through time

Egypt is a destination that does not reveal itself immediately. Behind the world-famous monuments lies a complex society in which thousands of years of history, urban growth and contemporary architecture are in constant dialogue. This planopli trip explores the country not only as the cradle of an ancient civilization, but as a place where current questions about housing, climate, heritage and identity are still being shaped today.

For four days, Cairo forms the starting point of a remarkable journey through more than four millennia of history. Not as a succession of monuments, but as a search for the many layers from which Egypt is built today. The timeline begins on the Giza plateau, where the pyramids rise above the city as steadfast landmarks. From there, an increasingly rich story unfolds. In the Citadel, the Muhammad Ali Mosque dominates the skyline, while Islamic Cairo, Downtown and Heliopolis each reveal a different chapter in the development of one of the world's most fascinating metropolises.

But perhaps Cairo's greatest richness lies precisely between those familiar landmarks. Together with local architects, designers and thinkers, we look beyond the iconic images. They show a city that is constantly negotiating between tradition and modernity, between heritage and the future. In the work of Ramses Wissa Wassef and Hassan Fathy, we discover how architecture can emerge from craftsmanship, climate and community. Their projects form a powerful alternative to the universal modernization that gained ground worldwide in the twentieth century. Contemporary initiatives such as CLUSTER build on this and help us understand the complex urban reality of present-day Cairo. Art also serves as an important guide. From the understated museum of sculptor Adam Henein to the impressive Grand Egyptian Museum, where Egypt's ancient civilization is housed in an architecture that looks resolutely to the future. Throughout the journey, an Egyptologist connects the buildings, objects and landscapes into one coherent story.

After Cairo, the setting shifts to Luxor. Here, the monumental ambition of ancient Egypt becomes tangible. The Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and the vast temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor show how architecture, religion and landscape once formed one inseparable whole. Even here, the twentieth century continues to speak. In New Gourna and the Stopplaere House, we discover how modern architects have related to the same questions that have occupied Egypt for thousands of years: how to build in this climate, how to live in this landscape, how to reconcile tradition and innovation?

We travel by coach, which offers great flexibility and leaves room to pause along the way for unexpected encounters and observations. 

highlights

In Mit Rehan, the architecture of Hassan Fathy comes to life, in which local traditions have been translated into a contemporary and socially supported practice.

Édouard Empain's vision of the desert city Heliopolis unfolds in Villa Baron Empain.

Dar Al Lateef is a fascinating construction site that has stood still for more than ten years. The unfinished skeleton, the experimental brick structures and the visible building logic make the project an exceptional lesson in architecture.

Together with the daughter of Ramses Wissa Wassef, we visit The Weaving Village, where craftsmanship, education and creativity go hand in hand. 

reserve your place