Abdeen Palace: Home to Egypt’s Last Royal Family

Abdeen Palace is a historical and cultural landmark in Egypt that served as a royal residence for many years. The palace was built in the late 19th century by Khedive Ismail and is located in the Abdeen district of Cairo. Over the years, the palace has been used as a government building and a residence for various members of the royal family.

Abdeen Palace is one of the most enchanting places in Egypt and is open to the public to glimpse how royalty lived in Egypt until the mid-twentieth century. It has been well-preserved and is now a museum that showcases Egypt’s rich history and culture. The palace’s architecture is a mix of Ottoman, Renaissance, and Rococo styles, which makes it a unique and fascinating attraction for tourists and history lovers.

The palace is also known as the home of Egypt’s last royal family. The former Royal Family left quite a legacy, including many palaces and gardens that used to be their sole property and are now open to the public. Abdeen Palace is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious palaces in Egypt and a must-see site and attraction in Cairo.

Who is Abdeen?

Khedive Ismail contributed to shaping the way Cairo appears today. During his reign, many palaces, buildings, universities, and even railway stations were built, as Egypt was the second country in the world to establish a railway system after Britain. He made significant achievements, not the least of which is this sprawling palace.

To build this palace, Khedive Ismail purchased 25 acres of land, and the small villa built on it was built by the widow of a Turkish prince and military leader, Abdeen Bey, who lived on the property. His widow’s only request was for the palace to be named after him, and the Khedive fulfilled her request.

How to Build a Palace

Abdeen Palace was commissioned by Khedive Ismail soon after he ascended to the throne, and it took 10 years to build. It was designed by Egyptian, Italian, French, and Turkish architects, so it incorporates many elements that harmoniously fit together. King Fuad I added the palace’s garden in 1921, Covering 20 acres.

In 1872, Khedive Ismail moved into the palace with 550 rooms, most decorated with pure gold. Abdeen Palace combines different interior design styles, from Baroque to Rococo, Islamic and eclectic. Every room must be worth exploring, with its coloured marble floors and alabaster decorations. The ceilings of the palace are equally stunning, with delicate gilded ornamental motifs from Islamic and European influences that express absolute luxury. The palace walls are also decked with rare European and Asian paintings collected by Egypt’s royals over the years.

As you arrive at the palace gate and walk into the arched entrance, look up, and you’ll find iron railings that are said to have been built so that women could shower Princess Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, with roses as she walked into the palace. The gate was named after the city in which it was carved, Paris, to welcome the foreign princess on her visit to Egypt to attend the opening of the Suez Canal. As you continue to look up, you’ll find a hard-to-miss chandelier with 22,000 crystals in the centre of the entrance area.

It is said that Khedive Ismail had been in love with Princess Eugenie since he was young when he attended school in France. Still, according to many sources, Princess Eugenie did not set foot in the palace during the Khedive’s life as the palace was not finished when she arrived for the inauguration of the Suez Canal. Instead, he built her a palace by the Pyramids, now the luxurious Marriott Mena House Hotel. However, Princess Eugenie did visit the palace when she was pretty older, after the Khedive’s death.

Next to the Paris gate, you’ll find the Al-Fath Mosque, which used to be much smaller when it was built in the 19th century in an Ottoman style, resembling the mosque of Mohammed Ali in the Citadel, but it was expanded to what it is like today by King Fuad. The mosque was fitted with a beautiful sizeable wrought copper chandelier, and the wall and ceiling decorations were superb, as well as the coloured marble floors. The mosque has two doors, one for the general public and one from which the King used to enter.

As you walk forward, you’ll come across the Tea Kiosk, a separate open building. Added by King Fuad, the Tea Kiosk was built in 1921. This is where King Farouk, the last King of Egypt who ruled from 1936 to 1952, used to drink his tea while looking out onto the whole garden of the palace.

