Archaeological site · Ottoman · 1744
Water and learning in one compact facade.
Cairo
The Sabil-Kuttab of Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda is a compact Ottoman landmark in the middle of al-Muizz Street, combining a public fountain and school in one richly detailed facade.
Get to know this place
Archaeological site · Ottoman · Built 1744
Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda built this sabil-kuttab on al-Muizz Street in 1744, combining public drinking water below with children’s education above. Its position at a fork in the road made several façades visible within the street’s daily movement.
Metal grilles, marble and ornament give each side detail, while the upper floor appears lighter through its openings. Decorated tiles add another layer inside the fountain chamber when access is available. The compact building makes an older form of public provision tangible, showing how two community functions could be expressed in a small, clearly organised structure.
Details worth pausing for
Sabil windows
Upper kuttab
Curving facade
Al-Muizz setting
Hours, prices and practical details
Prices in EGP and subject to change. Confirm with the venue before visiting.
Tips and things to know
Treat it as a short stop on an al-Muizz walk.
Photograph from across the junction to show the full facade.
Good to know
Address and directions
Al-Muizz Street, al-Gamaliya, Cairo
Nearest landmark: Al-Gamaliya
Entrance and tickets: One combined ticket covers the Al-Muizz monuments; buy it by card at the window opposite the Qalawun Complex.
Nearest metro: Bab El-Shaaria
The best route depends on your starting point. Navigate to Al-Muizz Street, al-Gamaliya, Cairo; for Historic Cairo sites, expect to walk the final part through narrow streets.
Get directions ↗The places closest to Sabil-Kuttab of Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda, to make a day of it.
Bashtak PalaceA Mamluk hall behind the street façade.50 m · about 1 min on foot
Hammam of Sultan InalHistoric Cairo beyond mosques and palaces.50 m · about 1 min on foot
Sultan Barquq Mosque and MadrasaCourtyard and iwans in Bayn al-Qasrayn.50 m · about 1 min on foot
Distances and times are estimates from where each place sits on the map; the actual route may differ.
Stops close to each other, in an order we tried. Follow it as it is, or make it your own.
Photo: الراوي · © Darb Egypt
A suggested route · Heritage
A walk through the heart of Fatimid Cairo, from its northern gate to its southern one: mosques, sabils, houses and markets along a single street. Best from late afternoon into sunset, and special on Ramadan nights.
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