Sofitel Winter Palace
The historic Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel is one of the most luxurious and famous buildings in Luxor and its hotels. It is a 5-star hotel spotted on the eastern bank of the Nile in Luxor Governorate, near the Luxor Temple, only 100 meters away, and it is the city that contains a third of the world's monuments.
The hotel was established by the Upper Egypt Hotels Company, which was established by Charles Bahler in cooperation with the Thomas Cook Company in Egypt. The history of the establishment of the hotel dates back to the time of the British occupation, and the hotel was opened in 1907. However, the Egyptian Company for Tourism and Hotels (EGOTH) currently owns the hotel and is managed by the French group "Accor".
The palace was built in the English Victorian style, and the Victorian style is characterized by a combination of richness, luxury, and classic colors, and that style dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century in England, and the materials used in that style are high-priced and most of them are natural.
The aim of building this hotel was to provide a special place for the royal family in Egypt and the nobility, and the aim was not to provide accommodation for tourists, the hotel was initially a palace for the Khedive of Egypt and the family was wintering for them to enjoy the warm Luxor sun in the winter. The hotel has 86 rooms and 6 suites, in addition to its privileged location, facing the Nile directly.
The walls of the hotel witnessed many historical events, the hotel was a witness to the events of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, and on the stairs of the hotel, Howard Carter announced the discovery of the tomb in 1922.
Tutankhamun's Tomb
The Royal Dining Hall also narrates the beginning of the separation of the relationship between King Farouk and Queen Farida, his wife, which led to their separation, and his own royal suite, which still bears his name.
The most famous people who stayed in this hotel:
The English Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the writer, and writer Agatha Christie and her famous novel "Death on the Banks of the Nile", the Yugoslav leader Joseph Tito, the Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella, Albert I of Belgium and his wife Queen Elizabeth the Queen also stayed at the hotel. Belgium,
Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella, African leader Lumumba, Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, actress Jane Fonda, French President George, Prince Charles, Crown Prince of Britain, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Indian leader Jawaharlal Nehru, and other kings and princes from different countries Scientist, actor Shah of Iran, and Yugoslav leader Josef Tito.
Famous US Secretary of State Henry and James; Empress Eugenie of France visiting Egypt during the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal;
Egyptian writer Mohamed Hassanen and his book The Life of Muhammad were inspired by the stability and psychological calm of the place;
the hotel was received by all the rulers of Muhammad Ali's family and all the presidents of the Arab Republic of Egypt to date; Lord Carnarvon, financier of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922; and the hotel's entrance saw Egyptologist Howard Carter selling water paintings.
The hotel's halls witnessed numerous conferences, seminars and workshops in various fields, from health to tourism, such as the World Tourism Organization conference, the role of youth in reform, the role of women in addressing societal issues and the hosting of initiatives working towards revitalization. tourism in Luxor, in addition to hosting academics in various scientific fields, in addition to this, the hotel's walls and garden were an attractive venue for photography enthusiasts
In Luxor, there is a cool place called Luxor Museum. It's a special spot where you can learn about how people lived in ancient Egypt a very long time ago. You can imagine yourself being there and see all the cool stuff they had back then.
