Winter Palace Hotel — Luxor
Howard Carter held his press conference here on 30 November 1922 to announce the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb — the most dramatic moment in the history of Egyptology.
At a glance
Built in 1886 by the Thomas Cook travel company to accommodate the growing trade in Nile cruises and Egyptian antiquities tourism, the Winter Palace stands on the east bank of the Nile at Luxor, directly opposite the Valley of the Kings on the west bank. Its gardens descend to the Nile corniche; the hotel was designed as the definitive base for winter visitors seeking the ruins of ancient Thebes. The connection to Egyptology is not incidental: every major British and European expedition to the Valley of the Kings between 1886 and 1939 used the Winter Palace as its headquarters, and the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 1922 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon was formally announced from its terrace.
Key facts
- Built: 1886 by the Thomas Cook travel company
- Style: Victorian Colonial with Moorish ornamental elements
- Address: Corniche el-Nil, Luxor 85951, Egypt
- GPS: 25.6997, 32.6422
- Status: Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor; operating hotel
- Key moment: Howard Carter announced the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb from this hotel, 30 November 1922
History
Thomas Cook established his Egyptian operation in the 1870s, pioneering Nile steamer travel for British and European tourists. The Winter Palace was built as the flagship accommodation to complement his Nile steamers and grew rapidly into the most important hotel in Upper Egypt. The winter season (November–March) brought archaeologists, aristocrats, and royalty to Luxor; the hotel’s gardens and terrace became the social centre of what was effectively a seasonal European colony established within walking distance of the world’s greatest concentration of ancient monuments.
The announcement of Tutankhamun’s discovery on 30 November 1922 transformed the hotel’s role: from a comfortable winter resort into the global media centre for the most famous archaeological discovery of the 20th century. Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter both stayed here during the excavation seasons, as did the hundreds of journalists who descended on Luxor in subsequent years. Agatha Christie visited during the 1930s, drawing on the atmosphere for several novels set in Egypt.
What you see
The main building is a Victorian Colonial palace with wide verandahs, shuttered windows, and ceiling fans — the standard vocabulary of British colonial tropical architecture adapted for the Egyptian winter. The garden, extending to the Nile bank, is planted with hibiscus, bougainvillea, and mature palms that date to the original planting of the 1880s. A newer wing, the New Winter Palace, was added in the 1970s; the original building, now designated the “Old Winter Palace,” retains most of its 19th-century character.
Practical information
The historic Old Winter Palace wing is the preferred choice for heritage visitors; book the Victorian-era rooms on the garden side for Nile views. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum. Felucca boats cross to the West Bank from the corniche immediately in front of the hotel.
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →📷 Diventa un fotografo di Cultural Heritage Online
Condividi le tue foto dei luoghi: restano pubblicate con la tua firma come autore. Più vengono viste, più ti fai conoscere — e presto un concorso premierà le foto più apprezzate.
Accedi o registrati gratis per aggiungere una foto