Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan

Lonely Planet review

The Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan is regarded as the finest piece of early-Mamluk architecture in Cairo. It was built between 1356 and 1363 by the troubled Sultan Hassan, who took the throne at the age of 13, was deposed and reinstated no less than three times and was assassinated shortly before the mosque was completed. Tragedy also shadowed the construction when one of the minarets collapsed, killing 300 or so onlookers.

In later years the mosque was substantially damaged by warring Mamluk factions and was shelled when Napoleon attempted to subdue an uprising against French occupation.

What survives is still impressive. Beyond the striking, recessed entrance, a dark passage leads through into a square courtyard whose soaring walls are punctured by four arched recesses, known as iwan s. In these iwan s the four main schools of Sunni Islam were taught. At the rear of the eastern iwan is an especially beautiful mihrab , flanked by stolen Crusader columns. To the right, a bronze door leads to the sultan's mausoleum.