Emperor Menelik II Entoto Palace

Entoto is a historical place where Emperor Menelik II resided and built his palace, when he came from Ankober and founded Addis Ababa. It is considered a scared mountain and has many monasteries. Mount Entoto is also the location of a number of celebrated churches, including Saint Raguel and Saint Mary. Before the foundation of Addis Ababa, it was at the top of the rising slope of Entoto mountain range where Menelik ll established his capital in 1881. The building which is located at Entoto mountain, was built under the direction of the swiss advisor Alfred llg . Currently, it serves as tourist attraction. The visitor to this palace can ride a taxi, drive a car or even stroll up the steep to reach it at 3200 meters above sea level. The breath of fresh and cool air, the site of the exuberant flora and the pungent aroma of the eucalyptus trees along each side of the road make the trip refreshing.

Menelik Palace

The Menelik palace is a palatial compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For years known as the Gebi, it was the seat of the power of Ethiopian’s emperors. Within confines are several residences, halls, chapels, and working buildings. Today it contains the offices and residence and the prime Minister of Ethiopia. The palace ground contains different churches. The most important is the Ta’eka Negest (resting place of kings) Ba’eta le Mariam Monastery. It has a large Imperial crown at the top of the dome. The church serves as a mausoleum for emperor Menelik II, his wife Empress Taitu and Empress Zewditu, his daughter and eventual successor. Other churches within the grounds are the se el Bet Kidane Meheret church (Our Lady Covenant of Mercy) and the Debre Mengist St. Gabriel Church.

National Palace

National palace is a Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is also known as the Jubilee. The palace was built in 1955 to mark emperor Haile Selassie’s silver Jubilee. After a couple attempt in the Genete Leul palace in 1960, the emperor de the Jubilee palace his main residence. Although the seat of government remained at the Imperial palace. The palace was expanded and doubled in size between 1966 and 1967.

The jubilee palace was the site of the dethronement of Emperor Haile Selassie in September 1974. 10 low ranking military officers appeared before the Emperor in the palace library and read him the statement of the Derg(military council),which officially removed him from the throne. The Derg renamed the palace the “National palace”, which it still bears today. The Derg used this palace for state ceremonies involving visiting heads of state, state banquets and receptions. The Derg added a swimming pool to the grounds. With the fall of the Derg, and the proclamation of the federal republic, the jubilee palace became the official residence of the president of the federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The president has a ceremonial role and uses the palace for official functions.

The Ethiopian government announced its intention to build a new official presidential residence. The National palace will then be opened as a museum. It will continue to house the president of the Republic until that time.

Genete Leul palace

Once was the royal residence. It was designed by the German architect kametz and built in 1934. During the Italian occupation it was the residence of the “vice Ras Teferi” (Emperor Haile Selassie) inherited the estate in 1907 from his father, Ras Mekonen and ordered the construction of the palace to king” of Italy. The compound consists of several historical buildings of which the most important is the main palace building. Currently it serves as the institute of Ethiopian studies. It is located inside Sidist kilo university compound.

Source:-Addis Ababa culture and tourism office