The Baron Empain Palace, located in the heart of Heliopolis, opened its doors to the public on Tuesday after decades of closure and a complete rehabilitation at a cost of EGP 175 million.
The palace was inaugurated on Monday by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on the anniversary of the June 30 Revolution, restoring life to one of the most distinguished archaeological sites in Heliopolis.
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The palace will be open from 9 am to 6 pm instead of 4 pm for the first two weeks. As part of the COVID-19 precautionary measures, only 900 guests will be allowed to tour the palace per day and only 10 guests will be allowed into each room at a time.
Tickets
The entry ticket is priced to be affordable to almost everyone, that being L.E 100 for foreign visitors, L.E 50 for foreign students, L.E 20 for Egyptians and L.E 10 for Egyptian students. All elderly Egyptian visitors (60+ years) will be exempted from the entry fee.
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The Palace's First Visitors[/caption]
The Palace Style
The Hindu-inspired mansion and its tower stood out in the then desert landscape of Cairo outskirts. Sitting empty in the upscale neighborhood of Cairo for the last several decades, the unusual building has long sparked rumors of ghosts and satanic rituals.
It was founded by Edward Louis Joseph Empain between 1907 and 1911. He was a Belgian businessman who was awarded the title "Baron" by the King of Belgium, on account of his economic contributions. The French architect Alexander Marcel was tasked with building this masterpiece.
The interior design of the palace consists of three floors topped by a roof. Surrounded by a large garden from all sides, the palace contained a residence for the palace's servants and consisted of a group of rooms connected by corridors and doors. The building is surrounded by a spiral staircase and an elevator, connecting all the palace floors with a basement.
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The Palace's Interior[/caption]
The ground floor consists of a reception room, a dining room, and a billiard room. As for the first floor, it houses four rooms, each with its balcony and bathroom. Finally, the roof of the palace comes as an open space on one of the sides of the tower, characteristic of the Baron Palace.
The Renovation Process
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with the Belgian Embassy in Egypt and the civil society associations have turned the palace into an archaeological gallery to showcase the history of Heliopolis district in two years.
Some works have been added to the site, such as the completion of the fences and the development of the rear garden as well as a small food court.
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Small Food Court Outside The Palace[/caption]
The exhibition inside the palace tells the history of the Heliopolis neighborhood, through a variety of photos, archival documents and illustrations, maps, and distinguished correspondence letters depicting the history of Heliopolis district in different eras.
Furthermore, the exhibition inside the palace also illustrates the different heritage sites around Heliopolis, in addition to a wide variety of photos, maps, documents, and films that tell the history of Heliopolis, its style, appearances, and lifestyle of that period.
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Visitors Enjoy Their Tour at The Palace[/caption]
The iconic 115-year-old palace reflects the prestigious position of its owner and marks a milestone in the urban landscape of Heliopolis. Baron Empain's palace is among the most prominent monuments in Cairo, its unique and innovative design catches the eyes of pedestrians on the road.
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