Tourist Attractions & Monuments Egypt

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The kiosk of Kertassi is a small temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor or the goddess Isis. It was located 40 km south of New Kalabcha, until it was moved in 1960 by the Egyptian antiquities department during the rescue of the Nubian temples. It was to serve as a stop for the procession of the sacred boat in the Ptolemaic period, of which it is probably a contemporary. The columns of this kiosk have either papyriform or hathoric capitals. Maybe he's a contemporary of Trajan's kiosk at Philae.

This temple built by Augustus was dedicated to the gods Serapis and Isis. It was located 50 km to the north before it was relocated due to the Aswan Dam construction project in 1960. This temple was never completed, and has no inscription, so it is difficult to attribute it to the Romans. It is of modest dimensions, and consists of a hypostyle hall with fifteen columns. A terrace is accessed by a spiral staircase, which remains unique in Egyptian architecture. The temple was transformed into a church.

The temple of Dakka has been moved 40 km from its original location. It dates from several eras, including Ptolemaic and Roman. It was dedicated to Thoth.

Pylon: Augustus had it built in a disproportionate way in front of a rather modest temple; it is dug multiple chambers.

Portico: In the purest Ptolemaic style, the portico is openwork in its upper part, giving access to a classical pronaos, followed by a rectangular vestibule.

Sanctuaries: two sanctuaries follow each other, one from the Arkamani period, the second from the Augustan period.

The temple was built by Ramses II, called here "the beloved of Amon". It was originally located 4 kilometers east, where Lake Nasser is now. The temple known as "Ramses-love of Amun" served as a resting place for the sacred boat on its way down the Nile. Inspired by the lion-bodied stone sphinxes guarding the central aisle, it was named Ouadi es-Seboua, the Valley of the Lions. The temple has a progressive classical structure with three pylons.

First pylon: has disappeared, but gives access to a first courtyard lined with sphynxes with human heads topped by the double crown of Lower and Upper Egypt.

Second pylon: has disappeared, but gives access to a small courtyard lined with falcon-headed sphynxes in front of which stands a statue of Ramses II; a stepped staircase extends the courtyard and leads to a terrace.

Third pylon: is still standing; one notices a monumental statue of Ramses II, on the left, flanked by his daughter Bentanat; the pylon is decorated with bas-reliefs narrating the victories of Pharaoh.

Third courtyard: surrounded by ten Osirid pillars leading to a portico by an inclined ramp.

Hypostyle hall: small hall consisting of twelve monumental pillars, overlooking a vestibule serving two side chapels and a three-part sanctuary. If Amun-Ra is worshipped there, the great gods of the time of Ramses have a special place there. The temple was transformed into a church as the representation of Saint Peter on the bas-reliefs of the sanctuary attests.

The oldest temple in Nubia, built in Dynasty 18, contains beautifully coloured bas-reliefs made under Thutmes III and IV and under Amenophis II.

Hypostyle Hall: it is reached by crossing a grey brick pylon built by Seti I to protect the temple; Thutmes IV is represented there; in front of the portico, it is Thutmes III who is represented on the walls of the temple.

Vestibule and sanctuary: it is mainly Amenhetep II who is represented on the bas-reliefs and in the sanctuary.

This small rock temple is located in the same place as the Kalabsha temple. It was built by Ramses II to be one of the first buildings used for public relations purposes. It is entered through a courtyard where Pharaoh's battles against the Nubians on the left and against the Libyans and Asians on the right are depicted. The vestibule is decorated with Ramses II presenting offerings to Hathor and Khnum. The sanctuary is decorated with Ramses facing Ra and Khnum. The small temple of Beit El Wali is in many ways fascinating.

The fortress occupies a cliff overlooking the Nile, dominating the site of Aniba, seat of the governor of the province. The first vestiges of the reign of Amenophis I are dated. The present remains are a mixture of a Coptic cathedral and an Ottoman fort commanded by Selim I. For three centuries, the descendants of the first Ottoman soldiers lived in these places, until 1811. The Aswan High Dam transformed this place into an island and drowned its surroundings. Qasr Ibrim is the only site in Lower Nubia to have survived the Nile floods.

