![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Aleppo_Night_by_Charles_Hajj.jpg/640px-Aleppo_Night_by_Charles_Hajj.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower
Clock tower in Aleppo, Syria / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower (Arabic: برج ساعة باب الفرج) is one of the main landmarks of Aleppo, Syria. It was built in 1898-1899 by the French[1] architect of Aleppo city Charles Chartier with the help of the Syrian engineer Bakr Sidqi, under the Ottoman ruler of Aleppo; wāli Raif Pasha.[1][2]
Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower | |
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برج ساعة باب الفرج | |
![]() Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower | |
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Alternative names | Bab al-Faradis |
General information | |
Type | Clock tower |
Architectural style | Ottoman architecture |
Town or city | Aleppo |
Country | ![]() |
Construction started | 1898; 126 years ago (1898) |
Completed | 1899; 125 years ago (1899) |
Height | 28 metres (92 ft) |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Charles Chartier |
Engineer | Bakr Sidqi |
It is located near the historical gate of Bab al-Faraj, adjacent to the building of the National library.[3] Its construction was encouraged by Sultan Abdul Hamid II in order to mark the modern era of timeliness.[4]
The tower was inaugurated in 1900 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Sultan's accession to the throne.[1]
The construction of the tower cost a sum of 1,500 Ottoman lira.[1] Half of the cost was collected through donations while the other half was paid by the municipality.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Bab_Al-Faraj_Tower_-_Aleppo.jpg/640px-Bab_Al-Faraj_Tower_-_Aleppo.jpg)
The design of the tower resembles the old Islamic minarets with four similar façades, topped with traditional oriental muqarnas.[1]