Haunted Baron Empain Palace, Egypt

Haunted Baron Empain Palace, Egypt
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
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Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, Cairo, has a long-standing reputation as one of Egypt’s “most haunted” palaces. Locals, staff, groundskeepers, tourists have verbally discussed paranormal experiences that they either encountered or experienced. I will go ahead and relate some of the stories that I gathered about this grandiose palace.

THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF BARON EMPAIN’S SISTER
One of the most persistent legends says that Baron Empain’s sister, Hélène, fell from the palace’s tower or from a window and died. Some versions say the fall was accidental; others imply something more sinister. Helene related ghostly tales to her staff. Helene complained about being touched, at times choked by an invisible entity. Some staff felt she had a poltergeist that followed her around. According to a visitor named Zahur Omar, he witnessed curtains moving on their own. Zahur also saw a book move on its own. Zahur theorized that Helene may have been pushed out the window by an unseen force. Some staff now believe that her spirit remains in the palace. Former cleaning lady Nour Alaa claims she has seen the full body apparition of Helene walking down the hallway.

SCREAMS AND DISEMBODIED VOICES
People passing the abandoned palace reportedly claim to hear screaming, arguments, strange voices and other unexplained sounds coming from inside after dark. Some versions specifically describe hearing the voices of Baron Empain and his deceased sister. Gamal Osman, a visitor to the palace says that he heard Helene’s voice in one of the rooms. Helene was saying “he doesn’t care!”

MOVING FURNITURE
Another popular story says that people outside the palace heard furniture being dragged or moved around inside, even when the building appeared to be empty.

MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS AND FIRES
During the palace’s abandoned years, witnesses reportedly saw lights flashing or appearing in rooms, while other stories describe fires or flames suddenly appearing and then going out when someone approached. Gamal Osman says because of these stories, many people believe that there is a malevolent poltergeist that haunts this palace. On one particular day, Gamal was scratched on his neck. Gamal said it was a deep scratch. Gamal says the palace reeks of evil.

THE OMINOUS PINK ROOM
One particularly creepy legend concerns a restricted pink room in the basement. According to folklore, Empain supposedly attempted to communicate with his dead sister at this location. Empain asked for her forgiveness for not saving her. Other versions associate the room with occult practices and attempt to contact other spirits. Layla Karnal a psychic medium says that the Pink Room is cursed. When Empain tried to communicate with his deceased sister and with other spirits, he opened up a portal. From that portal a demonic presence entered the Pink Room and now has full access to the palace.

OCCULT AND SATANIC GATHERINGS
In the 1990s, stories circulated that young people were conducting occult or satanic rituals inside the abandoned palace. Accounts became increasingly sensational, including tales of animal sacrifices and strange markings on the walls. Historian Mustafa Salah says that these stories have not been proven and remain as just stories. Mustafa has received reports from people that have visited the Pink Room and felt sadness and depression when entering the room.

PALACE WOMAN IN WHITE
Some modern paranormal accounts describe seeing a female apparition, sometimes characterized as a woman in white, around the balconies or upper portions of the palace. Mustafa Salah had his own encounter with the Palace Woman in White. Mustafa was looking at a painting and felt a presence behind him. He then felt soft hands that touched his arm. Mustafa was startled and turned around quickly to see a white blur quickly move to the door. Mustafa believes this was the Palace Woman in White. There are also much more elaborate stories claiming that members of the Empain family died mysteriously inside the palace, including stories involving the Baron’s wife, daughter and other relatives.

CONCLUSION
The palace was abandoned for decades, and its bizarre Hindu-inspired architecture, dark interiors and deteriorating condition made it perfect for frightening stories. When it was restored and reopened in 2020, Egyptian officials and people familiar with the site pushed back against the ghost stories. One palace director stated that the stories had been created during the building’s long abandonment. Interestingly, the ghost stories themselves have become part of the palace’s cultural history. The site is now restored and operates as a heritage attraction, but its reputation as the “Haunted Palace of Heliopolis” remains extremely popular.

HISTORY OF THE PALACE: FROM WIKIPEDIA
In 1904, Baron Édouard Empain came to Egypt with the intention of expanding his commercial empire and to build railway lines in Egypt. By 1906, the Baron hired the architect Ernest Jaspar to help create a unique aesthetic in the suburbs of Heliopolis dubbed the “Heliopolis style.” Including aspects of Persian elements to neoclassical European aspects, the newly established city of Heliopolis would become a cultural center of Egypt attracting people from all over the world. Hospitals, restaurants, banks, and stores among other created infrastructure and establishments also contributed to the allure of the newly founded Heliopolis. The Baron also held an exclusive event at his palace to celebrate its completion. The Hindu-temple-styled building housed Baron Empain as well as his wife, two sons, and an alleged daughter. According to widely spread rumors, the Baron’s daughter is said to have suffered from some kind of medical or mental condition that required her to be hidden from the outside world, as these qualities in a child were greatly frowned upon. Other legends surrounding the family imply that either the daughter or the Baron’s wife committed suicide inside the palace, which would later contribute to the belief that the Hindu Palace was haunted and inspire the ghost tourism being labeled a national monument.