The palace is a place that the days speak of and history recounts, as if you see history happening when you wander through the walls of Abdeen Palace. It is an immortal architectural masterpiece that Egypt is proud of in all eras. The palace has preserved its majesty and splendor, which has turned it into a museum that reflects the luxury with which it was built. This palace has witnessed many events that have passed through this nation.
The Palace Area
The palace covers a total area of 25 acres.
The General Description of Abdeen Palace
Abdeen Palace is considered one of the most important palaces of kings and princes, like Muhammad Ali Palace and the Al-Gawhara Palace in the Citadel of Saladin, among others. It served as the seat of government from 1874 until the Egyptian Revolution of July 23, 1952.
This marked the first time since the Ayyubid era that the ruler of Egypt left the fortified Citadel and descended to the heart of Cairo to live among his people. Following the revolution, Abdeen Palace was transformed into one of the presidential palaces by a decision of the Revolutionary Command Council.
The construction of Abdeen Palace was part of Khedive Ismail's plan to build a modern Cairo modeled after European cities.
Upon assuming power in Egypt in 1863
The Khedive Ismail ordered its construction. The palace is named after Abdeen Bey, a military commander during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha. Abdeen Bey owned a small palace on the site of the current palace, which Ismail purchased from his widow, demolished, and added extensive land to. This culminated in the construction of the present-day Abdeen Palace, a masterpiece of beauty and architectural artistry. Construction took approximately 10 years and cost nearly 100,000 gold pounds. Abdeen Palace is considered a testament to Western architectural influence in Egypt. Designed by the French architect De Curiel Rousseau in the classical style, it emulated European palaces of the time, boasting numerous halls and arcades that witnessed the rise and fall of many kings, rulers, and presidents. The Khedive employed architects and artists from several countries to complete the palace before the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. However, its 500 rooms were not finished until 1874. The palace's furnishings alone cost approximately $120,000.
According to the Egyptian Presidency website
"The palace was built on the ruins of an old house owned by Abdeen Bey, a Turkish prince who held the position of commander of the Sultan's brigade. Several ponds were filled in, and buildings adjacent to Abdeen Bey's villa were purchased, until the palace grounds reached 25 acres. Abdeen Palace and Abdeen Square formed the center of the new city established by Khedive Ismail."
Napoleon's Clock (Middle East)
Byzantine Hall (Middle East)
Red Salon (Middle East)
Suez Canal Hall (Middle East)
The King's Office (Middle East)
Today, Abdeen Palace is a popular tourist and recreational destination
Its gardens host a variety of artistic and cultural activities, both private and public. The palace gardens and theater can be booked for artistic performances or scientific conferences.
The visitors can also book tours of the palace museums or its main building.
They wander through its corridors, exploring remnants of the monarchy.
A historical journey begins in the gardens, which feature rare plants, most notably the banyan tree.
Amidst the lush gardens, visitors cannot miss two of the most beautiful spots built during the reign of King Fuad I:
The Tea Pavilion
And the Music Pavilion
The overlooking a swimming pool, next to one of the palace's most famous landmarks, the Paris Gate.
What does the palace contain?
The Entrance Gate
The iron gate of Abdeen Palace was crafted in Paris, hence its nickname, "The Paris Gate," and is adorned with exquisite carvings.
The Facade
The facade of Abdeen Palace suggests its status as a formal palace, reminiscent of Buckingham Palace in London. Khedive Ismail and his successors were keen to imbue the Egyptian royal palace with an aura of grandeur.
The Courtyard
A central fountain in Abdeen Palace is surrounded by statues of the sons of Muhammad Ali Pasha.
The Floors
The palace consists of two floors, including:
The Upper Floor
Contains the Salamlik (men's quarters) and the Harem (women's quarters).