You’ll be amazed by the majestic music kiosk to your left, although the word kiosk seems to be a very paltry description of this exquisitely carved marble pavilion. Here, the royal family used to watch musical performances played by the orchestra. It is also said that an orchestra played music every morning to wake the young Prince Farouk.

In front of the music kiosk, you’ll find a swimming pool added by King Farouk.

Next, you get to take in the stunning façade of the Abdeen Palace itself. While the outer façade, outside the palace’s walls, looks genuinely majestic, the inner façade looks equally enchanting. Designed in the Neoclassical style, the massive scale of the building captures the eye and forces you to admire what an impressive feat of construction it truly is.

Look around the gardens, where several cannons and large military weapons are placed on display outside.

You can also soak up the view by sitting on one of the benches as you sip your drink at the small cafeteria.

Next, you can start your journey through the Abdeen Palace Museums but don’t forget to step into the open courtyard. In the middle is a marble fountain surrounded by several ancient weapons and busts of Egyptian kings and monarchs. There, you’ll also find the entrance to the Sidi Badran Mausoleum.

The shrine belongs to one of the pious worshippers in Islam whom King Farouk renovated with the palace. Due to Sidi Badran’s piousness, no one could dare move his mausoleum elsewhere, either during construction or renovations of the palace.

Like any palace in Egypt, it is divided into a Selamlik and Haramlik, the former mainly for the men where they conducted business and met foreign dignitaries, and the latter for women to receive their own guests and spend time with their families.

The garden of the Haramlik area at Abdeen Palace is also a must-see, with mosaic pathways, carved iron benches, and patches of grass; it adds a cosy atmosphere to the area where the Princesses of the royal family used to spend their days.

Buildings surround the garden, the centre of which was where Queen Nazli, wife of King Fuad and mother to King Farouk, overlooked the gardens. There are three balconies: one for her bedroom, one for her bathroom, and one for her living room or sitting area.

Royal Residence Era

Abdeen Palace served as the royal residence of the last dynasty of the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan. It was home to the last king of Egypt, King Farouk, and his family until they were overthrown in the 1952 Egyptian Revolution. After the revolution, the palace was used as a government building and the seat of power for the Egyptian government. It was also used as a residence for various members of the royal family.

Today, Abdeen Palace is one of the official residences of the Egyptian president. It is open to visitors, who can explore its magnificent architecture and learn about Egypt’s rich history. The palace is a testament to Egypt’s fascinating history and rich cultural heritage.

The Abdeen Palace Museums

Abdeen Palace was transformed into a museum in the 1980s and opened to the public in 1998. The museum is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cairo, attracting visitors from all over the world who come to explore the palace’s rich history and beautiful architecture.

While the palace itself is locked down for preservation purposes, six museums are open to the public, showcasing hundreds, if not thousands, of artefacts, acquisitions, and holdings belonging to the royal family.

While the upper floors of the palace, including the royal bedrooms and living quarters, are reserved for visiting foreign dignitaries, the lower floors contain several museums for the public to enjoy, such as the Silver Museum, the Arms Museum, the Presidential Gifts Museum, and the Historical Documents Museum.

The Historical Documents Museum includes numerous documents and royal correspondence, the most important of which is the Imperial Ottoman decree that established the rule of Muhammad Ali and his family, from which Khedive Ismail descended. It also displays the marriage and divorce certificates of King Farouk and Queen Farida.

The Arms Museum showcases all the weapons, ancient and modern, and hunting gear owned by royal family members. It also includes the medals and orders of merit bestowed on members of Egypt’s royal family and eminent Egyptian figures, including a diamond-encrusted sword gifted to King Farouk on the occasion of his marriage to Queen Farida by King George VI, father of the current Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

Many of the collectables and artefacts in this particular museum were bought by King Farouk from auctions around the world due to his interest in history and antiquities. These included a gun that belonged to Mussolini and a jewel-encrusted sword that belonged to Peter I of Russia. The sword was on display at an auction in London in 1949, and King Farouk bought it for 11,000 Sterling Pounds. It is now insured to ensure its safety.

