where they can see its main attractions, such as the mosques and the public baths, and enjoy a fantastic view of the whole city. Conservation of erbil citadel iraq assessment of the situation and recommendations mission report, craterre. The citadel town of erbil lies in the middle of the greater cit y of erbil, the capital city of the kurdish re gional government in iraq. Erbil is easy to reach from everywhere, as wellknown airlines such as air arabia, atlasglobal, austrian, egypt air, fly baghdad, fly dubai, iraqi, lufthansa, mahan air, middle east, pegasus, qatar airways, royal jordanian, saudi airline, turkish airlines and many others operate regular flights to erbil see erbil airport. The citadel of erbil lies in the middle of the city of erbil hewler which is the capital city of the kurdish regional government of iraq. It has an elliptical plan with a long diameter of 430 meters and a short diameter of about 340 meters as can be noted from fig. Thus, it may be regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world.
It is the fourth largest city in iraq, and getting larger every day. Erbil passed under the ruling of different empires over the history. During the islamic period, the city underwent a transformation, which merged the once prosperous. It is not simply an agglomeration of a number of houses and other buildings located within a complex system of narrow alleyways. Pdf the erbil alqala citadel is located on a distinct hill tell in the foothills north of iraq, in kurdistan. The imposing yellowochre color structure with a solid perimeter wall is one of the most dramatic visual experiences in. The central breakthrough straight street,which penetrate the urban fabric of erbil citadel from the south to the north where a new gate was created, had a drastic geometric impact upon urban space pattern of the citadel, because the inserted straight street has different geometric logic from the already existed pattern. Feb 27, 2015 after 6,000 years, time for a renovation at iraqs citadel. Erbil is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back to 6,000 years b.
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