Visiting Abu Simbel

The site of Abu Simbel, remarkable in scale, carries you into the Egyptian history of Ramesses II’s reign, who ordered the construction of two temples dedicated to Osiris and Isis. Carved into two sandstone hills overlooking the Nile, the temples of Abu Simbel stand among the jewels of ancient Nubia, whose borders once stretched along the river.

Standing before the temples of Abu Simbel, one suddenly feels very small. Ramesses II had these titanic monuments carved from the rock to honour the gods… and his love for Queen Nefertari. The Great Temple, dedicated to Osiris, impresses with its four colossal statues of the pharaoh enthroned facing the Nile. At their feet, silence settles in, almost sacred.

But it is the smaller temple, dedicated to Nefertari, that moves visitors most. The fine detail of the carvings, the softness of the colours, the powerful symbolism of a woman placed on equal footing with the gods: everything speaks of love and respect. Inside, light plays across the reliefs as if to reveal their very soul.

This majestic site nearly vanished beneath the waters following the construction of the Aswan Dam. A technical feat and a worldwide effort made it possible to relocate and save it. The original location was entirely submerged by the waters of the Nile, and the new site was inaugurated in 1968.

Abu Simbel is not merely a historical site — it is an unforgettable encounter with the grandeur of Egypt and the fragility of time.