Baron Empain Palace, Hindu-inspired palace in Heliopolis, Egypt
The Baron Empain Palace is a residence in the Heliopolis style in Cairo that now serves as a museum. The structure shows two floors with a round tower, a spiral staircase, and reception halls connected by an elevator down to the basement.
Édouard Empain commissioned French architect Alexandre Marcel to build this residence between 1907 and 1911 in the desert. The building became the starting point for planning and constructing the new Heliopolis district.
The name comes from Édouard Empain, a Belgian industrialist who built this residence as the center of his district development. Visitors today notice Hindu motifs on columns and facades alongside European decorations inside the rooms.
The building opens daily and sits in Heliopolis, a district in northeastern Cairo accessible by public transport. Most rooms are open to visitors, including the floors and the tower with its spiral staircase.
The facade shows an ochre shade that stands out in the desert sun and gives the building a recognizable appearance. The round tower does not rotate, though local legends occasionally claim otherwise.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
