Qasr El Nil Bridge – Egypt’s MOST WELL-KNOWN Bridge on the Nile

Qasr El Nil Bridge can be routinely known as Kasr El Nil Bridge, also it basically connects Cairo’s popular Tahrir Square with the Cairo Opera Home complicated on Gezira Island. Even though this bridge isn’t mentioned or featured inside our Cairo tour deals, you’ll almost certainly view it during your stay static in Cairo.

In addition to the bridge itself being truly a extremely popular spot to visit, additionally it is house to four of the very most photographed Cairo places of interest: the 4 Lions of Ksar El Nil Bridge. They are four huge lion statues created from bronze, two which can be found on both finishes of the bridge.

Entry of Kasr Al Nil Bridge using its characteristic 2 lions.

The bridge was finished and subsequently opened up in 1933, and contains a total amount of 1,932 meters. One of the primary challenges was to add a 67-meter-long section that could be opened up electronically in an exceedingly timely manner to be able to enable ships to move.

Aside from its primary make use of as a bridge over the Nile, additionally it is a spectacular viewpoint, in fact it is also extremely popular amongst individuals who would like to enjoy a tiny walk. Many youthful Egyptians also go to the bridge making use of their partners for a cheap outdoor time.

Qasr El Nil Bridge – A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Bridges on the Nile River in Cairo at night.

Qasr El Nil Bridge has been in no way the very first bridge in your community. The initial bridge to period the Nile in your community was built between 1869 and 1871, and had been then opened for visitors in 1872.

It had been a barely greater than a narrow causeway created from iron, nonetheless it did serve the reason for which it had been designed.

The building of the initial bridge was also a significant controversial undertaking because for thousands of years individuals got to cross the river by boat. Very understandably, ferry proprietors and feluka boat proprietors were worried about all the income they might lose.

However, there have been even more individuals who favored the bridge and the truth that they could right now cross the river every time they thought we would.

In 1913 the initial bridge was provided a considerable facelift and an update, but by 1930 it had been simply no longer with the capacity of dealing with the ever-increasing amount of vehicles around Cairo. At this stage, the decision was designed to dismantle the bridge and replace it with a very much bigger and much better bridge, therefore Qasr El Nil Bridge was created.

Following the bridge was finished, it was called the Khedive Ismail Bridge, honoring King Fuad’s father. Nevertheless, following 1952 Egyptian Revolution, the bridge’s name was formally changed, as had been the names of several roads, bridges, structures, and etc.

Interesting Facts

The agreement for constructing the bridge has been awarded to a British corporation by the title of Dorman, Long & Co. Small of Middleborough located in Yorkshire, England. The corporation had by that point already gained a fantastic international popularity regarding high-quality steelwork design. At that time, this same organization was already occupied constructing another bridge, the today well-known Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia.

Almost all of the gear and hardware that has been needed for the building of Qasr El Nil Bridge had been imported for Briton, alongside just over 3,700 a great deal of metal which was necessary for producing the bridge, which has been imported from Middleborough Metal Works, another British business also located in Yorkshire, England.

Dorman, Long & Co. Small of Middleborough received just 30 a few months to perform the bridge. The past due King Fouad laid the building blocks stone on the 4th of February 1931, and the Qasr El Nil Bridge had been formally inaugurated on the 6th of June 1933, just 15 months following the inauguration of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

The Lions of Kasr El Nil

Qasr El Nil lion statue.

The huge lion statues which stand safeguard at either finish of the bridge had been originally likely to be delivered to stand guard close to a statue of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Alexandria, nonetheless it was afterwards decided they should rather be set up at Qasr El Nil Bridge.

They are guardians of the bridge since these were installed in 1933, and also have gone to become one of the most photographed monuments in Cairo.

Ironically, for many decades, it had been illegal to take photos of any bridges in Cairo, and for that reason, many unsuspecting vacationers found themselves getting arrested for taking pictures of the Lions of Kasr El Nil. Nowadays, however, many people are welcome to get as many photos because they want.

The Qasr El Nil Bridge alone is not actually what you might classify as a tourist appeal as such, nonetheless it however proceeds to attract an limitless number of visitors, the majority of whom go to the bridge simply to benefit from the spectacular views, not to mention, to photograph the Lions of Kasr El Nil.

Taking into consideration the bridge’s near proximity to Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum, we’d certainly recommend going to the bridge if you’re going to maintain the area in any case.

Going to the Qasr El Nil Bridge

In case you are considering reserving among our Cairo Tour Deals or among our classic Egypt Visit Packages, then it really is worthy of noting that not absolutely all tours consist of a stop by at Qasr El Nil Bridge.

However, quite a few tours include a stop by at the Egyptian Museum, and from there it really is only a brief stroll to the bridge where you’ll be greeted by two of Egypt’s most well-known & most loved lions.