Helwan - Helwan

Japanese garden and modern residential buildings in Helwan
Ḥilwān · ‏حلوان‎
GovernorateCairo
Residents
619.293 (2006)
height
28 m
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location
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Helwan

Helwan or Hilwan (also Hulwan, Heluan, Heluan, Arabic:حلوان‎, Ḥilwān, „sweet [fountain]“) Is a city about 30 kilometers south of Cairo on the eastern bank of the Nile in the governorate Cairo. 230,000 inhabitants live in Helwan (1990).

background

The city was founded in the second half of the 19th century 3 kilometers east of the Nile and north of the village of the same name ʿIzbat Ḥilwān built as a spa with sanatoriums, hence the more complete name Ḥammāmāt Ḥilwān (Arabic:حمامات حلوان‎, Baths of Ḥilwān, French Hélouan-les-Bains). The basis are the sulfur and brine springs, which are well known in antiquity and have a temperature of over 30 ° C, which were commissioned from 1871 to 1872 by Ismail Pasha (1830–1895) were revised. Due to the greater distance to the Nile, the humidity is very low. Ailments such as rheumatism, kidney diseases, lung diseases, skin diseases and catarrhs ​​were treated with therapeutic and bath treatments, in the winter half-year from about mid-October to mid-May.

Wilhelm Reil-Bey
The discovery and establishment of the spa went to the German doctor Dr. Wilhelm Reil-Bey (1820–1880) who wrote on April 8, 1820 in ThuringianSchönewerda saw the light of day. He passed his high school diploma in School gate and then studied medicine at what was then Friedrichs University in Halle (Saale), at which he wrote in 1845 De varice aneurysmatico was awarded a doctorate. In the following years he worked in Halle as a general practitioner, homeopath and university lecturer. Between 1856 and 1860 he published the magazine Journal of Pharmacodynamics, Toxicology, and Therapy out. In 1858 he moved to Egypt. In 1859 he found the sulfur-containing springs in what is now Helwan and founded a pulmonary hospital, the Pension and sanatorium for breast patients. Since 1872 he was the first physician to be a personal physician for the Khedives Ismail Pasha, the viceroy of the Ottoman province of Egypt, and received the Turkish title Bey. He died on January 14, 1880 in Helwan. Even today one of the main streets reminds that Shāriā Rāil, Arabic:شارع رايل, To the “city” founder.[1] It is not surprising that he also appeared as a travel book author.[2]

The city was laid out almost like a drawing board at the foot of the Gebel Ṭura, the streets intersected at right angles. In order to be able to green the desert area, even the mother earth had to be brought in. In the north there was a racecourse and a golf club. On the Gebel Ṭura an observatory (Khedivial Astronomical Observatory, 1903-1904) was built. In the east, the Mīdān Ibrāhīm and in its place a Japanese garden was laid out in the 1920s.

But that was to change after the revolution of 1952. The newly built iron and steel works, textile and cement factories, powered by the current of the Aswan Dam, robbed the city of any chance of continuing to exist as a spa. The ores come from the western desert, mainly from el-Manāgim in the east of el-Baḥrīyawhile the fumes settle on the city. The former British Air Force Base - laid out at the beginning of the 20th century - is now used by the Egyptian Air Force.

On April 18, 2008, the governorate was established by presidential decree Gīza redistributed and among other things the governorate Ḥelwān newly formed. Ḥelwān was (of course) its capital.[3] However, the governorate was repealed on April 14, 2011.

Before the First World War, the city had about 8,000 inhabitants,[4] In 1990 around 230,000 people lived here and around 619,000 in 2006.[5]

Around the city, south of the present-day Hadāʾiq Hilwān settlement, there were expanded areas in the 1940s and 1950s 1 graveyards Found from the pre-dynastic and early dynastic times as well as from the Old Kingdom and researched under the direction of Zaki Yusif Saad (1901–1982). It was not until 1997 that excavations began under the direction of Prof. E. Christiana Köhler at Macquarie University in Sydney and the university Vienna continued.[6]

getting there

City map of Helwan

With the metro

The easiest way to get to the city is with the Cairo Metro, Line 1, which is the terminus 1 Helwan(29 ° 50 '56 "N.31 ° 20 ′ 3 ″ E). Before that there are the stops (from the north) 2 Hadayik Helwan(29 ° 53 ′ 50 ″ N.31 ° 18 ′ 14 ″ E), Gardens of Helwan,, 3 Wadi yard(29 ° 52 ′ 45 ″ N.31 ° 18 ′ 48 ″ E), 4 Helwan University(29 ° 52 ′ 9 ″ N.31 ° 19 ′ 13 ″ E) and 5 Ain Helwan(29 ° 51 '45 "N.31 ° 19 ′ 30 ″ E). The price for one trip is LE 2 (as of 9/2017). The drive from downtown Cairo to the final stop in Helwan takes about 40 minutes.

