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Shali Fortress, Siwa

4.6

#2 of 7 in Historic Sites in Matrouh Governorate

Historic Site Tourist Spot

See the enigmatic ruins of Shali Fortress, which once towered above the oasis. Dating back to the 13th century, the fortress was built from "kershef"--a mixture of salt, mud, and rocks. It wasn't meant to last more than a few decades, but it was destroyed by a heavy rainfall in 1926. Today, it is largely abandoned apart from some buildings near the edges, which are mostly used for storage. Walk through the labyrinth of impressive organic shapes, which once used to rise up to 60 m (197 ft) in height. Follow the path that spans the remnants of this ghost town, past the ancient mosque to the top, which offers scenic views. Make Shali Fortress a centerpiece of your Siwa vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Siwa online trip planner .

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Shali Fortress Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

105 reviews

• By Ahmedlkhouly

  Shali fortress was destroyed by rain earlier before, and currently they are trying to restore it with the UNESCO so actually there are not much to see except for the old rooms and the view from the...  more »

• By Fiona Jane W

  I found this a very interesting place. It's a fortess built in the thirteenth century which seems amazing to me when you think of the people who must have lived there and that a lot of the fortress.....  more »

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