One of Egypt’s newly opened sites that must be added to your Cairo itinerary is the majestic Baron Empain Palace, or as we Egyptians call it, the Baron Palace. This Hindu palace, which dates back to more than 100 years ago, stands tall in one of Cairo’s busiest places, Salah Salem Road in Heliopolis. Cairenes are used to passing by this wonderful architectural masterpiece and tourists have probably stumbled upon it on their way to and from the airport. And as of July 2020, the Baron Palace opened its doors to the public for the first time ever.

The History of the Baron Empain Palace

First things first, who’s Baron Empain that this palace is named after? Édouard Empain was a wealthy Belgian businessman, engineer, industrialist, and an amateur Egyptologist. Empain’s first encounter in Egypt was when he established the very first tramway line in Cairo back in 1894.

Empain was also a world traveler and a globetrotter like many of this blog’s readers. He was extremely passionate about the nomadic lifestyle and went to various destinations, including Mexico, Brazil, Congo, and more. He then landed in India where he fell in love with it and lived there for many years. Afterwards, the baron decided to head somewhere that was more ancient, and of course, it was Egypt!

Soon after he landed in Egypt, the baron once again fell madly in love and decided to settle there; he even wrote in his will that he wanted to be buried there. The most logical thing to do afterwards was to find a place to live, and surprisingly, Empain chose a piece of land in the middle of the desert right outside of Cairo (which is now modern-day Heliopolis), and built the iconic palace from 1907 to 1911.

Empain opted for this mesmerizing Hindu-Khmer architectural style and hired French architect Alexandre Marcel to design it. It’s also worth mentioning that Marcel used the Hennibique reinforced concrete in the building, which was still something completely new at the time. Empain also hired Marcel to take part in building his new city of Heliopolis. Marcel’s creations include the Basilica, the famed French Quarter, and the interior design of the Heliopolis Palace Hotel.

Back to the marvelous Baron Palace, some of the decorative molds adorning the exteriors, that were inspired by Hindu and Buddhist legends, were actually imported. They were all designed by Marcel but they were originally used for the Cambodian pavilion and the Panorama du Tour du Monde in the Exposition Universelle on Paris back in 1900.

As for the wonderful interior design, that used European artistic styles, that was courtesy of George-Louis Claude. The palace consisted of the basement, where the servant’s quarters, the kitchen, and the storage room were; the ground floor, which had the reception halls; the first floor, which consisted of four private living chambers and a bathroom; and the roof where the baron held his lavish parties.

The Empain family had the palace in its possession until they sold it in an auction in the 1950s. In 2005, the Ministry of Housing in Cairo gave the owners land in New Cairo in exchange for the palace, and in 2007, it was granted to the Supreme Council of Antiquities. After years of neglect and vandalism, the palace underwent a massive restoration project that started in 2017 till it first opened its doors to the public in 2020.

Spooky Tales and Legends About the Baron Palace

The famed Heliopolis palace was too extraordinary that it was inevitable for spooky tales and legends to surface. For many years, people told, and believed various stories surrounding the Baron palace to this very day. For instance, it was believed that the building’s iconic tower had a base that rotated 360° so that the baron would be able to view Heliopolis. Others claimed that it rotated to follow the sun. It was also believed that there were secret tunnels from the palace, leading to the Basilica where Baron Empain was buried.

The breathtaking spiral staircase the palace is well known for also had its share of stories. At first look, this fine marble, Italy-imported staircase, and the other spiral wood one, paired with this wonderful chandelier, you’d think about how much of a masterpiece this is. Well, it sure is, but it’s also believed to be the very same reason that the life of Baron Empain’s wife, Helena.

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Remember the revolving tower? Well, the staircase that leads to the rooftop is believed to be why Helena fell to her death. But that’s not the only mysterious death story in the Baron Palace! There are spooky tales around the baron’s daughter, Mariam, who suffered from paralysis and psychological complications that resulted from her father’s cold treatment. Mariam was found dead in the service elevator that connected the kitchen in the basement to the dining room. There were other rumors that Mariam had a secret affair with one of the servants and this was nothing but a suicide attempt.

Do you feel the goosebumps already? Well, I’m not done yet, so hold your breath. Rumor also has it that there was an enchanted room in the basement called the pink bedroom, where no one was allowed inside. It’s believed that this was the room that led to the secret tunnel connecting the palace to the Basilica. It’s also said that when the baron died, the mirrors in this room turned red! No wonder why Heliopolis residents have always thought this place was haunted!

DON’T FORGET TO GET INSURED

Visiting the Baron Palace

Now that you’re probably intrigued enough to add this must-visit site to your itinerary, there are some important details you need to know.

When to go?

The Baron Palace is open from 9 AM to 4 PM every day. I personally recommend going early to avoid crowds and Cairo’s blazing hot sun.

What tickets do you need?

• Entry tickets for Egyptian and Arab visitors: Tickets cost EGP 20 for adults and EGP 10 for students.
• Entry tickets for foreigners: Tickets cost EGP 100 for adults and EGP 50 for students.
• Rooftop tickets: For access to the palace’s rooftop and a panoramic view of Heliopolis, there’s a separate fee. For Egyptians and Arabs, tickets cost EGP 20 each and for foreigners, they’re for EGP 50. (Unattended children won’t be allowed on the rooftop).
• Professional photography tickets: To enter with a professional DSLR camera, you pay EGP 50. If you have a tripod, there’s an extra EGP 20. Prices are the same for all nationalities, and mobile photography is free of charge.

How to Get There?

To go to Heliopolis, your best option is going straight away using one of the available ride-hailing apps. This is actually the best means of transportation around Cairo; it’s the most practical and the safest. Available apps are: Uber (cars, scooters, mini-buses), Careem (cars, scooters, mini-buses), and SWVL (mini-buses).

Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Click here to learn more about my travel planning services.

Nearby Restaurants in Heliopolis

By the time you’re done with your tour, you’ll probably be starving and it’ll be almost time for lunch (that’s assuming you do western lunchtime – much earlier than Egyptian lunchtime). Lucky for you, there are lots of great restaurants in Heliopolis. This would actually be a great chance for you to go on a walk around the neighborhood that Empain turned from sand to architectural masterpieces.

Here are some of the most popular restaurants in Heliopolis:

• Maison Thomas (Italian)
• Il Mulino (Italian)
• Pepenero (Italian)
• Mince (Burgers)
• The Smokery (Steakhouse)
• Studio Misr (Grillhouse)
• Crave (International cuisine)

For coffee or pastries:

• NOLA
• Paul
• The Four Fat Ladies
• TBS

If you fancy Egyptian cuisine instead, click here for some of the best restaurants recommendations, as well as interesting stories about the history of Egyptian dishes.

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