Deir Abu Fana

The Monastery of Saint Fana stands near cultivated land along the Nile, approximately 300 kilometers south of Cairo, near the village of Qasr Hur.

Founded in the 12th century, excavations in 1992 revealed Saint Fana's tomb, confirming the monastery's establishment around his burial location in the Western Desert.

The sanctuary church from the 6th century contains geometric crosses on interior walls and features a nave with side aisles following ecclesiastical architecture.

Visitors can reach the monastery by taking a train to Itlidim station and continuing west to Qasr Hor, located three kilometers from the Bahr Yusuf canal.

Historical records by al-Maqrizi indicate that before Islamic times, this monastery accommodated approximately one thousand monks within its stone architecture.

Location: Minya Governorate

Inception: 7 century

Elevation above the sea: 53 m

GPS coordinates: 27.84556,30.69833

Latest update: March 3, 2025 15:32