The Baron Empain Palace in Cairo

The Baron Empain Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece in Cairo. It is one of the most architecturally famous and exquisite buildings in Egypt; and one of its historical and touristic landmarks. The Baron Palace is located in the heart of the Heliopolis neighborhood in Cairo; specifically on Al-Orouba Street on the main road leading to Cairo International Airport. It is one of the most important and richest buildings in Cairo. And it dates back to the 19th century by order of a Belgian millionaire Édouard Empain; who came to Egypt from India at the end of the nineteenth century shortly after the opening of the Suez Canal. So you find the designs of this majestic palace inspired by the unique Indian architectural styles evident in Designs for its balconies and windows; that lean on statues of Buddhist elephants and deities.

The palace includes an exhibition of a diverse assortment of documentary and archival photographs, plans, and maps of the structure; in addition to information panels narrating the history of Heliopolis across the ages. It was also built on a rotating base; so that the Baron could see the entire city without moving from his seat.

The interior design of the palace consists of three floors topped by a roof. The palace is surrounded by a large garden from all sides. As for the basement, it consisted of a group of rooms connected by corridors and doors. The palace building is surrounded by a spiral staircase, which was designed by the Baron himself; and an elevator that connects all the palace floors with a basement.

The ground floor consists of a reception room, a dining room, and a billiard room. As for the first floor, it houses four rooms, which are decorated with tiles made of a mosaic of blue, orange, and red colors in colorful and wonderful combinations. Finally, the roof of the palace comes as an open space on one of the sides of the tower; characteristic of the Baron Palace.

Next to the Baron Empain Palace, there is a four-story tower, which includes many statues; such as the statue of Buddha, the mythical dragon. It includes also precious artifacts made of gold, bronze, and platinum. One of the most important features of its design is in such a way that the sun is present at sunrise in all the rooms and lobbies of the palace. And the use of crystal glass in its construction to see who is outside without seeing it inside the palace.

The palace has been closed to the public since 1997 due to Satanists allegedly holding rituals there. Now after almost 2 years of restoration work that cost more than 100 million Egyptian pounds, the palace has become a cultural center; and reopened its doors to the public on June 30th, 2020. The project has entailed a reinforcement of the ceilings, restoration of marble columns and frescoes above the main entrance; as well as decorative elements like statues and sculptures, and shoring up doors and windows.

Even though the Baron Empain Palace is also still a relatively modern creation for Egypt; there is no denying its potential as a tourist attraction. It is a strikingly beautiful building and one with a truly remarkable history. From the very minute you lay your eyes on it, you are automatically captivated by its design and appearance. It is unlike any other attraction in Cairo.

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