Burj Al Arab: Discover archaeology and craftsmanship
Accommodation in Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab and its surroundings are characterized by a desert landscape and a Bedouin-influenced environment. Archaeological remains at Abu Sir and local crafts offer additional, independent ways to explore the destination. The area can be viewed from several perspectives: transport routes provide geographical orientation, the Abu Sir Temple and the tower represent different architectural remains, and local textile production offers another way to explore the destination. If you are looking for a hotel in Burj Al Arab, these highlights can help you find a place that suits your interests.
Transport routes for orientation
The Alexandria–Marsa Matruh coastal road runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast, with several roads branching off it toward Burj Al Arab. Another route is the Kafoury–Hammam road. It branches off the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road and passes through Bahig, Burj Al Arab, and غربانيات. The Alexandria–Marsa Matruh railway line also passes through Bahig, Burj Al Arab, and غربانيات. Both roads and a railway line therefore provide geographical orientation. If you are planning a train journey, please check the current timetable in advance.
Abu Sir: Temple and tower
Among Burj Al Arab’s archaeological sites is the Abu Sir Temple, also known as Taposiris Magna. Taposiris was founded at approximately the same time as Alexandria; the Abu Sir Temple dates to the 4th century BC. The temple was later converted into a monastery called Dair al-Zujaj. The remains of large glass furnaces have been preserved at Dair al-Zujaj in Abu Sir. The Abu Sir Mariout site contains the only surviving temple built in the ancient Egyptian style. The temple, the monastery’s name, and the glass furnaces thus represent different chapters in the area’s history.
The Burj Al Arab Tower, also known as Pharos Abu Sir, is three stories high and measures 20 meters. Its base is square, its middle section hexagonal, and its upper section round. The Ptolemaic tower still stands today. Taposiris is also home to the last surviving lighthouse in a chain of lighthouses that extended from Alexandria to Libya. If you are planning to visit archaeological sites, please check the current access conditions beforehand.
Craftsmanship and historical production
In Burj Al Arab, making kilims and carpets is among the local crafts. Some families make and embroider traditional Bedouin clothing. Carpets and kilims thus sit alongside a clothing tradition in which embroidery is also part of the work. Those interested in textile crafts will find two distinct areas of focus here: the making of floor coverings and the production of embroidered clothing.
Archaeological finds also tell us about production and storage in earlier times. Burj Al Arab has wine presses dating from the Ptolemaic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Tonge vessels and amphorae made in workshops discovered here were used to store and transport wine and olive oil. Together, the presses and vessels illustrate different aspects of historical food production: wine processing, and containers for storage and transport.
Discover more destinations: Bahig, ADH Dheraa Al Bahri.
Return to the main travel overview: Qesm Borg Al Arab.
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