Helnan Auberge Hotel on Lake Qarun
8km after Helnan Auberge Hotel, you will find the coffee shop “Waahit ilSalaam” on your right; turn left into Ibshaway Tourist Road and go straight.
After 5km, you will arrive in Abuksah; turn right at Al Abudi Square marked by a fountain-like structure; continue straight.
You will reach Ibshaway Market situated in the heart of Downtown Ibshaway. The market begins right after the building of National Bank of Egypt on your right side; avoid taking the street on Thursdays during the busy weekly market; a minibus is the maximum vehicle size that can get through the narrow market street.
Shortly after the National Bank of Egypt, you will see El Mustafa Restaurant. It serves very clean and fresh Egyptian breakfast (foul beans and falafel).
In case you need further directions to find the restaurant, contact one of the staff Mustafa
Mobile: 01002757811.
Continue straight after El Mustafa Restaurant and you will arrive at a crossroads right at the end of Ibshaway Market; take the first street to the right to head for Nazla; then, continue straight.
From Al Abudi Square to this spot takes about 4 km.
On the way to Nazla, you will see a brick factory on the right side marked by a high and round-shape chimney; at this point, the valley of Nazla begins; continue straight.
Turn left at the square called “Kushk” marked by a fork junction divided by a triangle shape building; from Ibshaway Market to Kushk Square takes around 4 km; then go straight.
At Mousa Misar Mosque (in the shape of a Pharaonic temple with Minaret) turn left; at the curve, go left and down for around 500m and you will find the Nazla Pottery Workshops down in the valley; the entrance to the workshops is marked by pottery displayed on the road.
It takes around 4km from Kushk Square to the Nazla Pottery Workshops.
From the Nazla Pottery Workshops,
go back to Mousa Misar Mosque; right after the Mosque, turn left (going right would take you back to Kushk Square) to head for Abu Gandir and Medinet Madi; go all the way straight.
Contact of the Nazla Pottery Workshops:
BRAVO Field Project Facilitator, Hosni Younis, Mobile: 01004146582.
There are badly maintained public toilets right at Nazla Pottery Workshops.
After visiting the Nazla Pottery Workshops, continue straight on the road and drive uphill. After 1km, you will reach El Amir Tadros Monastery. 1km after the Monastery, turn right and continue straight.
5km after the Nazla Pottery Workshops, you will reach a crossroads; continue straight.
At the next crossroads, continue straight. This street is parallel to Ibshaway Market. Then go right and straight.
Next curve left and straight and at the next crossroads left and straight.
You will reach the Ibshaway Market and find on your left El Mustafa Restaurant. The restaurant serves very clean and fresh Egyptian food (foul beans and falafel).
In case you need further directions to find the restaurant, contact one of the staff: Mustafa 01002757811.
After 5km, you will arrive in Abuksah; turn left at Al Abudi Square and go all the way straight on Ibshaway Tourist Road.
When you reach the end of Ibshaway Tourist Road, go left and continue straight along Lake Qarun.
From Nazla to the beginning of the tourist road takes around 14 km.
After around 19km, you will arrive in Tunis.
From Nazla to Tunis you will cover around 33 km.
Nazla is situated about 35km northwest of Fayoum City and sits atop a picturesque valley. Cascading down the slopes towards the valley bottom are the famous open-air pottery workshops of Nazla. Their pottery making is distinguished by their remarkable and unique methods that follow the traditional techniques of the ancient Egyptian potters. Nazla products are plain, utilitarian pottery goods produced for the local market. With the appearance of cheaply priced goods, the local demand for Nazla pottery has become low. The number of workshops has dramatically decreased from more than 100 to only 12 workshops still in operation. The last remaining potters of Nazla are struggling to keep themselves and their ancient art alive.