Rod El Farag (Arabic: روض الفرج, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ɾoːd elˈfɑɾɑɡ]; also spelled Rawd al-Farag, or Road El-Farag) is a district in the Northern Area of Cairo, Egypt.[1] Rod El Farag neighbours the River Nile to the west, Bulaq district to the south, Shubra district to the east and al-Sahel district to the north.

Old Rod El Farag

History

Rod El Farag started to be cultivated in the 19th century, after changes in the Nile course resulted in the accumulation of silt after the annual floods, north of Bulaq creating permanent land.[2] Late-19th-century and early-20th-century maps show the village of Rod al-Farag al-Qadim, and water works and docks by the Nile.[3] As Cairo expanded north, Rod al-Farag became a sub-district of the growing Shubra suburb by the mid-20th century, becoming known for alternative open-air theatres, bars and night clubs after World War Two where the careers of many contemporary actors were launched.[2][4] They included Nagib al-Rīḥānī, ʿAlī al-Kassār, Fāṭima Rushdī, Mohamed Shukūkū, Ismaʿīl Yāsīn, Āmīna Rizq, and Marī Mūnīb.[2]

Wholesale market

In 1947, a large vegetable and fruit wholesale market was built in Rod El Farag, its economy employing many of the district's residents as traders or carriers.[5] The market, and Rod al-Farag in general, was a central character in the 1957 film Al-Fetewa (The Thug) portraying daily struggles in the market.[5] Eventually the market was relocated in 1996 near the new town of Obour on the outskirts of Cairo, and was renamed after it, while its original location has since hosted a public garden, schools and a 'cultural palace' (public cultural centre).[5][4]

Other points of interest

The world-famous El-Nozah candy shop, started in 1940. was famous for its home-made ice cream,[6] though it relocated to an area on the outskirts of Greater Cairo.

This district also contains good infrastructure, including the French school "Notre Dame des Apotres.[7]

Rod El Farag Bridge

The Rod El Farag Bridge over the Nile river, which is part of the Tahya Misr Axis crossing the Egyptian capital of Cairo, built by the Egyptian company Arab Contractors, is the world's widest cable-stayed bridge[8] built over the course of 4 years until it was completed in 2019, achieving the Guinness World Record with a width of 67.3 meters.[9][10] The 540 meters long bridge has 6 lanes in each direction, has suspension towers which are 92 meters high and 160 suspension cables to hold the bridge. Currently, it is becoming a major tourist attraction in Cairo, where visitors can cross the side pedestrian passageways which have panoramic views of the banks of the Nile and a glass floor see-through walkway where visitors can walk over the Nile.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Noethern Area". cairo.gov.eg. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  2. 1 2 3 "Shubrā". Tadamun. 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  3. ↑ "Maps". Al-Madaq. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  4. 1 2 Selaiha, Nehad (2000-04-16). "Back to Rod El-Farag". Ahram Weekly. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15.
  5. 1 2 3 زيدان, محمد على (2013-03-31). ""روض الفرج" من سوق "الفتوة" إلى قصر ثقافة -". الوطن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  6. ↑ Introduction to Egypt, Rough Guides.
  7. ↑ "Notre Dame Des Apotres – Shoubra". Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  8. ↑ http://en.wataninet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Image_9-3.jpeg
  9. ↑ "Egypt's Rod al-Farag Axis featured in Guinness World Records as widest suspension bridge". Egypt Today. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Egypt's Sisi opens mega Rod El-Farag road, world's widest causeway". Al-Ahram. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inaugurated "Tahya Misr" Axis and the Arab Contractors Company received Guinness World Records Certificate for "Tahya Misr" Bridge the World's Widest Cable Stayed Bridge". The Arab Contractors Company. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "Lifelines of Hope (documentary)". YouTube. The Egyptian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  13. ↑ "Watch: Egyptians' happiness after passing over the Rod El Farag Bridge and its glass walkway". YouTube. Dot Masr (Youm7). Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 17 May 2019.

30°04′34″N 31°14′23″E / 30.07611°N 31.23972°E / 30.07611; 31.23972

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