The Qasr el Nil Bridge (originally named Khedive Ismail Bridge, Egyptian Arabic: Asr el Nil Bridge), is a historic
swing bridge structure dating from 1931 which replaced the first bridge to span the
Nile River in central Cairo, Egypt.[2] It connects
Tahrir Square in
Downtown Cairo on the east bank of the river, to the southern end of
Gezira/Zamalek Island. At the bridge's east and west approaches are four large bronze lion statues; they are late 19th-century works by
Henri Alfred Jacquemart, French
sculptor and
animalier.
The previous bridge on the site, El Gezira Bridge, was a
swing bridge built between 1869 and 1871 by
Linant de Bellefonds with the participation of France's Five-Lilles Company.[3]
The foundation stone for the present Qasr El Nil Bridge was laid by King
Fuad I on February 4, 1931.[1] It was also a swing bridge, though almost double as wide as the original, and after over two years of construction, undertaken by
Dorman Long & Co. Ltd, King Fuad inaugurated the bridge's opening on June 6, 1933.[3]
The bridge was originally named Khedive Ismail Bridge after King Fuad's father,
KhediveIsma'il Pasha. After the
Egyptian Revolution of 1952, the bridge was renamed, along with other Egyptian buildings and bridges. This bridge was renamed Qasr El Nil in
Arabic, which translates to Palace of the Nile.[4]
Public use and demonstrations
The Qasr El Nil Bridge is popular for strolling in the evenings.[citation needed]
The Qasr el Nil Bridge (originally named Khedive Ismail Bridge, Egyptian Arabic: Asr el Nil Bridge), is a historic
swing bridge structure dating from 1931 which replaced the first bridge to span the
Nile River in central Cairo, Egypt.[2] It connects
Tahrir Square in
Downtown Cairo on the east bank of the river, to the southern end of
Gezira/Zamalek Island. At the bridge's east and west approaches are four large bronze lion statues; they are late 19th-century works by
Henri Alfred Jacquemart, French
sculptor and
animalier.
The previous bridge on the site, El Gezira Bridge, was a
swing bridge built between 1869 and 1871 by
Linant de Bellefonds with the participation of France's Five-Lilles Company.[3]
The foundation stone for the present Qasr El Nil Bridge was laid by King
Fuad I on February 4, 1931.[1] It was also a swing bridge, though almost double as wide as the original, and after over two years of construction, undertaken by
Dorman Long & Co. Ltd, King Fuad inaugurated the bridge's opening on June 6, 1933.[3]
The bridge was originally named Khedive Ismail Bridge after King Fuad's father,
KhediveIsma'il Pasha. After the
Egyptian Revolution of 1952, the bridge was renamed, along with other Egyptian buildings and bridges. This bridge was renamed Qasr El Nil in
Arabic, which translates to Palace of the Nile.[4]
Public use and demonstrations
The Qasr El Nil Bridge is popular for strolling in the evenings.[citation needed]