The Harem: The Family Residence
The tour begins in the suite of Queen Nazli, the Queen Mother. Each suite in the Harem is divided into four sections: a bedroom, a dressing room, a bathroom, and a reception hall. The Harem also features a Byzantine-style hall, with Byzantine influences in the walls, Islamic elements in the columns, and Coptic influences in the icons.
Among the most famous suites in the Harem are
The Belgian Suite
so named because it was first occupied by the King of Belgium.
Queen Farida's Suite
the first suite of King Farouk's wife, which later became the suite of Queen Nariman, his second wife. A photograph of Queen Nariman's wedding adorns one of its walls.
King Farouk's Suite
distinguished from the other suites by its simplicity and modernity.
The Family Dining Room,
decorated with the initials of Khedive Ismail and King Fuad.
The Ground Floor
Includes the palace garden and a pharmacy stocked with rare medicines.
The former Royal Printing Press and its administration.
Also includes an office of King Farouk.
The Palace Halls
Paint Colors
The palace contains halls and salons painted in white, red, and green to receive official delegations during their visits to Egypt.
The Largest Hall (Muhammad Ali Hall)
Muhammad Ali Hall is the largest and most luxurious hall in the palace. It is a spacious hall built in the Arab-Islamic style and is distinguished by the precision of its inlaid decorations in marble, granite, and amber. It also contains rare pieces of furniture in the style of Louis XVI.
The Dining Hall
The palace did not neglect the Arab style, which is evident in the dining hall, adorned with Islamic decorations on its walls, and inscriptions and writings of Arabic proverbs.
The Belgian Pavilion
One of the palace's most distinctive features, due to its unique architectural and decorative style. It was named after the Belgian king, who was the first to reside there, but it was generally reserved for important Egyptian guests.
The Palace Library
Contains approximately 55,000 books.
The Theater
Features hundreds of gilded seats.
It also includes curtained, secluded areas for women.
The palace boasts Italian, Turkish, and French designs and decorations
In addition, it houses rare and unique paintings.
Most of the furniture is adorned with handcrafted gold decorations.
The Salons
The White Salon
This is the most important of the four salons, where dignitaries awaited their guests. Adjacent to the White Salon is the Throne Room, built during the reign of King Fuad I in the Italian style. It features a vase with a movable, earthquake-resistant base.
The Red Salon (Middle East)
Upon entering the main entrance of the palace, visitors are transported back to the era of classical art. The emblem of the Kingdom of Egypt is prominently displayed above the hall, which is adorned with ancient classical statues and marble columns leading to the "Staircase of Mirrors" at the far end. The Red Salon was reserved for the king's guests and contains an artwork depicting the history of the Vatican and its most famous landmarks.
A corridor adorned with artwork
Then the "Suez Canal Hall"
Through a collection of historical paintings, the hall tells the story of the digging of the Suez Canal and its legendary opening ceremony in 1869.
In one corner of the halls, furnished and decorated in a French style, lies the King's office.
Distinguished by its five-legged chair, on the wall is the "Napoleon Clock," a gift from Empress Eugénie to Khedive Ismail on the occasion of the canal's opening.
The tour then continues through a number of the palace's renowned salons, each named according to its historical function or the color of its walls, but all featuring a fireplace topped with a French clock.
The tour begins with the Scholars' Salon, where the King received scholars, followed by the Red, White, Green, and Blue Salons.
In the corridor separating the Red and Green Salons, there is a vase decorated with engravings depicting a quarrel between a husband and wife. This mirrors another vase found in the "Mohammed Ali Hall," which bears engravings depicting the "end of the quarrel."
The story of the shrine of “Sidi Badran” located inside the palace
During the construction work, the workers discovered the existence of old cemeteries, so they were all moved except for the shrine of “Sidi Badran.” The attempt to move it faced repeated and strange incidents, which prompted the Khedive to keep it within the boundaries of the palace to become part of its spiritual and decorative features.
The Key Historical Events at Abdeen Palace
1879
Abdeen Palace witnessed the decree that deposed Khedive Ismail from power.
