Luxor

Luxor is an Egyptian governorate located in Upper Egypt. Its districts and cities are spread along the banks of the Nile River, and its capital is Luxor, which was once the capital of Egypt during several Pharaonic periods. The governorate was established by Presidential Decree No. 378 of 2009, issued on December 9, 2009.
The governorate boasts a rare collection of archaeological sites, many of which remain remarkably well-preserved. Among the most famous are Luxor Temple, the Karnak Temples, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the mortuary temples, Esna Temple, and others, in addition to the unique artifacts displayed in the Luxor Museum. The governorate’s capital, Thebes, remained the capital of Egypt until the beginning of the Sixth Dynasty, when the capital moved to Memphis in the north.
The governorate’s name is derived from its capital, Luxor, which has had many names throughout history. The most famous were the City of a Hundred Gates, the City of the Sun, the City of Light, and the City of the Scepter (Waset). The Arabs named it “Al-Uqsur” (Luxor) because of its numerous palaces (temples). Luxor attracts a large segment of inbound tourism to Egypt, thanks to its rich human heritage that has significantly contributed to connecting the present with ancient Egyptian civilization. It was chosen as the World Tourism Capital for 2016 and the Arab Capital of Culture for 2017.
The governorate’s national day was initially celebrated on December 9th, the day of its establishment, until May 20, 2015, when the Cabinet approved changing the date to November 4th of each year. This date coincides with the anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The governorate covers an area of ​​2,959.6 km² between latitudes 25°36′ North and 32°33′ East. Administratively, it is divided into Luxor City, Al-Bayadiya District, Al-Qurna District, Armant District, Al-Toud District, Esna District, New Luxor City, and New Thebes City. It is bordered to the north by Qena Governorate, to the south by Aswan Governorate, to the east by the Red Sea Governorate, and to the west by the New Valley Governorate.