Some 120 000 pieces recall the history of 5 000 years of successive dynasties in Egypt. Sculptures and funerary furniture are presented in more than 50 rooms: statues of kings and queens ( Hatshepsut , Amenophis IV ), and divinities (Tueris); sarco..

The sumptuous treasure is made up of more than 2 000 pieces, including the throne , the famous gold mask and the beetle pectoral . Tutankhamun's treasure has been the talk of the town since it was discovered by Howard Carter in 1972, especially a..

Take the time to stroll about Egypt's biggest souk, which spreads out at the heart of Islamic Cairo, between Muizz li-Din Allah Street and Sayyidna al-Hussein Mosque. Although some traditionally crafted objects (brass and leather) are on sale, produc..

Inaugurated in 1903, this museum houses one of the world's most exceptional collections of Islamic art. All the wealth and diversity of the artistic output of Arab dynasties dating back to the 7C are shown through over 20 themes. Admire the exception..

Founded by Sultan Hassan in the 14C, this gigantic madrasa (almost 80 000m 2 ) is a gem of Mamluk era architecture. Behind its long, tall façade, which lends it the look of a fortress, lies the central courtyard, bathed in light, and in the centre of..

The oldest mosque in Cairo to have retained its original appearance (9C). Entirely in brick and surrounded by a parapet walk, the edifice has a huge, stunning square courtyard lined with a portico (note the intrados of the arches decorated with del..

The founding of this extremely ancient mosque (970) coincides with the birth of El-Qahira (Cairo), which the Fatimids made their capital. It became the official Friday prayer place, and in the 15C was given two additional minarets (it has five altoge..

Following on from the Fatimids, the Mamluk sultans built numerous mosques in Cairo. This one, erected in 1279, is a masterclass in the Islamic art aesthetic, which places the onus on sumptous decors and noble materials: stucco, polychrome marbles, po..

Beit Al-Suhaymy was the home of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar. Built in 1648 and extended in the late 18C, it is a fine example of domestic architecture, and wonderfully decorated with marble, earthenware and wood. Daylight is filtered through an interior g..

Also known as the Red Mosque, this Mamluk building (1415) is the latest example of mosques with porticos. Embellished with stalactites and fitted with black and white marble, the entrance portal frames a splendid lime tree wood door bearing repouss..

Built in 1902 and a contemporary of the north gates, Bab Zuwayla has been superbly restored. It was the site of public executions, where the heads of 500 Mamluks killed by Mohammed Ali in 1811 were stuck onto their spears and exhibited. You can climb..

Perched up on a rocky spur, the Citadel (12C) dominates Cairo. From the Ayyubid Dynasty, founded by Saladin, to the Mamluk Dynasty, it was the residence of the governors of Egypt, who had increasingly grandiose palaces built. Its current incarnation ..

It may be a surprise to find works by Rodin, Millet, Utrillo, Sisley, Lautrec, Degas, Moreau and Rubens on the banks of the Nile but this museum housed in the former residence of President Sadate boasts one of the richest collections of its kind in t..

At the inauguration of the museum in 2006, President Mubarak stressed the importance of Coptic artistic heritage for Egypt, an opinion borne out by the stunning collections here: icons , frescoes, jewellery, sculptures (in particular the capitals ..

If the mosque gives you a sense of déja vu, it is probably because it features on the Egyptian one pound note. Located in the northern sector of the City of the Dead , this harmonious edifice was built in the 15C by Sultan Qaitbay. Dominated by its ..

Opened in 2005, this 30ha park is in keeping with the city's tradition of parks and gardens, which occupied 20% of the territory when the city was originally founded. Between the City of the Dead and the Al-Azhar district, lined to the west by the re..

This palace built around 1334 boasts a handsome reception hall ( qa’a ), 25m high and divided into a central hall ( durqa’a ) and side chambers.

This is one of the few Fatimid mosques still to have its original layout with a large courtyard surrounded by porticos and a prayer room with five naves. The monumental façade is composed of large walls crowned with merlons, and flanked by minarets w..

Bab Al-Futuh or the Gate of Conquests marks the northern end of the ramparts, which were built in the 11C by the Fatimids who used stones from ancient Memphis. Its imposing mass is flanked by two round towers. As you look at gate, remember that at th..

In the heart of Fatimid Cairo, not far from Al-Azhar Mosque, don't miss this group of ancient houses, which are remarkable examples of Muslim architecture. Combining Mamluk and Ottoman styles, Beit Zeinab Khatun boasts an attractive wooden ceiling ..