< EGYPT | LUXOR: Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

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Winter Palace is a historical heritage mythical hotel, distinguished with it’s Victorian style preserving the classical elegance of the 19th century. The hotel is located in the heart of Luxor city, on the banks of the Nile, near to all attraction tourism center of interest, 100 meters from Luxor Temple, 3 Km from Karnak Temple, 30 Km from Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple.

Hotel was built by the Upper Egypt Hotels Co, an enterprise founded in 1905 by Cairo hoteliers Charles Baehler and George Nungovich in collaboration with Thomas Cook & Son (Egypt). With a picnic at the Valley of the Kings followed by dinner at the hotel, it was inaugurated on Saturday 19 January 1907.

Winter Palace has been favored by European and Oriental royal families. Empress Eugénie of France graced the Winter Palace during her visit to Egypt, the hotel has been used for official royal visits during the rule of His Majesty King Farouk of Egypt. Lord Carnarvon who was very interested in Egyptology and was the financial partner of Howard Carter, booth was looking for excavations of a mysterious concession. In 1903 Lord Carnarvon & Howard Carter considered Winter Palace their home away from home. In 1922 Howard Carter stood on the stairs of the Winter Palace to announce the discovery of the tomb of the king Tutankhamen.

Through out the years, Winter Palace became distinguished as a winter resort for many other celebrities: Georges Clemenceau, Sir Winston Churchill, Aga Khan III... Agatha Christie wrote her famed 1937 novel "Death on the Nile" while staying at the Winter Palace.

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