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Abdeen palace is considered the jewel of the 19th century architecture in Cairo.
When Khedive Ismail Pasha - grand' son of Mohamed Ali - came to power in 1863,
Egypt was engaged already in the building of the Suez Canal which was due to open in
1869. For this occasion, Egypt was supposed to receive dignitaries from different
countries of the world and Khedive estimated that Cairo with its 10th century Fatimid
capital was not ready to accommodate such event. He bought the small palace of
Abdeen Bey, a member of the Mamlouk corps, along with its surroundings, demolished it
and used the whole area to build the Abdeen palace we know today.

The palace was designed in a Neo-Classical French

inspired style. The chief architect that supervised the
construction was the French architect Leon Rousseau.
The palace was composed of two floors. The upper floor
contained both the Salamlek (the main quarter) and the
Haramlek (Family quarter), which contradicted the old
tradition of separating them in different buildings. The
ground floor was dedicated to the different services such
as guards quarters, storerooms etc...
Abdeen palace witnessed the succession of the Egyptian
rulers starting with Khedive Ismail followed by Khedive
Tewfik, then Khedive Abbas Helmi II, Sultan Hussein
Kamel, King Fouad and finally King Farouk. During every
reign, the palace had witnessed important events
Khedive Ismaïl Pacha
 The Gate of Paris

The palace has several entrances. This is the most important. It is located in the
centre of the eastern wall of the palace. It was intently constructed for the entrance
of Empress Eugenie of France , wife of Emperor Napoleon III, during the Suez
Canal opening ceremony on November 17, 1869. The palace was opened 3 years
after the ceremony
Inside the palace, the Red sitting-room for official delegations
The Green sitting-room
 The
sitting-
room of
the
house
 The
Byzantine
Hall
(Part 1)

Used to
receive
the guests
before
entering
the dance
room
 The
Byzantine
Hall
(Part 2)
 The
Throne
Hall
Where the
coronation
of the king
takes
place
 Wedding ceremony of
Princess Fawzia, to the
Crown Prince of Iran, the
future Shah
Wedding of Farida with King Farouk, Queen Farida
King Farouk and Princes Ferjal

In 1938, during the reign of King Farouk, the Palace witnessed his fairy
wedding to queen Farida in the Throne hall. In the same year, the palace
hosted the Royal wedding of princess Fawzia, sister of king Farouk, to the
Iranian crown prince Mohamed Reza Pahlavi.
 The Theatre

The
Mohamed
Ali Hall
Next to the
theatre.
.
Reception of the
guests before
entering the
theatre
Corridor
to the
Mohamed
Ali Hall
 The Theatre
Contains hundreds
of seats painted in
gold and sitting
rooms for women
with red curtains
on the side
 The
Belgian
Pavilion
(View 1)

Devoted to
the
establishment
of guests of
Egyptian
rulers.
 The
Belgian
Pavilion
(View 2)
 King’s mother Pavilion (View 1)
Was the room of Queen Nazli, mother of King Farouk
King’s mother Pavilion (View 2)
 Office of the President (View 1)
Located in the hall of the Suez Canal, which has been prepared to
commemorate the digging of the Suez Canal. It is decorated with
three pictures of the excavation and construction of the canal.
Office of
the
President
(View 2)
Office of
the
President
(View 3)
Office of the President (View 4)
 The Library
Contains more than 44.500
books.
A collection of rare books
and a set of international
books belonging to the royal
family.
 The
Gardens
(View 1)
Spread over
20 acres
planted with
citrus and
flowers..
The Gardens (View 2) The Tea Kiosk
“koshk el shay” as they used to call it.
The Royal family had the afternoon tea often in this place.
 The
Gardens
(View 3)

The
Music
Kiosk
 The
Gardens
(View 4)

