Photo essay: Egypt reopens historic mosque after long restoration

The Mosque of Al-Zhahir Baybars, built under Mamluk rule in 1268, covers more than a hectare north of central Cairo

The Mosque of Al-Zahir Baybars in Cairo has reopened after a 15-year renovation. Reuters

The renovation of the mosque, built in 1269, cost $7.6 million. Reuters

An internal view of the historical Mosque of al-Zahir Baybars, that was built in 1268 by the Mamluk Sultan al-Zahir Baybars al-Bunduqdari, as Egypt reopens it after the completion of renovation work, in Cairo, Egypt, June 5, 2023. REUTERS / Mohamed Abd El Ghany

Restoration work was funded by Egypt and Kazakhstan. Reuters

Construction of the mosque was ordered by Mamluk Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars Al-Bunduqdari. EPA

Some parts of the mosque have been completely rebuilt. EPA

The mosque has been abandoned for years and was used as a storage facility, military warehouse and a slaughterhouse. EPA

The historic mosque is in Old Cairo. Reuters

The interior walls, made almost entirely of red bricks, were an unusual design at the time the mosque was built. Reuters

Visitors explore the historic site. EPA

The mosque includes the first examples of ablaq masonry, which features light and dark stones, in Cairo. Reuters

A 13th-century mosque that fell into disrepair after being used for years as a soap factory, a slaughterhouse and a fort reopened in Cairo on Monday after a long restoration.

The Mosque of Al-Zhahir Baybars, built under Mamluk rule in 1268, covers 1.2 hectares north of central Cairo, making it the third largest mosque in Egypt.

It required mechanical and chemical restoration to bring it back to its original condition, said Tarek Mohamed El-Behairy, who supervised the restoration.

“Some parts were destroyed, some parts have been dismantled because they were structurally unsuitable to remain in the mosque,” El-Behairy told Reuters. “But we were very keen, even in the reconstruction process, to work according to the correct archaeological style.”

The restoration, which cost $7.68 million, was co-funded with Kazakhstan and began in 2007.

For 225 years, the mosque was either closed, abandoned or had operated for non-religious purposes that contributed to its disrepair and decline.

During Napoleon's campaign in Egypt it was used as a military fort, then under Ottoman rule in the 19th century as a soap factory. Later, when the British invaded Egypt in 1882, it was used as a slaughterhouse.

Al-Zhahir Baybars was a prominent figure in Egypt's history credited with cementing Mamluk rule in Egypt, which spanned three centuries up to 1517.