Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Egypt Madinet Mit Ghamr Mit Ghamr Dovecotes
AO Edited

Mit Ghamr Dovecotes

Giant pigeon houses packed into city streets in Egypt.

Madinet Mit Ghamr, Egypt

Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Hundreds of dovecotes in the streets of Mit Gahmr  
Add Photos
Hundreds of dovecotes in the streets of Mit Gahmr  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Packed tightly against each other and stretching higher than many buildings around them, brown, earthen dovecotes or pigeon houses fill many Egyptian cities. In the Nile delta at Mit Ghamr, hundreds of dovecotes stand erect like earthen chimneys along many streets and are used for farming pigeons. Constructed out of mud brick, the Egyptian dovecote is an extremely common sight across the country and is especially prevalent in Mit Ghamr.

Although pigeons have been known as pests, and rats with wings in many Western cities, in Egypt they are considered useful, and are farmed in urban areas through the use of the dovecote. Throughout Egypt, not only are the pigeons consumed as food, their droppings are also considered a valuable fertilizer. In a country with little arable land, the bizarre dovecotes are a crucial part of urban planning, and feeding a nation of 80 million people.

Related Tags

Hunting And Taxidermy Birds Dovecotes Pigeons Animals
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Egypt Family Adventure: Pyramids, Mummies & The Mighty Nile

Cross dream-like deserts and uncover the secrets of ancient pyramids.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Published

September 15, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.eartharchitecture.org/index.php?/archives/1025-Egyptian-Pigeon-Houses.html
  • http://triggerpit.com/gallery/gallery/2010/12/12/pigeon-farms-in-mit-gahmr-egypt/
Mit Ghamr Dovecotes
Madinet Mit Ghamr
Egypt
30.7206, 31.2588

Nearby Places

Tanis

Tanis, Egypt

miles away

Baron Empain Palace

El-Montaza, Egypt

miles away

Cairo's City of the Dead

Cairo, Egypt

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Egypt

Egypt

Africa

Places 51
Stories 50

Nearby Places

Tanis

Tanis, Egypt

miles away

Baron Empain Palace

El-Montaza, Egypt

miles away

Cairo's City of the Dead

Cairo, Egypt

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Egypt

Egypt

Africa

Places 51
Stories 50

Related Stories and Lists

Exploring a 'Treasure Trove' of Medieval Egyptian Recipes

medieval

By Abbey Perreault

Related Places

  • East Linton, Scotland

    Phantassie Doocot

    A curious structure built just for the birds.

  • The Wonderful Barn

    Leixlip, Ireland

    The Wonderful Barn

    A corkscrew-shaped barn in Ireland.

  • Isfahan, Iran

    Pigeon Towers of Iran

    These little castles each held thousands of pigeons.

  • Culver Hole

    Port Eynon, Wales

    Culver Hole

    This tall stone wall with no door and ill-matched windows was built centuries ago, and used as a shelter for domesticated pigeons.

  • The warrior birds memorial

    Worthing, England

    Warrior Birds Memorial

    An eccentric memorial garden to the "warrior" birds of World War I, the messenger pigeons used by the Allied forces.

  • Carnlough, Northern Ireland

    Paddy the Pigeon Plaque

    A harbor town pays tribute to a heroic wartime carrier pigeon.

  • Lonely tower.

    Nottinghamshire, England

    Sibthorpe Dovecote

    This 600-year-old tower was built as a comfy residence for cherished pigeons.

  • Monument to Carrier Pigeons.

    Lille, France

    Monument to Carrier Pigeons

    This statue honors the thousands of Allied avians that served and died for France during World War I.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.