Baron Empain palace : innovative ideas to accommodate untraditional types of tourism

Abstract EN

In the time that the restoration of cultural heritage became a common practice all over the world, most of the modem Egyptian landmarks are neglected and some of them are completely left to decay and crumble.

Being one of Egwt’s most spectacular masterpieces, the palace of Baron Empain in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, has sadly been ^owed to fall into ruin.

However, its unique architectural style with pure Hindu influences attracts the attention of anyone passing by this deserted mansion that is located on one of the most used motor-highways in Cairo.

It looks like an ancient Indian temple in the middle of Islamic Cairo.

The palace with its peculiar style has become a subject of many rumors and tales which can provide different experiences matcning different tourist motives.

This historical archaeological study is an endeavor to focus on the ciUture that the palace represents and the legends that it invokes, so as to promote untraditional types of tourism like dark, film-induced, and haunted house tourism.