Monuments to visit Egypt

This beautiful palace built from 1808 to 1821 was designed by Pascal Coste, French architect. Located in the middle of what was once a large garden, three palaces were built: that of the fountain, that of the mountain and that of the tower. The best known of them is the fountain of the fountain (saraya el-fasqiya). As a square, a large basin is surrounded by a colonnade framed at its four corners of decorated pavilions, hosting the dining room, the Arab lounge, billiards and the Royal Lounge. There were sumptuous feasts and a boat on the pond. Another fun palace, called the mountain palace, looks like a six-degree pyramid, whose terraces are planted with trees.

The mountains around the village of Sainte-Catherine are extraordinary. Absolute peace and granite mountains provide the backdrop for a variety of hikes, beyond Mount Moses, the most famous and most frequented, and Mount Sainte-Catherine, which is quite arduous. Day-long to week-long hikes can be organized, with or without camels. Don't hesitate to enlist the help of an English-speaking agency (Bedouin guides' English is sometimes limited), or use the village camps for the more experienced.

Djebel Abbas (2,344 m). Situated 6 km west of the monastery, it can be recognized by the castle ruins crowning its summit. This vestige dates back to the ^19th century, when Khedive Abbas chose the site for a desert cure. Some time after the work had begun, Abbas Pasha changed his mind, preferring to settle on the sacred mountain itself. To get to Mount Abbas, the best route is up wadi Abu Selleh, wadi Bougieh... and down through small palm groves occupied by Bedouins.

Djebel Bab el Dounia. The hike to the "Gateway to the World" mountain takes 3 days and 2 nights. We also recommend the Algalt Et Azrak (Blue Pound) valley, where you can enjoy a swim

Valley of the 40 prophets. Situated between Mont Moïse and Mont Sainte-Catherine, this is a must if you're doing the 2 hikes in succession, which is sustained but extraordinary. Here you can sleep in Bedouin summer villages.

Only a few ruins remain of the ancient city, located in Kom el-Ashmuneïm, 8 km from Tuna el-Gebel. But new discoveries suggest that Tuna el-Gebel will not remain in the shadows for long. In 2017, the Egyptian authorities reported the discovery of a necropolis with numerous funerary wells dating from the end of the Pharaonic period (26th dynasty and after) and the beginning of the Ptolemies in the mid-4th century. In the region of Tuna el-Gebel, opposite Amarna, and 60 km south of Minya, the Egyptian mission is continuing the excavations .

A pleasant hour walk awaits you unless you prefer the bus. To see: the irrigation Museum.

It is called Nahdat Misr or the Awakening of Egypt. The granite statue was carried out from 1920 to 1928 by the sculptor Mahmoud Mokhtar. A large sphinx representing Eternal Egypt is lying next to a right woman, testifying, symbolizing the awakening of the country. It was not until 1955 that the statue was moved from Bab el-Hadid to this square between Cairo University and the eponymous bridge. It is one of the symbols of modern Egypt.

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.

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.

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.