- Intro of palace and importance to resident of Heliopolis District
- Baron Empain and history of building Palace
- Structure of Palace
- Leganes of Palace in 90s
- Finals about the palace
Baron Empain Palace is one of the most attractive places in northeastern Cairo city; it was argumentative palace to the Egyptian youth epically in 90th.
This Palace was Symbol of verity of architecture in the beginning of the nineteen century, also it stands magnificence importance to all residents of “Masr Elgidia” District, due to the builder was the Belgium Baron Édouard Louis Joseph Empain, who found “Masr Elgidia” district, near the ancient pharaonic town “Auon Or Heliopolis”. The place has many names the Hindu Palace, the palace that never miss the sun, and the Baron Palace.
Baron Édouard Louis Joseph Empain came to Egypt in the beginning of nineteen century from India, he was found of Egypt as place to live and die in, he took a part of desert in northeastern Cairo city to establish new city, starting with his palace. Baron Empain asked the French arctic Alexandre Marcel, to build his place on the Indian style which is the Baron found of, and the city on the Belgium style, this contrast between the Indian and Belgium architecture style give “Masr Elgidia” district Variety and rootage.
The Baron had a dream to connect his palace and the new district to Cairo, he began to attract prominent people to live in. He established first metro between “Masr Elgidia” and Cairo; as main transporter in the district, and built many services building, like post office, schools, business centers, hotel, worships houses, and fire fighter building, in addition of setting up Children Amusement Park for children and horse racetrack, for entertainment.
He built many places to the Egyptian Royal family like “Malak Sultana” Palace , where is the front of Baron Palace and “Alfred Shamash” Palace that Egyptian Queen Frida lived in while engaged to the young Egyptian king Farouk until the Royal Wedding and Place of “Bacchus Nobar Pasha” the Egyptian Former Prime Minister , and the Baron Partner of building the new district .
The palace’s area is 12,000 M, all though of his wide famous’s Palace and his location; in the core of “Masr Elgidia” district, the place without his garden, not so big, the palace was formed of 3 floors and tower like in the Hindu temples , the place form out site full of the Hindu ornamentations, gads and beasts , but inside the place was decorated on the European renaissance style; allowing the sun to enter all day .
The first floor is basement, includes kitchen, laundry room, garage car and servants ‘s rooms, the ground floor includes hall and 3 rooms for hospitality, dining and playing billiard, the up-ground floor contains hall and 4 large bedrooms with their bath rooms and each room has own balcony carry on Indian elephant and surrounded by many statues . These Floors contains with wooden elevator, which made of Oak Wood and stairs made from white Italian Marble and Oak Wood to the roof and the tower.
The roof was the most favorite place to the baron he used to drink the tea in the sunset time and make parties in it.
The wide garden, which surrounded the palace from all side gives him hora of creative and relaxation. the garden decorated with some statues was carved on the roman style.
Legends and rumors were attached with this palace epically in the 90s, the palace was a place to held some demonic rituals to some youth. the palace earned name “Hunted Place” after many rumors, like the place was hunted by ghost baron’s sister who suicide after long journey of illness, and there is a secret tunnel between the Baron’s grave in Bazilic Church, in “Masr Elgidia” and the place ; in addition of a room in the palace their walls covered with unknown red materials like blood; also another gossips from many doormen, in beside building, of hearing shouting and seeing smoke come from it . All these Legends and rumors give the palace an extra aura of mysterious and fear.
Visiting Baron Empain Palace is beautiful journey, especially for “Masr Elgidia” residents, anyone can feel the glory and creativity inside and outside the palace. the palace represents love story between Baron Empain and his dream and making impossible to come that dream come true.
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