| Visit
organization
A
detailed description of all sites to visit can be found
in the many guide books dedicated to
Egypt.
Therefore our purpose is not to describe them again but
rather to help you setting up a progressive and well
balanced programme. We point out places and sites
that should not be missed.
In our views, a one
week stay in Luxor
is appropriate to visit what is to be seen and also to
relax. This programme could be done in four days with
more visits per day. If you are there during a rush
period, we recommend to visit most famous sites (Karnak,
Luxor, Medinet Habu, Deir el-Bahri, valley of the Kings)
between noon and 3 p. m., when groups would have lunch
(you will have the famous Hypostyle Hall of Karnak
temple for you only!).
Tickets for East bank
sites, Valley
of the Kings,
Valley of the Queens
and Deir el-Bahri temple are sold at the respective
entrances. For other West bank sites, all tickets should
be bought at the ticket office (West bank
map).
1st day ( East bank
)
- Start
with the easiest : Luxor
temple.
It was begun by Amenhotep III (~ 1360 BC),
with the part presently at the back of the temple, and
completed by Ramesses II (~ 1250 BC).
The long Sphinx causeway (rearranged by
Nectanebo ~
360 BC) reaches a monumental door called
"pylon". Before the pylon stands an
obelisk, the twin of which now stands on the
place de la Concorde in
Paris:
the two obelisks were in fact offered by
Egypt
to France
but one only was finally taken to
Paris.
After the pylon, the first
Peristyle
Court
(an open court surrounded by two rows of papyrus bud
columns) is entered: notice the picture called
"Sema-Taouy" (union of the North and the South) on the
right, on the basis of the colossal statue of Ramesses
II. Then go through the Great colonnade, two rows
of seven massive columns more than 15 meters high with
open papyrus capitals, leading to the second
Peristyle
Court
built by Amenhotep III. Notice the different
architectures: strong and colossal for Ramesses II,
lighter and more elegant for Amenhotep III. Then, more
ancient parts are reached; they were adapted, especially
by the Romans, and their original
decorations are damaged; however, the shrine of the
sacred barque of Amun built under Alexander the Great
(~ 320 BC) is
remarkable.
- Then,
go to the Souk to end this first day with less
brain demanding activities, to meet with Egyptians and
to get a first idea of what you could bring back home
from Luxor
(see
shopping).
Next
page |