This is the only Nubian tomb that survived the flood. It was carried out for Penout, a high-ranking official of Ramses VI. It was located 40 kilometres south of its present location, not far from Kasr Ibrim.

The tomb consists of a chapel and the tomb itself, dug out of a niche. The burial well, which opened in the middle of the room, remained in place when the monument was transferred. The frieze representing the deceased and his children is particularly beautiful, the linen veils of the clothes being very refined.

Partly buried, the temple was built by Ramses II and was dedicated to Ra. It is remarkable for some of its colourful representations.

First hypostyle hall: it is accessed by crossing a pylon; at the back four Osirid pillars support some ceiling elements.

Second hypostyle hall: six columns supporting a reconstructed ceiling. Ramses II stands in front of a splendid ished tree. Then follows the sanctuary flanked by two side chapels. The chapel on the left is remarkable for the representation of the sacred bark of Amon.

Ay is the twelfth and penultimate pharaoh. He ascended to the throne through his marriage to Tutankhamen's widow, Queen Ankhesenamun. Ay's tomb is not completely finished. Ay had had a tomb dug, and when the city and the cult at Aten fell, he had to dig a new tomb in haste at Thebes. His short reign did not allow him to complete more than the decoration of the burial chamber. It shows Ay hunting the male hippopotamus, and twelve baboons who gave the name to the valley. The stone sarcophagus is still in situ.

This is one of the stops on a dahabieh cruise.

On the west bank of the Nile: numerous graffiti and stelae show the importance of this place of worship where, as the flood raged, Hâpy and the elephantine triad, considered to be the masters of the river, were celebrated. Three sanctuaries built by Merenptah, Seti ^I and Ramses II have survived in part, and the ceilings still retain their colors.

On the east bank of the Nile: impressive sandstone quarries, stelae and ex-voto statues.

The construction of this small chapel, dedicated to the goddesses Nekhbet and Hathor, is attributed to King Amenophis III and his father Thutmes IV. The chapel, almost square, is supported by four columns with Hathor capitals. The interior is decorated with paintings that have retained their original hue. This small chapel was used as a resting place for the statue of Nekhbet during certain processions. The goddess protected the important mineral resources of this part of Egypt. In front of the entrance was a small hypostyle hall with four columns.

Ahmes son of Abana, born of a soldier father and a mother named Abana, is a soldier who played an important role under the orders of three pharaohs. His biography, on two walls of his tomb, relates all his feats of arms especially when the north of Egypt was annexed by the Hyksos. Born under the reign of Seqenenrê Taâ and died under that of Thutmes I: he took part in the various wars of reunification led by the pharaohs. He received seven times the supreme honorary decoration, the decoration of gold, from the hands of three different kings.

Pahéry is a painter and head of works in the tomb of his grandfather, Ahmnose, son of Abana, a war hero. He becomes governor of Elkab and Esna. His status as a nomarch enabled him to build his own tomb. The theme of the artistic copies served as a basic documentation, to express his artistic talent. The tomb he occupies with his wife has well-preserved paintings of scenes from agricultural life and the funeral rite rendered to the deceased. At the back is a niche housing a statue of Pahery, his wife and his mother.

Taba Heights is a picturesque, year-round resort ideally located in this beautiful region of the Sinai Peninsula. The resort's village and hotels blend into the natural backdrop of wild desert, cinnamon mountains and vibrant sea. Taba Heights offers four- and five-star luxury hotels. Experience relaxation and recreation at every hotel in the range. Innovative facilities designed for travelers who simply want to sit back and enjoy.

After a beautiful cruise to reach the island, you can visit the ruins of a Crusader defensive castle built in 1116 by Baldwin ^I of Jerusalem. The castle passed into the hands of Salah el-Din in 1170, then the Mamelukes in the ^13th century. Artifacts from the ^2nd century BC have been found, as well as traces of foundations from the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. Another attraction of this excursion is the opportunity to swim and snorkel away from the crowds, in transparent waters.