The
Music
Kiosk
(Close view)
The Winter Gardens
 The
Gardens
outside
the
Museum

The lower floors of the Palace contain the Silver Museum, the
Arms Museum, the Royal Family Museum, and the Presidential
Gifts Museum. A new museum, the Historical Documents Museum
was opened in January 2005.
 The Hall of the President
Part of the museum. Weapons given to the president Hosni
Mubarak are exhibited here.
 A Memorial
Part of the arms museum. The German Emperor Frederick
 A Gold Dagger
Belonged to Sultan Selim Khan
(Turkey – 16th Century)

An Axe
Germany 19th Century

A Kit
Germany 19th Century

Some old weapons exhibited in the Arms Museum

The Firearms hall
A part of the Firearms hall
 A collection of rare weapons
1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8

1. A Japanese sulphur-lit rifle.

2. A carbine inlaid with coloured enamel.
3. A capsule rifle bearing plant decorations.
4. A hunting capsule rifle bearing bird and animals decorations. (Paris, 1855).
5. A capsule carbine of Napoleon III. (Paris, 19th c.).
6. A bullet carbin inlaid with gold
7. A couple of guns
8. Two colt pistols of king Fouad the first
American Antiaircraft Gun A Bras Mortar on a wooden
carriage (19th century)

A Mortar, Mohamed Ali

Pasha reign (19th century)
 Medals and Decorations Museum
Possession Hall Medals and decorations

Private collection of rare A collection of medals and

antiques jewels
 Master pieces of the museum
1 3
2 4
1. Gold colar of King Fouad 1
2. Gold collar inlaid with
diamonds, of Mohamed Ali
Pasha
3. Collar of Al Hussein Bin
Ali, made of gold, inlaid
with diamond
4. The Great Collar of
chivalry, "Vatican"

Gold medals
dedicated by
US to King
Farouk of
Egypt, made
A gun, a gold sword inlaid with Gems,
in 1853
a telescope and a marshal stick.
 Gifts, Decorations
and Shields
Dedicated to
President Mubarak

1 2

1. Shield dedicated by Military

College 3
2. Shield depicting Media Day,
May, 1984
3. Metal tag depicting an array of
intellectuals, 100 anniversary of
establishing Dar El-Helal
 1 2 3 4

5 6

1. Memorial dedicated by the second field army to President Mubark

2. A Republican Guard decoration dedicated to Mubarak on Jun, 26, 1996
3. Memorial dedicated by the Police Academy to President Mubarak.
4. A silver decorated box with a Holy Quran inside
5. A Clock dedicated to Mubarak on Navy day
6. Holy Quran with silver cover
 Museum of
silverware
1. Silver soup plate on a
separated pedestal,
grasps are shaped as
two parrots, Prince
Youssef Kamal.
2. Jam pot with crystal pot
inside, separated
pedestal and grasps’
cover shaped as a fruit,
Prince Youssef Kamal
3. Crystal silver covered 5. Decorated teapot, Prince Youssef Kamal
jug, Prince Youssef 6. Teapot for hot drinks, the cover is shaped as a
Kamal fruit, King Fouad I
4. Fruits holder decorated 7. Candleholder pedestal with a statue for a
with plants, fruits, birds peasant riding a donkey and a man beside
and man statues, him in the top
Khedive Ismail 8. Fruits holder decorated with flowers, birds and
statues, Khedive Ismail
 Crystals
1. Two golden
decorated plates
engraved with 1 2 3
"GH" letters, of
Gouidan Hanem,
Spouse of
Khedive Abbas
Helmi II
2. A set of crystal 4 5
bottles of Khedive
Abbas Helmi II
3. A set of crystal
bottles, cups,
glass wares of
Khedive Abbas
Helmi II
4. Coloured crystal cups, bottles, glasses and a compote glassware, Khedive
Ismail
5. A collection of coloured crystal of Prince Youssef Kamal
 Masterpieces of Plastic arts by Gallieh

Photos : Travel4Arab.com & TourEgypt.net

Text : Dr. Fathi Saleh, Wikipedia & TourEgypt.net
Music : Classic Egyptian by Sami Nossair
Created by : anthonymest@live.be on Sept, 2009