Click to continue after each slide 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 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 The Gate of Paris 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 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. Wedding ceremony of Princess Fawzia, to the Crown Prince of Iran, the future Shah King Farouk, Queen Farida and Princes Ferjal Wedding of Farida with King Farouk [...]... 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... weapons exhibited in the Arms Museum The Firearms hall A part of the Firearms hall A collection of rare weapons 1 2 3 4 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 5 7 8 A Japanese sulphur-lit rifle A carbine inlaid with coloured enamel A capsule rifle bearing plant decorations A hunting capsule rifle bearing bird and animals decorations (Paris, 1855) A capsule carbine of Napoleon III (Paris, 19th c.) A bullet carbin inlaid with... 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... 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... decorations A hunting capsule rifle bearing bird and animals decorations (Paris, 1855) A capsule carbine of Napoleon III (Paris, 19th c.) A bullet carbin inlaid with gold A couple of guns 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 . 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. 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. before entering the dance room The Byzantine Hall (Part 2) The Throne Hall Where the coronation of the king takes place In 1938, during the reign of King Farouk, the Palace witnessed