Join us as we explore the wonders of ancient Egypt with art historian Peter Kováč at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the pyramids of Giza. This destination is a favorite among Czech tourists, and the museum is already considered one of the most important attractions in the world, as well as a prime example of the most modern museum design.

The author of the unique six-volume series "Cathedral Builders" and the founder of the popular travel portal for art lovers www.stavitele-katedral.cz recently returned from a personal trip to Egypt. We asked him about his impressions in the following interview.

Grand Egyptian Museum

"The Grand Egyptian Museum, built for over a billion dollars, is a true marvel," smiles PhDr. Peter Kováč, who visited it as one of the first Czechs shortly after its grand opening at the end of last year. "It's as if a giant spaceship landed on the edge of the desert, just a few kilometers from the famous pyramids of Giza, bringing with it the most precious treasures that have survived from the former glory of ancient Egypt."

Practically, there is nothing to fault about the building or the exhibition. The beautiful and airy exhibition spaces allow for a natural distribution of visitors, the architecture is stunning, and it is designed with a sensitivity to both intimate and monumental works of ancient Egyptian art. There is even a whole "street" dedicated to restaurants and bars for tired visitors. One establishment offers a buffet where you can eat practically anything for $17.

The ticket is valid for the entire day, so you can easily return to a restaurant after exploring more of the secrets of ancient Egyptian art. The only thing missing is a representative bookstore dedicated to Egyptology. Souvenir shops do not offer anything like that. I was looking forward to browsing the latest book by Miroslav Verner about the pyramids, which was published in English a few years ago in an updated and revised edition. However, the selection of specialized literature is almost non-existent.

Unfortunately, there is also no scientific catalog of the exhibition, or even a smaller illustrated tourist guide with a selection of the main exhibits. However, that is the only criticism. Everything else at the Grand Egyptian Museum is of the highest possible standard.

Ramses II greets visitors in the entrance area.

"Right in the entrance area, visitors are greeted by the colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II - an 11-meter-high, 83-ton granite sculpture. Thanks to its size, visitors can tangibly appreciate the gigantic dimensions of the museum's entrance atrium," continues Peter Kováč.

"From the statue, I headed towards the solar boat of King Khufu, a large wooden vessel approximately 4500 years old, found near the Great Pyramid of Giza. Its state of preservation is almost miraculous. The boat is over 43 meters long and 6 meters wide. It is assembled without a single nail from over a thousand pieces of cedar wood imported to Egypt from Lebanon. The most modern systems for maintaining a stable climate are used to protect this precious exhibit."

The boats are housed in a dedicated building within the vast museum complex. The organizers were clearly inspired by the presentation of the famous Swedish Vasa ship in Stockholm – special ramps allow visitors to walk around the entire barge at different levels and examine it in detail.

Experts are currently restoring a second barge from the reign of Khufu within the museum itself, which is expected to be added to the exhibition sometime in 2027 or 2028.

But there's more...

Visitors ascend the Grand Staircase to reach the historical exhibition. They can use escalators or navigate the stairs among dozens of statues of pharaohs and Egyptian gods, eventually reaching a glass wall at the top, which offers a stunning view of the pyramids at Giza.

From there, the path leads to the art history exhibition, which chronicles five thousand years of Egyptian civilization, from the first royal dynasty to the time of Queen Cleopatra. The exhibits are divided into twelve separate galleries located in a vast open space, and chronologically guide visitors from the Old Kingdom through the Middle and New Kingdoms to the Ptolemaic period.

The highlight of the program

The museum's biggest attraction is undoubtedly the section dedicated to Tutankhamun. While the collection at the old Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square was only presented selectively and in cramped conditions, the young pharaoh has a space the size of a football field at the new museum.

For the first time in history, everything that Howard Carter discovered in 1922 is on display – from the famous golden mask to the gilded sarcophagi and even dried flowers placed in the sarcophagus. The exhibits are protected by state-of-the-art "gallery" glass with minimal reflections, giving visitors the feeling of almost direct contact with the artifacts.

The entire installation is exceptionally sensitive and refined. The exhibition is not cluttered with text or digital effects; the focus is on the artistic works and archaeological finds themselves, which speak for their time.

A few practical tips to conclude

The Grand Egyptian Museum features many exhibits that were previously only stored in the archives. However, many iconic artifacts remain at the old Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo, where a more peaceful atmosphere now prevails due to the reduced number of visitors.

It's important to pay attention to the time slots for tickets to the GEM. A paper confirmation is not sufficient; a QR code is required. Tickets are practically not available for purchase on-site, and the system does not allow any exceptions.

The best way to get to the museum is by taxi. BOLT does not operate here, but UBER does. It is advisable to arrange your return journey in advance and always clarify the price beforehand.

"Despite my aversion to desert sand and Cairo smog, I now know that I would like to return to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza," concludes Peter Kováč in his report for our publication.

Ivan Černý

Photo by Peter Kováč