1881
The demonstration that took place on September 9th, during which leader Ahmed Orabi stood before Khedive Muhammad Tawfiq and presented the demands of the Egyptian people and army.
1891
Abdeen Palace burned down in July while the Khedive's family was residing at Ras El Tin Palace. The entire harem wing, as well as the Khedive's private offices, were destroyed.
1939
Abdeen Palace hosted the wedding ceremony of King Farouk's sister, Princess Fawzia, to the Iranian Crown Prince.
1942
Abdeen Palace was surrounded by armored vehicles by British forces to impose their will on King Farouk, leading to the appointment of Mustafa al-Nahhas as Prime Minister on February 4th.
In 1952 AD,
Abdeen Palace was besieged by army forces led by the Free Officers, during the first hours of the July Revolution.
Who lived in Abdeen Palace?
In addition to Khedive Ismail, who built it, Abdeen Palace was home to a number of kings and sultans who ruled Egypt, including:
Khedive Muhammad Tawfiq
Khedive Abbas Hilmi II
Sultan Hussein Kamal
King Fuad
It should also be noted that
Abdeen Palace is not just one museum or collection of artifacts, but four different museums
The first museum (the Arms Museum)
is one of the richest and most treasured museums. It was carefully maintained by the sons and grandsons of Khedive Ismail and is divided into two sections:
1- The Edged Weapons Section
This section displays rare weapons crafted by skilled artisans from across the Islamic world and Europe, spanning various eras. These include swords, daggers, hunting tools, shields, bucklers, helmets, and fencing swords (sheep), some with hilts and scabbards made of gold or silver, or ivory. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, coral, and other precious stones were also used in the inlay work.
The examples of these artifacts include:
A sword belonging to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I (16th century)
Swords and daggers belonging to Muhammad Ali Pasha (19th century
A sword belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte
A dagger belonging to the German commander Rommel (20th century)
2- The Firearms Section
This section displays collections of firearms varying in type, rarity, manufacturing techniques, and style. It begins with a hall showcasing deceptive weapons, including a collection of rifles or "sheep" guns disguised as walking sticks, a collection of pistols, and rifles that were lit with matches, known as "matchlocks." The exhibits date from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The craftsmen decorated these weapons with inlays of precious stones or gold and silver on the grips. The craftsmen's artistry extended to creating hunting scenes on the grips using openwork techniques. Examples include weapons bearing the name of Muhammad Ali and others belonging to Napoleon. Bonaparte.
3- The Cannon Court
This is an open-air exhibition area displaying cannons of various types, some manufactured in Egypt during the reign of Muhammad Ali and his successors, dating back to the 19th century. These include a collection of mortars alongside fortification cannons and field guns.
The Second Museum: The Museum of Decorations and Medals
The Royal Collections Section
This section contains a variety of artifacts and treasures, such as a sword inlaid with precious stones and decorated with colored enamel, known as the "Coronation Sword." This sword was used to crown the Russian emperors and was made in Germany. King Farouk purchased it at an international auction. Also on display is a set of bullet-carrying belts made of local leather with gold embellishments, a gift from King Abdulaziz Al Saud to King Farouk.
The Decorations and Medals Section
This section houses magnificent collections of decorations, decorations, and medals. Some were made in Egypt, while most originated in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. These decorations and medals are awarded to those who render distinguished service to the nation, setting them apart from others. They are also bestowed upon kings, presidents, and prominent figures who have made significant contributions to the country's interests.
The third museum: The Silverware Museum
Dedicated to preserving the royal family's collection, it comprises utensils, dishes, and artifacts used for food and drink, as well as valuable gifts presented by foreign delegations and the upper classes, crafted from:
Gold
Silver
Crystal
Colored Crystal
The fourth museum: The Historical Documents Museum
One of the newest museums to open within the palace, it was inaugurated in 2004.
It contains several important historical documents from the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha to King Farouk I, the last king of Egypt.
