Egypt's Mostafa Waziri, French Amb Inaugurate San Al-Hagar Visitors’ Center

In a bid to promote tourism in Egypt's eastern Delta region, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri, and French Ambassador to Cairo H.E. Mark Peretti, inaugurated the visitors center of the ancient San Al-Hagarinaugurated the San Al-Hagar Visitors’ Center in Sharqia Governorate.

The inauguration event featured appearances by Dr. Ahmed Abdel Mati, Deputy Governor of Sharqia; Laurent Colon, the Director of the French Institute of Oriental Antiquities in Cairo; Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Waad Allah Abul Ela, Advisor to the Projects Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Dr. Mustafa Waziri explained that the preparation and opening of the visitor center comes within the framework of developing the San Al-Hajar area and turning it into an open museum and placing it on the map of local and international tourism, which is commensurate with its archaeological and historical importance.

The project was run through the cooperation between the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the French Excavation Mission in San Al-Hagar, the French Institute of Oriental Archeology (IFAO), and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He added that the visitors center was established with the aim of promoting the exceptional value of the archaeological site, which contributes to the growth of tourism in the eastern Delta region, and the development of the local community

In turn, the French ambassador indicated that France attaches great importance to Egyptian-French cooperation in the field of antiquities, noting that the opening of the visitor center after its renovation comes as evidence of this cooperation, which aims to develop the tourism sector in the eastern Delta region.

It's worth mentioning that a number of French archaeologists carried out excavations at the site, which resulted in the discovery of a number of tombs of the kings of the 21st and 22nd dynasties. Among these notable tombs is the cemetery of King Osorkon II.

Contributed by Ahmed Emam