The mosque was built in the ^mid-16th century and restored in 1850. The prayer hall is supported by 24 columns in 4 rows. The shafts are reused from older monuments, as is the case in many buildings in the Delta. The ceiling of the prayer room features a central cupola. The entrance portal is comparable to that of the Hassan Nasr Allah mosque. The minaret is 23 m high and overlooks the nearby Nile.

The building is named after a high-ranking Mamluk dignitary who received his religious education in the mosque of Sultan Hassan in Cairo. He was buried in 1424 in the capital's northern Mamluk cemetery. The mosque was built during his lifetime and restored in 1703. The main portal, formed of three brick arches, is typical of the religious architecture of the Nile Delta region. The minaret is the only element of its architecture in the Mamluk style.

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El Gouna is a tourist town located in Egypt, offering numerous activities and attractions for visitors. Beaches and swimming pools are popular destinations, offering not only swimming opportunities, but also music, food and an idyllic beach atmosphere. Golf enthusiasts can take advantage of the town's two 18-hole championship courses, offering spectacular mountain and sea views. Water sports are also very popular in El Gouna, with opportunities for diving, fishing and other aquatic activities. For those who prefer land sports, there are opportunities for cycling, horse-riding and other sporting activities. Excursions are also on offer, with the possibility of taking boat trips to the surrounding islands or visiting a Bedouin village or desert monastery. Families will also find plenty of activities suitable for children, as well as a wide variety of restaurants offering quality cuisine. Finally, film buffs can enjoy the Sea Cinema El Gouna, which offers a unique cinematic experience.

Born into a prestigious family, he was Third Prophet of Amun during the ^20th Dynasty. His large sepulchre is poorly preserved and has lost most of its decorations, but his first room remains interesting. Large statues of the deceased are carved into the rock. The preserved wall decorations, depicting scenes of banquets and members of Amenenope's influential family, or Amenenope being presented to Osiris, are of exceptional quality and enhanced by the white of the walls.

Resident of the Royal Nursery, chief treasurer and supervisor of public works during the reign of Tuthmosis III. Benia's tomb, small and quite simple, with a classic T-shape, is quite complete. In several scenes Benia is depicted in front of tables on which offerings are piled up. The mouth opening ritual ceremony is also painted there. In a niche at the bottom of the tomb are statues, carved directly into the rock face, representing the deceased sitting surrounded by his parents.

This tomb belongs to an official named Khonsu, a theophoric name modeled on that of the son-god of the Theban Triad (Amen-Mut-Khonsu). He was also called To, the first prophet of Thutmes III, during the reign of Ramses II. Preceded by a courtyard, the tomb has a classical inverted-T plan. Among the many paintings, most depict the cult of the god Montu and of Thutmes III, but there are also scenes of worship of the god Ra by the deceased and his family and of funerary scenes. Ducks in flight adorn the ceiling.

A passage in the tomb of Nefersekherou leads to that of Dhutmosi, which is in poor condition. But by chance, the ceilings of these two tombs have been very well preserved. Beautifully coloured ceilings can be seen. Each has one or more central motifs, which take on geometric forms. Five different patterns are repeated, three of which are in the main room. The painted motifs are separated from each other by coloured stripes and, in the case of the main ceiling, by text stripes.

The small tomb of Nefersekheru, scribe of the divine offerings and officer of the Treasury during the reign of Ramses II, is quite similar to its neighbour. It would be conceivable that the latter succeeded his neighbour Neferrenpet. Despite its small size, it represents a characteristic ensemble of the period. It is very complete and its paintings have retained vivid colours. The ceilings are finely decorated with various geometric motifs in very well preserved colours. The monument consists of two separate underground complexes.

During the reign of Ramses II, Nefferenpet or Kenro was chief scribe of the Treasury of the domain of Amun-Ra, one of the highest offices of the time. The tomb is decorated with refined paintings. The deceased's wife, Moutemouia, is present at his side. The scenes are essentially religious: praise and adoration of the gods, a funeral procession, but there are also less formal scenes depicting Neferrenpet supervising the work carried out by the men at the treasury. The beautiful ceilings of this tomb are adorned with elaborate motifs.

