5- Excursion to Rosetta
Rosetta (Rachid) is a port city of 60,000 inhabitants, located 65 kilometers east of the city of Alexandria (1h30 journey). It still retains a picturesque style thanks to its pretty tall and relatively narrow houses, with facades decorated with moucharabiehs.
This beautiful city, founded by Ahmad Ibn Toulon in 870, is located today on the left bank of the western branch of the Nile.
Walking through the streets of Rachid is a real journey through time.
Rosette makes a living from fishing and harvesting dates, but fishing constitutes the bulk of local resources.
Rosetta has become a city of major importance since its reconstruction. The city was built a few kilometers from the coast for strategic purposes to avoid an attack from the sea.
A century later, it became very prosperous thanks to its river port which linked it to Cairo, but its port began to play a more important role after the economic decline of the city of Alexandria.
After the annexation of Egypt by the Ottomans in 1517, Rosetta became the main port of the country which connected Egypt with Ottoman Turkey and all the states which depended on Istanbul, until Alexandria resumed its predominant place during the 19th century.
After a journey of 6,000 km, the Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the western mouth which is ten kilometers north of Rosetta.
Itinerary:
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Departure in the morning by private air-conditioned car to visit:
Itinéraire:
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Départ le matin en voiture privée climatisée pour visiter :
Rosetta houses
They are characterized by high architecture, on two or three floors, the facades of which are very largely openwork with moucharabiehs (windows) which allowed women to hide behind these superb wooden laces.
The doors, also imposing, allowed, it is said, a camel loaded to enter the courtyard.
There are 22 splendid merchant houses dating from the Ottoman era. Solid buildings of black and red bricks.
Among these magnificent historic mansions of Rashid are the Ramadan House and the Amassiali House, which is a three-storey building, the first of which includes a reception hall and the master's office.
Richly decorated, this last house represents almost all aspects of Arab-Islamic architecture.
You should also stop at the Abou-Chahine house, inside which a mill has been built. This one still retains its huge wooden presses today.
The city also has a traditional hammam (Moorish bath) Azouz, also built in the 18th century, but which no longer functions today.
It presents halls paved with marble and openwork domes of colored glass.
Qaitbay Fort
Located 6km north of Rosetta, on the western bank of the Nile arm, it was built in the 15th Century, it is now called Borg Rachid.
It served to defend both the mouth of the river and the city.
Two enclosures form the citadel which contains a recently reconstructed mosque, a cistern and warehouses.
It is in this fort that the Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 by French soldiers.
The stele bears a decree of law dating back to Ptolemy V, written in 2 languages and in 3 writings, hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek.
It is the study of this stone, known as the Rosetta stone, which will enable Champollion to decipher the hieroglyphic writing forgotten for more than a millennium.
It is on display at the British Museum in London.
The Rosetta Museum
The 4-storey museum building is a private residence, dating from the 18th century.
A house highlighting the peculiarities of architecture and Arab art during this period.
This museum contains objects used during the battles of the population of Rosetta against the French occupier (the Egyptian companion of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798) and the English occupier (the English military companion in 1807) as well as objects of daily life and crafts from the people of Rosetta.
This museum also contains a copy of the famous Rosetta Stone, as well as a precious document, the marriage contract of the French general Minou, one of the French generals, converted to Islam and who married Zoubayda, the daughter of a rich man. city trader.
He resided in the house known as El Mizouni, it is the first documented Franco-Egyptian marriage.
Starting point:
Hotel in downtown Alexandria.
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Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
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Earlier or later departures are available.
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Return to the hotel.
Cost:
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180 dollars per person.
Prices are indicative and for a minimum of 2 people.
(15% reduction from 3 to 5 people.)
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Visits include:
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Entrances to the sites, travel by private vehicle, the services of a private French-speaking guide.
* Tips are not included.