Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel

The Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel, also known as the Old Winter Palace Hotel, is a historic 5-star luxury resort hotel located in Luxor, Egypt. Situated on the banks of the River Nile, just south of Luxor Temple, the hotel offers 86 rooms and 6 suites.

History: The hotel was built in 1907 by the Upper Egypt Hotels Co, in collaboration with Thomas Cook & Son (Egypt). It was designed by architect Leon Stienon and constructed by the Italian company G.GAROZZO & Figli Costruzioni in Cemento Armato, Sistema SIACCI brevettato. During World War I, the hotel served as a hospice for convalescing soldiers. Notable guest Lord Carnarvon, a patron of Egyptologist Howard Carter, used the hotel's noticeboard to share news about Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

In 1975, the hotel was expanded with the addition of the New Winter Palace, which was later demolished in 2008. In 1996, the Pavillon, a 4-star annex with 116 rooms, was built in the hotel's rear garden. The hotel is owned by the Egyptian General Company for Tourism & Hotels and managed by Accor, a French hotel company.

Facilities: The Winter Palace Hotel features 5 restaurants, including the 1886 Restaurant, which serves French cuisine, and the La Corniche Restaurant, offering international cuisine. The Bougainvilliers, Palmetto, and El Tarboush restaurants provide a variety of international and Egyptian cuisine options. The hotel also offers amenities such as gardens, pools, tennis courts, and terraces.

Notable Residents: Lord Carnarvon, who financed Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, was a frequent guest at the Winter Palace Hotel.

References: - Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor (1907), Luxor | Historic Hotels of the World-Then&Now - The Winter Palace and Luxor Hotel: a case of mistaken identity? | Grand Hotels of Egypt