One of the curious objects on display in this museum is a wood safe box. The safe has two keys, one real and one fake, and if someone attempts to open it without having the proper key, four little square openings pop open, revealing guns that fire on the intruder and then release an alarm. The box was made in the 1700s in France.

The Silver Museum’s lighting is appropriately dimmed down to allow its displayed objects to shine truly. From gilded silver plates and shimmering glass sets that belonged to Khedive Abbas Helmi II, Khedive Ismail, and others, you can take your time to take in these luxurious items that once belonged to the royal family and admire their different exquisite designs and materials. One of the most exquisite items in the Silver Museum is a 50 kg fruit plate holder sculpture made in Prussia in the 19th century. The Silver Museum also has a huge silver platter that weighs 105 Kg.

The Presidential Gifts Museum showcases the gifts received by Egyptian presidents from different countries, so its collection is continually renewed. It’s an impressive collection, to say the least.

Design Influences

The palace’s design reflects the many cultures and influences that have shaped Egypt’s history. Its interior is adorned with intricate details, including coloured marble floors, alabaster decorations, and pure gold accents. The palace’s exterior features a mix of Ottoman, Renaissance, and Rococo styles, with grand arches and ornate balconies.

Conservation Efforts

Over the years, Abdeen Palace has undergone several restoration and conservation efforts to preserve its historical and cultural significance. 1983, the palace was converted into a museum that showcased the royal family’s personal belongings and artefacts. The museum also features exhibitions on Egypt’s history, culture, and art.

In recent years, the government has invested in further restoration and conservation efforts to ensure the palace’s longevity. The palace’s gardens have been restored, and the building’s infrastructure has been updated to meet modern standards. These efforts have helped to maintain the palace’s architectural significance and ensure that it remains a vital part of Egypt’s cultural heritage.

Cultural Impact

Abdeen Palace played a significant role in Egypt’s rich monarchical heritage. The palace was built in the late 19th century as a royal residence for Khedive Ismail’s son, Prince Abdel Munim. Over the years, it served as a residence for various royal family members and was also used as a government building. The palace’s architecture combines Ottoman, Renaissance, and Rococo styles. It has 550 rooms, most decorated with pure gold and coloured marble floors, making it a stunning example of Egyptian architecture.

The palace’s interiors are decorated with alabaster, and each room is unique, combining different interior design styles, from Baroque to Rococo, Islamic, and eclectic. The palace’s War Museum and Peace Museum are two of its most popular attractions. They display different weaponry collections, including several Egyptian guns that belonged to King Farouk and several light weapons.

Tourism and Education

Abdeen Palace has become a significant tourist attraction in Cairo, attracting visitors from all over the world. The palace’s rich history and unique architecture make it an exciting destination for tourists interested in Egyptian culture. The palace’s five museums, including the War Museum and Peace Museum, give visitors a fascinating glimpse into Egypt’s history.

The palace is also an educational resource, allowing visitors to learn about Egypt’s rich cultural heritage. The palace’s museums are an excellent resource for students and researchers interested in Egyptian history and culture. The palace’s architecture and interiors also inspire architects and designers, providing a unique example of Egyptian design.

Overall, Abdeen Palace has had a significant cultural impact on Egypt. It serves as a symbol of the country’s rich history and cultural heritage, a testament to the country’s enduring legacy, and a source of pride for Egyptians.

We strongly recommend that everyone in Cairo visit this extraordinary palace with all its treasures and the rich history of a family that ruled Egypt for over a century. There may be no shortage of palaces in Cairo and, indeed, all of Egypt, but Abdeen Palace ranks as one of the best, if not the best, in the country and, indeed, in the region. It’s no small feat that so many of the collections on display at the Abdeen Palace Museums are well preserved, no matter how ancient.