By bus

The new one is about 600 meters northwest of the metro terminus 6 Bus station for buses and microbuses (الموقف الجديد‎, al-Mauqif al-Hadid).

mobility

A 2 Railway and car bridge across the Nile to Saqqara in the south of Helwan enables a quick change to the west bank.

Tourist Attractions

Japanese garden

The main attraction is certainly that 3 Japanese gardenJapanese garden in Helwan in the encyclopedia WikipediaJapanese garden in Helwan in the media directory Wikimedia CommonsJapanese Garden in Helwan (Q20404979) in the Wikidata database(29 ° 50 ′ 55 ″ N.31 ° 20 ′ 25 ″ E), Arabic:الحديقة اليابانية‎, al-Ḥadīqa al-yābānīya, „Japanese garden“, Orجنينة أربعين حرامي‎, Ǧuneinat Arbaʿīn Ḥarāmī, „Garden of the Forty Robbers“, In the area of ​​the former Ibrāhīm Square, a rather strange, exotic oasis in the middle of Egypt. It is open in summer from 9 a.m. to midnight and in winter from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., the entrance fee is LE 10 (locals) or LE 20 (foreigners) (as of 2019). The garden is easy to get to: just walk or drive straight ahead from the metro station building. The garden, which is around 200 by 200 meters in size, was laid out in the 1920s and restored in 2008 with funding from the Japanese embassy. Twelve years later he was in bad shape again. Dhū ’l-Fiqār Pasha (Zulfugar / Zulficar Pasha), who also built the Andalusian Garden in el-Gazīra in 1917 suggested the construction of this garden as a gift for Sultan Husein Kāmil.[7] From the entrance in the west, a central promenade leads to the east end of the garden. On either side are Japanese-style gardens with figured trees, winding paths, canals and bridges, Buddhas and pagodas. Of course there are also cherry and maple trees. The whole garden is shaded, visitors can picnic on the benches, but also on the lawn, and the children can play. In the southeast there is a large artificial pond with 30 statues of Buddha set up on the bank. In close proximity there is a shelter on a hill from which you have a good view of the surrounding area.

Promenade in the Japanese Garden
Buddha statues in the Japanese garden
Pagoda in the Japanese garden
Green areas in the Japanese garden
Head of a deity in the Japanese garden

To the east of the garden is the former and now dilapidated building on a hill 4 Spa hotel el-Hayāt or the later King Fuad Sanatorium for people with lung disease with its lounge halls and covered walkways.

While strolling through the city, the original buildings can still be seen in some places between the timelessly ugly new buildings Villas - or what is left of them - visit.

Former spa hotel el-Hayāt
Old villa in Helwan
Garden in front of the wax museum

Museums

The 5 Wax museumHelwan Wax Figure Museum in the Wikipedia encyclopediaHelwan Wax Figure Museum (Q13635773) in the Wikidata database(29 ° 51 '36 "N.31 ° 19 ′ 33 ″ E), Arabic:متحف الشمع‎, Matḥaf ash-shameʿ, „Wax museum“, About 100 meters southwest of the Ain Helwan metro station, has been closed indefinitely for years for renovation. A few replicas of the President's statues Gamal Abd en-Nasser (1918–1970), Tutankhamun, from the Viceroy Muḥammad ʿAlī (1769–1849) and by the poet Aḥmad Shawqī (1868–1932, the original of the latter is in his museum in el-Gīza) are exhibited in the museum garden. In the museum you would have scenes like death Cleopatra VII (69–30 BC) and the meeting of Ṣalāḥ ed-Dīn (1137 / 1138-1193) and Richard the Lionheart (1157–1199) can marvel at. The responsible director of the museum, Madame Asmāʾ, Tel. (0) 100 177 5418, announced in 2009 that it would be at least two to three years before the museum could reopen.

The museum is located about four kilometers west of downtown Helwan 6 King Fārūq's rest house(29 ° 50 '49 "N.31 ° 17 ′ 41 ″ E), Arabic:متحف ركن فروق‎, Matḥaf Rukn Fārūq. Fārūq had the house built here in 1941/1942. It was used as a museum as early as 1955.[8] On August 2, 2016, the museum reopened after five years of restoration. The admission price is LE 40 for foreigners and LE 20 for foreign students (as of 11/2019).

Secular buildings

South of the square Mīdān ʿUmar bin el-ʿAzīz are the former bathhouses 7 Capritage Helwan(29 ° 50 ′ 29 ″ N.31 ° 20 ′ 1 ″ E), Arabic:كابريتاج حلوان‎, Kābrītāg Ḥilwān, with the sulfur-containing sources. The buildings were built in the Moorish style in 1899 and rebuilt in 1911. The facility is still used today as a state facility for the treatment of bone and joint diseases.

