The Origins

The current prison museum was established by Khedive Ismail after he moved the seat of government to Abdeen Palace in 1874. It was later expanded by Khedive Tawfiq.

A General Description

This museum sheds light on the history of the old prison within the Citadel. Prisons were widespread in the Citadel throughout various eras, as it was a first-rate military facility. Historians mention the existence of more than one prison within the Citadel, such as the Great Pit (a pit, similar to a well, accessed by stairs and sealed by a door). This prison consisted of a corridor approximately 50 meters long containing a group of cells divided into two sections, one eastern and the other western. It also contained a number of rooms used to torture prisoners as a means of forcing confessions, which were recreated using wax figures. Among the most famous torture rooms were... The "Rings" room, designed by the Frenchman Lemien during the reign of King Fuad in 1932, was modeled after a room in the famous French Bastille prison. The prison contained 42 cells divided into two sections, one eastern and the other western, with 21 cells on each side. Each cell had two beds, a 2.5-meter-high iron window, and an iron door that could be locked from the outside with a 10-centimeter-diameter opening. There was also a kitchen and a spacious toilet.

As a first-rate military facility

prisons were widespread in the Citadel throughout various eras.

The current prison museum was established by

Khedive Ismail after he moved the seat of government to Abdeen Palace in 1874. It was later expanded by Khedive Tawfiq.

After the July 1952 Revolution,

the Military Police took control of the prison until Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, after assuming power, decided to convert it into a museum under the Ministry of Culture.

The Location

It was located next to the Suleiman Pasha al-Khadim Mosque on the northern side of the Citadel.

The following museum houses:

It contains 42 cells that were used to detain prisoners, preserving their original design and historical corridors.

Who are some of the most prominent figures imprisoned in the Citadel Prison?

The Citadel Prison was famous for housing prominent public and political figures during the last century, which contributed to its later transformation into a museum and tourist attraction.

The President Mohamed Anwar Sadat

He was imprisoned there twice on charges of assassinating Amin Osman.

The writer Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad

He was imprisoned in 1930 on charges of insulting the monarchy.

Ibn Taymiyyah

During the Mamluk era

Sheikh Kishk

Abdel Rahman El-Abnoudi

The writer Gamal El-Ghitani

Ahmed Fouad Negm

What is the connection between the Darb Al-Ahmar area and the Citadel Prison?

There is a high place after exiting the Citadel Prison. If you go to this museum, you will find the Darb Al-Ahmar area, which was given this name after the Citadel massacre, when the entire area was drenched in blood, and it took time for the traces to disappear.