The western gate
An arch carved with patterns.
Levi Clancy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Levi Clancy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Levi Clancy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Levi Clancy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Levi Clancy — CC BY-SA 4.0
Amedi is a small town in Duhok Governorate, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, built on a flat rock plateau in the Great Zab valley. Its view from the distant road is enough to tempt any traveller. Mountains and orchards surround it, and it looks like a stone island amid the green, above all in spring. The historian Ibn al-Athir linked its name to Imad al-Din Zengi, who built a citadel here in 1142 on an older fortification, while some scholars see the name as older still. Many states have ruled it since ancient times. For long centuries it was a seat of local rule, and an old gate, a minaret and the remains of a school survive from those days. You climb to the western gate by an old stone stairway and see its arch carved with intertwined patterns, the finest thing in the town. Inside, a tall minaret rises above the houses amid quiet lanes. Nearby are the remains of the Qubahan Madrasa among the trees. Ask before photographing residents, as the town is lived in. It is about 54 km in a straight line from Duhok, along a road with beautiful mountain views, and a car is the best way there. Spring and autumn are the finest times, winter turns cold, and the stairway can be slippery after rain. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
An arch carved with patterns.
Above the town's houses.
Remains among the trees.
Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Half a day covers the gate, the minaret and a walk, plus the drive from Duhok.
It is old stone and can be slippery after rain, so wear suitable shoes.