Mosques

Churches

  • 9  Cathedral of St. Virgin Mary (‏كاتدرائية السيدة العذراء مريم‎, Kātidrāʾīya as-Saiyida al-ʿAdhrāʾ Maryam). Coptic Cathedral, seat of the Bishop of Hilwān, Manf [Memphis] and el-Maʿṣara.(29 ° 50 '36 "N.31 ° 19 ′ 39 ″ E)
  • 10  Church of St. George (‏كنيسة مارجرجس‎, Kanīsat Mār Girgis). Formerly a German church, today a Coptic Orthodox Church. Hall church has an altar for St. George. The wooden iconostasis has the cross above, below the representation of the Lord's Supper and below the images of six apostles each. On the left side there are portraits of the Archangel Michael and Mary, on the right side Jesus, the descent of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism and St. George. On the side walls of the hall there are portraits from the life of Christ.(29 ° 50 '59 "N.31 ° 20 ′ 30 ″ E)
  • 11  Church of the Archangel Michael (‏كنيسة رئيس الملائكة الجليل ميخائيل‎, Kanīsat Raʾis al-Malāʾika al-Ǧalīl Mīchāʾīl). Coptic Church.(29 ° 50 ′ 46 ″ N.31 ° 20 ′ 15 ″ E)
  • 12  Church of St. Menas and the Pope Kirellos VI. (‏كنيسة مارمينا والبابا كيرلس السادس‎, Kanīsat Mār Mīnā wa-l-Bābā Kīrillus as-Sādis). Coptic Church.(29 ° 51 ′ 1 ″ N.31 ° 19 ′ 18 ″ E)
  • 13  Church of Anba Antonius (‏كنيسة الأنبا أنطونيوس‎, Kanīsat al-Anbā Anṭūniyūs). Coptic Church.(29 ° 50 ′ 9 ″ N.31 ° 20 ′ 42 ″ E)
  • 15  Protestant church (‏الكنيسة اﻹنجلية‎, al-Kanīsa al-Inǧilīya), Thabit Pasha St.. Coptic Evangelical Church.(29 ° 51 ′ 0 ″ N.31 ° 19 ′ 41 ″ E)

Institutes

activities

There is another one to the northwest of the Ain Helwan metro station 1 Sulfur bath(29 ° 51 '47 "N.31 ° 19 ′ 22 ″ E), Arabic:حمام السياحة المعدني‎, Hammām as-Siyāha al-Maʿdinī, „Tourist mineral bath“Which is very popular with the locals and therefore very crowded. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the entrance fee is LE 4. The water in the irregularly shaped pool, which slopes down from the front (50 centimeters) to the back (3 meters), is normal-warm. The boys like to use the high seats on the side as diving platforms. The dress code is strict: while boys can swim in swimming trunks, girls must wear a full bathing suit. There are changing rooms. The lifeguards probably pay more attention to compliance with the custom than what goes on in the water. There are tires for non-swimmers. There is a drinks shop and a small playground. Photography is not permitted.

shop

kitchen

Fast food restaurants

  • 6  Mo’men (‏مطعم مؤمن‎, Maṭʿam Muʾmin), 9 Abdullah Pacha St. (Ragheb Pacha St.). Tel.: 16600. Sandwiches. Free home delivery.Open: Daily 10 am–3am.(27 ° 11 '24 "N.31 ° 11 ′ 29 ″ E)

Restaurants

  • 12  El Tabei El Domyati (‏مطعم التابعي الدمياطي‎, Maṭʿam at-Tābaʿī ad-Dumyāṭi), 25 El Maraghy ​​St. Tel.: 20 (0)2 2557 8148, 16015. Egyptian cuisine, salads, ful, fast food.Open: Daily 8 am–1am.(29 ° 50 '56 "N.31 ° 20 ′ 9 ″ E)

accommodation

So far there have only been simple hotels in the city. Of course, the nearby offers Cairo a much larger selection.

  • 1  New Helwan Hotel (‏فندق نيو حلوان‎, Funduq Nyū Ḥilwān), 29 Sherif St., Helwan Hamamat. Tel.: 20 (0)2 2554 8336. 1-star hotel with 31 mostly two-bed rooms, some with indoor bathroom, some with air conditioning, otherwise fan. No TV, TV in the cafe. No breakfast. No knowledge of English. Single room LE 90, double room LE 100 (as of 8/2016).(29 ° 51 ′ 0 ″ N.31 ° 20 ′ 10 ″ E)

Learn

  • 2  Helwan University (‏جامعة حلوان‎, Ǧāmiʿat Ḥilwān). The public university with 18 faculties (including engineering, economics, social sciences, medicine, pharmacy, education) was put into operation in 1975. The construction was supported by German development aid.(29 ° 52 ′ 2 ″ N.31 ° 18 ′ 55 ″ E)

health

Egypt's oldest and largest psychiatric clinic is located in Helwan.

