place El Quseir
Quseir
Al Quseir holds the distinction of being one of the Red Sea’s most charming towns. It is situated 85km south of Safaga , and has been used as both a trade port and a base for exploration by many different civilizations. One of Egypt’s earliest places, the city stands at the end of the shortest route between the Nile and the Red Sea, which made it a vital link between Egypt and the wider world in the days before the Suez Canal. With over than 4000 years of ancient history, Al Quseir is home to several attractions that bring life to the history.
Being the place where Queen Hatshepsut set off from an expedition to the mystical African land of Punt, Al Quseir represents the touch of mystery given to the tranquility of the Red Sea. Being the city that witnessed all the phases of the World’s transformation, Al Quseir is the tale teller of many international civilizations that lived on its land. It hosts 200 hieroglyphic tablets adorning the cliffs at Wadi Hamamat , which joins Al Quseir to Qift on the Nile. Many of these tablets are 4,000 years old, and depict international reed boats traveling to the Nile. The Pharaohs weren’t the only guests who were hosted on this land, as Romans too built watch towers along this Wadi, and many of them are still standing today. The Ottoman culture represents another major influence on the look of the city, as the Ottoman Fortress of Sultan Selim stands here. Napoleon and the British army also had an impact on this land, as they occupied its port, which now has varied architecture from both of these influences. There are British and French 19th century buildings juxtaposed with the Islamic influenced buildings along with the ancient structures from Roman times and beyond.
Al Quseir enjoys a year- round climate that makes it perfect for strolling its delightful historic districts, with its narrow streets, colorful bazaars, as well as cafes and restaurants serving mouth watering seafood dishes.