Marsa Matruh is a port in Egypt and is located 240 km west of Alexandria, 524 km from Cairo, and 222 km east of Sallum. on the main highway from the Nile Delta to the Libyan border. Its claim to fame is its breath-taking, 7 km long Mediterranean beach.
Visitors proclaim this beach to be among the most beautiful in the world. The city is also accessible from the south via another highway running through the Western Desert towards Siwa Oasis and Bahariya Oasis. In ancient Egypt during the reign of Alexander the Great, the city was known as Amunia. In the Ptolemaic Kingdom and later during the Byzantine Empire, it was known as Paraitonion.
Visitors proclaim this beach to be among the most beautiful in the world. The city is also accessible from the south via another highway running through the Western Desert towards Siwa Oasis and Bahariya Oasis. In ancient Egypt during the reign of Alexander the Great, the city was known as Amunia. In the Ptolemaic Kingdom and later during the Byzantine Empire, it was known as Paraitonion.
During the Roman Empire, it was called Paraetonium in Latin. As a British military base during World War II, several battles were fought around its environs as the German Afrika Korps attempted to capture the port. It fell to the Germans during the Battle of Mersa Matruh, but was recaptured following the Second Battle of El Alamein.
The beach is not only acclaimed for its soft, white sands and crystal-clear waters, but for the natural bay in which it resides. A series of rocks form a wall that protects the bay from the open sea, but with a narrow passage that permits the entry of light vessels.
This beach was originally known as "Paraetonium" (as well as "Amunia"), and dates back to the days of Alexander. It is reported that Alexander the Great paused there at Siwa to pay tribute and make a sacrifice to the god Amun, facilitating his claim of being Amun's son. Thereafter his rule becomes a historical continuation of the pharaohs. At Matruh you will also find the ruins of a temple from the time of Rameses II (1200 BC).
Monument and Tourist Sites in Marsa Matruh
Egyptian Fleet Anchorage
To the west of the port stand the remains of the naval installations built by the Ptolemies.Coptic Chapel
Built in the early Coptic age, it houses several caves lined with inscriptions.Rommel's Hideout
This is the cave where Rommel drew up the plans for his military operations. Hewn in rock, it is now a military museum. |
Rommel's Hideout |
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Rommel's Hideout |
Beaches in Marsa Matruh
Ageebah Beach
This beach is about 28 km west of Mersa Matruh. It is known for its enchanting scenery and many natural caves.
Al-Abyad Beach
This beach is only about 20 km west of Mersa Matruh. Many believe it's even more beautiful than the Mersa Matruh beach.Places to Visit in Marsa Matruh
Marina Ruins - Alamein
This ancient city, the largest archaeological city dig other than Alexandria, was only discovered in 1985. It is made up of baths, tombs, temples, and nobles' houses, all dating from the Graeco-Roman period. |
Marina Ruins |