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Province · Faiyum and Middle Egypt
Asyut
Assiut, in Middle Egypt: the Monastery of Al‑Muharraq and Mount Dronka, on the route of the Holy Family, and the city on the Nile’s bank.
In the photo: The Nile and Assiut’s riverfront seen from above.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Asyut
Assiut is in Middle Egypt, about 375 km south of Cairo, on a bend of the Nile. The provincial capital, Assiut, is a large city with a university and commercial activity, and it has a dam on the river.
The governorate preserves sites linked to the tradition of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. The Monastery of Al‑Muharraq, to the north, is traditionally considered by the Coptic community to be the place where the family stayed the longest. On Mount Dronka, southwest of the city, a church and a monastery were built beside the caves where, according to tradition, they sheltered; a major feast of the Virgin is held there in August.
The tombs of Meir, cut into the hills to the northwest, contain reliefs from the Old and Middle Kingdoms. Outside the towns, the governorate is made up of fields and villages along the river.
Assiut receives few foreign tourists. The route of the Holy Family attracts pilgrims, especially during Coptic religious festivals.
When to go
From October to April the days are mild. From May to September the heat is intense. The Virgin feast on Mount Dronka usually takes place in August and draws many pilgrims.
Getting there
Assiut has an airport (ATZ). Trains from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan stop at Assiut, about five hours from Cairo, and the Nile Valley road passes through the city.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Asyut
What is the route of the Holy Family in Egypt?
It is the set of sites that Coptic tradition associates with the passage of Joseph, Mary and Jesus through Egypt. Two of these sites are in Assiut: the Monastery of Al‑Muharraq and Mount Dronka.
What is the Monastery of Al‑Muharraq?
It is a Coptic monastery north of Assiut that, by tradition, marks the place where the Holy Family stayed longest in Egypt. It receives visitors at specific times: check opening times before you go.
How do you get to Assiut?
By train from Cairo in about five hours, or by plane via Assiut Airport. The city lies on the Nile Valley road, about 375 km from Cairo.
When is the Mount Dronka festival?
The Virgin feast on Mount Dronka usually happens in August and draws many pilgrims. The exact date varies: confirm before you go.