Baron Empain Palace
قصر البارون إمبان
A palace built in 1911 by the Belgian baron who founded Heliopolis, in a style inspired by Angkor Wat and Indian temples. It was restored and reopened in 2020.
The palace was built by Belgian industrialist Baron Édouard Empain, who developed the new town of Heliopolis northeast of Cairo in the early 20th century. Designed by French architect Alexandre Marcel, its façade is covered with Hindu deities, elephants and serpent-god carvings, inspired by Angkor Wat and the temples of Orissa. A legend holds that its rooftop terrace once turned with the sun. After years of neglect, it was restored and reopened in 2020. Inside is an exhibition on the urban history of Heliopolis, and the roof offers views over the district. Admission is about EGP 200–300, and it is open roughly 09:00–17:00. It is about 30 minutes by car from the city centre, and it can be fitted in before or after a trip to Cairo International Airport.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- City of the Dead (Cairo)
- Cave Church (Monastery of Saint Simon)
- Al-Azhar Mosque
- Khan el-Khalili
- Al-Azhar Park
- Al-Muizz Street
- Wikala of al-Ghuri (Tanoura Dance)
- Bab Zuweila