Built on the road leading to the great Aswan Dam, it is impossible to miss this imposing and strange building whose architect seems to be inspired by a mixture of Nubian art and Soviet style. In the tradition of propaganda museums developed by every Egyptian president, the latter, inaugurated in early 2016, pays a heartfelt tribute to former Marshal Abdel Fattah al Sissi, elected two years earlier. But for once, there is no question of the greatness of the Egyptian army. The hero is the Nile, represented at the entrance by a fountain that rises to the ceiling. The eleven African flags, hung all around, are a reminder of the continuum that exists between these countries and the solidarity that should flow from it.

Right wing: a tribute to the Aswan dams. After the medals awarded by Nasser and the USSR to the builders of the 1964 dam, an ancient Egyptian waxwork takes a break. Without further explanation, the window next door displays a letter from Nasser celebrating the Aswan Dam and a letter from al Sissi praising the Nile Museum. The massive models of the 1898 and 1964 dams are of great interest. It is easy to see that the older one let more water through thanks to its hundred or so small openings, whereas the new dam has only about forty small windows. A junk shop window in the corridor follows, where different types of national pride are jostling for position.

Left wing: memorial objects. The fashion for holograms also seems to have reached Egypt. The first is Alaa Bacha Mubarak, the inventor of the Qanater dams north of Cairo. The second, in the background, is the Minister of Irrigation at the inauguration of this museum. The room is dotted with objects belonging to some countries of the Nile basin and technologies that were used in the construction of the Aswan dam.

^1st floor. The eleven "brother" countries were asked to furnish it, but the small number of donations says a lot about the political divisions that remain deep. It is, all the same, the only space in the museum where the daily life of the people of the Nile is evoked through paintings by Egyptian artists. Crowded aquariums close the visit.

Archive library. Open on request, it is a gold mine for those looking for archive photos, old newspaper articles and original maps of the Aswan Dam

At the top of this hill of granite blocks where hieroglyphics and pharaonic drawings can still be seen very clearly, a stele tells of a particularly difficult episode in the reign of Djeser (3rd dynasty) in the year 19. On this rock, recognizable by the fault that crosses it in the middle from left to right, about 40 lines of hieroglyphs evoke the terrible drought that had been raging for seven years to the despair of the king and the population. Here is an excerpt: "I was in sorrow on my throne.... My heart was in such great sorrow because the Nile had not come in time for seven years. The grain was scarce, the seeds were dried up, all we had to eat was in meager quantity. "The priests believe that the angry god Khnum, who is holding back the waters of the Nile, is responsible. To appease him, Djeser is seen making offerings to the god. The scriptures detail the dream of the most important priest of the kingdom in which the deity appears and promises the return of the water. The next day, the king passes a decree to renovate the temple of Khnum on Elephantine Island and to furnish it more regularly with offerings.

Panorama of the old dam. Climbing on this rocky hill (forget the flip-flops, by the way) also gives a better understanding of what the Nile and Nubia looked like before the Aswan dam wanted by Nasser. The first flat island just in front of it was then under water.

This elevated garden, rich in opulent tree species, was created by King Farouk in honour of his daughter Féryal. Rendezvous for families and lovers. A pleasant break after visiting the Nubian Museum which is only a few meters away. The view is the same as that of the Old Cataract, which a small wall separates from the garden. There are paths running through it, and the vegetation is very rich. The locals walk there with friends and family.

Across the road, you'll find the Fatimid cemetery. Charming place overlooking the Nile and Elephantine Island.

This introduction to Nubian daily life and the history of the region is highly recommended. It will give you an understanding of the conflicts in the community and the complex relations with the Egyptian authorities. Aware that the Nubian heritage was in danger of disappearing, Mohammed and his wife Fatma took it upon themselves to build this small museum on the ground floor of their own house. Mohammed will show you all the objects from a Nubian house, a series of stuffed animals from Lake Nasser and Nubian stones.

Built in 1995 only thanks to private donations, the Cathedral of Archangel Michael is the second largest cathedral in Egypt. Its 3,500 square meters can hold 3,000 worshippers. This cathedral is home to the Orthodox Christians. Beyond the nave richly decorated with oak wood icons, it impresses above all by its two 44-metre high towers. Its white dome rises above the cornice. It is located a few meters from the Nubian Museum.