Name: Baron Empain Palace
Brand: Meshini
SKU: 1

Meshini trusted guide for tourism

The beauty of Egypt and its landmarks surpasses imagination, and this beauty captured the heart and mind of the Belgian millionaire “Edward Empain.” He became so enamored with Egypt and its rich history that he decided to build the Baron Palace, named after him. It is also the only palace in the world where the sun never sets. But what makes the design of this palace stand out compared to other palaces, and what is the story behind the Baron? Let’s take a little stroll through the palace and learn some interesting facts.

The creative Belgian engineer and businessman, Edward Empain, was in India before moving to Egypt to carry out one of his projects: the first tramway connecting downtown Cairo with a barren area in the desert, which is now the Heliopolis district. Due to his deep love for Egypt, the Baron decided to build a palace in the middle of the desert, along with a city designed in an Islamic style, as a tribute to the country’s heritage. To bring his vision to life, he sent for the Belgian engineer Ernest Jaspar, a specialist and lover of Islamic art, and also reached out to the French architect Alexandre Marcel to design both the Heliopolis district and the Baron Palace.

The palace, which spans 12,500 square meters, was designed in such a way that the sun never sets on its rooms and corridors. It was built using Italian marble, Belgian crystal glass, and other exquisite materials. The glass was crafted in a way that allowed anyone inside to see those outside. The palace features a rotating tower, mounted on a moving base, which completes a full turn every hour, offering those inside the ability to view the surrounding area from all directions. The top floor of the palace became Baron Empain’s favorite spot to enjoy tea during sunset.

Surrounding the palace was a courtyard garden filled with rare flowers and plants, adding to the beauty of the area. There’s even a tunnel connecting the palace to the historic Basilica Church, which still stands to this day.

The palace’s exterior balconies were supported by statues of Indian elephants, while ivory adorned both the interior and exterior. The windows featured intricate carvings of Indian and Buddhist figures. Inside the palace, it resembled a museum, displaying precious antiques and statues made of gold and platinum. Among the many treasures, there was an ancient clock that is said to have no equal except in Buckingham Palace in London. This clock not only displayed the time, but also the days, months, and years, alongside the phases of the moon and the temperature.

Inside the palace, you’ll find that it is relatively small in size, consisting of only two floors with seven rooms in total. The first floor features a large hall and three rooms: two of them were used for receiving guests, while the third was turned into a billiard room by Baron Empain. The upper floor includes four bedrooms, each with its own attached bathroom. The floors throughout the palace are covered with marble and parquet wood, giving it an elegant touch.

As for the basement, it housed the kitchens, garages, and staff quarters, keeping the functional areas of the palace separate from the living spaces. Despite its relatively modest size, the palace was designed to reflect grandeur and sophistication, with every detail carefully considered.

The palace floors were made from original marble and onyx, imported from Italy and Belgium, adding to the luxurious feel of the place. The entrance is adorned with statues of elephants, a feature that also appears on the palace’s exterior walls and windows, reflecting an Arabic style of decoration. Inside, the palace boasts rare statues and artifacts crafted with remarkable precision from gold, platinum, and bronze, in addition to statues of Buddha and mythical dragons.

The palace consists of two floors, a basement, and a large tower built on the left side. The tower is made up of four floors, connected by a spiral staircase, with wooden sides adorned with marble. The stair railing features intricate bronze plaques, decorated with finely carved Indian statues, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the palace’s design.

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