Quseir Fort
This fort was built by the Ottoman rulers of Egypt in the 16th century to defend the key harbor on the Red Sea coast from marauding Portuguese traders who were attempting to force entry to the lucrative trade with India and China in timber, pepper, and silk. Garrisoned until the 18th century, the fort seems to have been left to fall into disrepair ever since. These days a USAID project has restored and prepared the site for visitors. The entrance is on the main street side through a narrow tunnel, where you're sure to find some guys interested in being your unofficial guide. It's not a bad idea to have one of them along, if only to show you where the light switches are and to unlock doors. An LE5 (90¢/45p) tip at the end of the tour will suffice.
The surviving structure of the fort isn't tremendously elaborate, but a look at the displays of Bedouin cultural artifacts in the northern bastion and the trade goods in the west is worth 15 or 20 minutes. Climb the watchtower in the middle for a moderately good view of the surrounding town while the kids climb in and out of the old phosphate carts that are parked on a piece of old narrow-gauge railway line. Don't miss the pearl fishing boat or the old cannons. Expect to be out of here in less than an hour.
This fort was built by the Ottoman rulers of Egypt in the 16th century to defend the key harbor on the Red Sea coast from marauding Portuguese traders who were attempting to force entry to the lucrative trade with India and China in timber, pepper, and silk. Garrisoned until the 18th century, the fort seems to have been left to fall into disrepair ever since. These days a USAID project has restored and prepared the site for visitors. The entrance is on the main street side through a narrow tunnel, where you're sure to find some guys interested in being your unofficial guide. It's not a bad idea to have one of them along, if only to show you where the light switches are and to unlock doors. An LE5 (90¢/45p) tip at the end of the tour will suffice.
The surviving structure of the fort isn't tremendously elaborate, but a look at the displays of Bedouin cultural artifacts in the northern bastion and the trade goods in the west is worth 15 or 20 minutes. Climb the watchtower in the middle for a moderately good view of the surrounding town while the kids climb in and out of the old phosphate carts that are parked on a piece of old narrow-gauge railway line. Don't miss the pearl fishing boat or the old cannons. Expect to be out of here in less than an hour.
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