Mosque · Mamluk · 1386
Courtyard and iwans in Bayn al-Qasrayn.
Cairo
A madrasa, khanqah and mausoleum in Bayn al-Qasrayn, with iwans and coloured marble beside Qalawun.
Get to know this place
Mosque · Mamluk · Built 1386
Sultan al-Zahir Barquq established his madrasa and khanqah on al-Muizz Street between 1384 and 1386, early in Circassian Mamluk rule. It combined teaching in the four Sunni legal schools, worship, accommodation for Sufis and a mausoleum for members of his family.
Iwans open onto a central courtyard, with marble, wood and ornament giving particular emphasis to the prayer side. Looking beyond the façade reveals how these functions fitted together. The building offers a view of an institution where scholarship and religious life shared an architectural setting, on a street shaped by successive acts of royal patronage.
Details worth pausing for
Courtyard
Iwans
Coloured marble
Woodwork
Hours, prices and practical details
Prices in EGP and subject to change. Confirm with the venue before visiting.
Tips and things to know
Pair it with Qalawun and Bashtak where the shared pass applies.
Good to know
Address and directions
Al-Muizz Street, Bayn al-Qasrayn, 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, Bayn al-Qasrayn, Cairo; for Historic Cairo sites, expect to walk the final part through narrow streets.
Get directions ↗The places closest to Sultan Barquq Mosque and Madrasa, 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
Sabil-Kuttab of Abd al-Rahman KatkhudaWater and learning in one compact facade.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.
Page last updated:
