Madrasa of Sarghatmish Mosque

Address: Al-Muizz Street area, Historic Cairo (approximate), Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Hours: Often open during daylight hours; many historic madrasas in Cairo are viewable daily but exact hours vary - check with local guides or the Ministry of Antiquities.

Admission: Entry to the mosque complex may be subject to mosque visitor norms; the Madrasa is part of Cairo’s medieval Islamic quarter where many sites are publicly viewable with varying access fees. Specific ticketing is managed locally.

The Madrasa of Sarghatmish is a 14th-century Mamluk-era religious and funerary complex on al-Muizz li-Din Allah street in historic Cairo. It was founded as a combined madrasa and mausoleum and is part of the dense medieval ensemble along the main street of the Fatimid city.

Architectural features include the prayer hall, the patron’s mausoleum and a minaret; stone and stucco decoration reflect Mamluk-period styles. The complex originally served both as an educational institution and as the burial place of its founder, fitting the common Mamluk model of patronage.

The madrasa sits within the walled historic core of Cairo on al-Muizz street, surrounded by other Mamluk monuments and the urban fabric of medieval Islamic Cairo.

• Historic location: Located on Cairo’s historic al-Muizz li-Din Allah street, the complex is part of the dense ensemble of Mamluk-era religious and funerary monuments in the medieval city core.

What to See#

• Madrasa, mausoleum and minaret: The madrasa complex comprises a teaching-madrasa building, an attached mausoleum, and a minaret typical of Mamluk funerary-madrasa architecture in medieval Cairo.
• Street façade on al-Muizz: The entrance and street-facing façade are part of the ensemble that contributes to the continuous medieval streetscape on al-Muizz li-Din Allah.

The madrasa is in Historic Cairo on al-Muizz Street, the spine of medieval Fatimid and Mamluk Cairo. From central Cairo, take a taxi to al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street in the Khan el-Khalili area. The district is walkable but crowded; guided walking tours are recommended to navigate the lanes and to place individual monuments in context.

• Hire a guide fluent in Arabic to explain the madrasa's funerary inscriptions and Mamluk architecture.
• Visit outside Friday prayer times to explore the courtyard and learn about the madrasa's ongoing functions.
• Look for carved stone details on the minbar and mihrab - Mamluk masons left precise, small signatures in decorative motifs.