CAIRO, Egypt, Aug 19 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian Antiquities Minister, Khaled al-Anany, denied reports that the original character of the legendary Baron Empain Palace, in Cairo’s Heliopolis, was changed during the ongoing restoration works of the 20th century’s masterpiece.
“Some people have been worried that the palace and the marble columns were painted in different colors … today we can see with our own eyes that the original colours are still preserved,” al-Anany told reporters.
There have also been reports that the original steel gate and the walls of the garden have been removed, and that a four-metre wall will be constructed around the palace, to block passersby from watching it, the minister said.
“I confirm all these reports are false,” he said, affirming that the ministry is working carefully to preserve the palace, in a form that is faithful to its original character.
Dust covered the palace since it was built over a century ago, “however, when the restoration teams cleaned the external walls of the mansion, it restored its original colour, which is burnt sienna,” al-Anany said.
“Same thing happened with the marble columns,” he stressed, noting that this is the first-ever all-out restoration process for the palace.
The Baron Empain Palace, better known as Le Palais Hindou, which literally means the Hindu Palace, is a distinctive and historic Indian-inspired mansion in Heliopolis, owned by Belgian millionaire, Baron Edouard Empain, who was also the founder of Heliopolis district.
The palace, which was built between 1907 and 1911, was designed for Baron Emain by French architect Alexandre Marcel, and decorated by Georges-Louis Claude.
It was inspired by the Hindu temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. For many years, the palace was considered a place of ghosts that actually turned out to be bats.
Meanwhile, the minister said, the rehabilitation of the palace, which is being carried out by the Engineering Corps of the Egyptian Armed Forces and private companies, will cost 100 million Egyptian pounds (six million U.S. dollars), adding that, the whole process will be completed within 90 days.
Hesham Samir, al-Anany’s assistant for engineering affairs, said, engineers of the Armed Forces oversee the renovation works, carried out by four private companies.
He added, the renovation, which started in Aug, 2017, is also observed by archaeologists from the antiquities ministry, to ensure the highest levels of restoration.
Egypt, one of the most ancient civilisations, has been working effortlessly to preserve its rich archaeological treasures and historical heritage, which will also help boost the once-flourishing tourism industry, that has largely been affected by the political turmoil over the past few years.– NNN-MENA