Practical advice

Banks

trips

  • The village is north of Helwan el-Maʿṣara with the metro station of the same name and the 16 Monastery of St. Barsum of the naked(29 ° 54 ′ 9 ″ N.31 ° 17 ′ 41 ″ E), Arabic:دير القديس الانبا برسوم العريان‎, Dair al-Qiddīs al-Anbā Barsūm al-ʿUryān).
  • Excursions to the mountains in the northeast of the city are also conceivable. Gebel Maʿṣara and Gebel Ṭura served as limestone quarries in Pharaonic times. The Wādī Ḥūf and the Wādī Rischeid are ideal for nature lovers. This is located about 13 kilometers southeast of the city Wādī Garāwīin which in 1885 the dam 17 Sadd el-Kafara(29 ° 47 '45 "N.31 ° 25 ′ 55 ″ E) from the ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom (around 4th Dynasty) by Georg Schweinfurth (1836–1925) was discovered.[9]

literature

  • Baedeker, Karl: Egypt and the Sûdan: Handbook for Travelers. Leipzig: Baedeker, 1928 (8th edition), Pp. 171-174.
  • Scherer, Erich: From the Saale to the Nile: Wilhelm Reil; Pfortenser, homeopath, surgeon, balneologist, personal physician, publicist, geognostic. Halle (Saale): Pressure twitch, 2010, ISBN 978-3-940744-30-2 .
  • Shears, Jeremy; Shaker, Ashraf Ahmed: Harold Knox-Shaw and the Helwan Observatory. In:Journal of the British Astronomical Association (J. Br. Astron. Assoc.), ISSN0007-0297, Vol.125,2 (Apr. 2015), Pp. 80-93. Preprint, May 10, 2013.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑Pflugradt-Abdel Aziz, Elke: La cité thermale d’Helwan en Egypte et son fondateur, Wilhelm Reil-Bey. In:Revue du monde musulman et de la Méditerranée (REMMM), ISSN0035-1474, Vol.73 (1994), Pp. 259-279.
  2. ↑Reil, Wilhelm: Egypt as a winter stay for the sick: at the same time a guide for Cairo and the surrounding area. Braunschweig: Westermann, 1859. – Reil, Wilhelm: The sulfur thermal baths of Helouan near Cairo in Egypt and Helouan as a sanitarium for breast patients. Cairo: Delbos Demouret, 1874. Published in the second edition by Emanuel Heltzel in 1888.
  3. ↑Leila, Reem: Redrawing the map (Archived version of May 2, 2008 in the Internet Archive archive.org), Article in Al-Ahram Weekly, April 24, 2008.
  4. ↑Baedeker, Egypt and the Sûdan, loc. cit., p. 173.
  5. ↑Population according to the 2006 Egyptian census, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics Cairo, accessed June 5, 2014.
  6. ↑Saad, Zaki Y [usef]: The excavations at Helwan: art and civilization in the first and second Egyptian dynasties. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1969. – Koehler, E. Christiana: Helwan. Heidelberg, Rahden: Heidelberg Orientverl., Leidorf, 2005, Studies on the archeology and history of ancient Egypt: SAGA; 24, 25, 26. So far the following volumes: 1: Excavations in the early dynastic cemetery; season 1997/98 (2005), 2: The early dynastic and Old Kingdom funerary relief slabs (2009), 3: Excavation in operation 4, tombs 1 - 50 (2014).
  7. ↑El-Messiri, Nawal: A Changing Perception of Public Gardens, in: Bianca, Stefano; Jodidio, Philip (ed.): Cairo: Revitalizing a Historic Metropolis, Turin: Umberto Allemandi & C. for Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2004, pp. 221-233.
  8. ↑El-Adawi, Reham: The remains of those days (Archived version of February 28, 2003 in the Internet Archive archive.org), Article in Al-Ahram Weekly, September 12, 2002.
  9. ↑ Schweinfurth, Georg: Sur une ancienne digue en pierre aux environs de Hélouan, in: Bulletin de l’Institut Egyptia (BIE): sér. 2, Volume 1885,6 (1886), pp. 139-145, two maps. - Garbrecht, Günter; Bertram, Heinz-Ulrich: The Sadd-el-Kafara: The oldest dam in the world (2600 BC), Braunschweig: Leichtweiss-Institut für Wasserbau der Technische Universität Braunschweig, 1983, (communications / Leichtweiss-Institut für Wasserbau der Technische Universität Braunschweig; 81). - Kamil, Jill: The world's oldest dam (Archived version of September 17, 2004 in the Internet Archive archive.org), Article in Al-Ahram Weekly, September 16, 2004.
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