Gallery
Paul Reinhart-Weber Residence
The following photos were taken by the editor on September 28, 2015, with the kind permission of the Swiss Consul in Cairo.
The text edited by Mr. Caspar Reinhart.
Paul Reinhart and his wife Lilly lived in this villa from 1938 till 1963. After nationalization of Reinhart and Co. Alexandria 1961, they left Egypt 1963 and donated there villa to the Swiss Confederation to serve as the Swiss Consulate in Alexandria .
The villa is 6300 square meters located in Saba Pasha district east of Alexandria.
To the left is the main entrance to the villa, I crossed this door for the first time in 1970 for my first visa to visit Switzerland, where the guests were received by the two famous Swiss Egyptian ladies, Rosy Hilti and Elise Bassili-Pinel.
The path is leading around the open green area, through the pergola which used to be covered with grappes and pass by the young boy statue in the centre of a small fountain.
As per Mr. Caspar Reinhart, the young boy statue is carrying the face of his younger brother Christian Reinhart and is a duplication of the same statue found in the Reinhart residence in Winterthur.
In front you will find the main villa with one upper level; this was the house of the Reinharts and later the Swiss Consul residence.
In front is a large green area which has undoubtely hosted many gatherings and happy events in the past, the highlight however was the celebration on the 1st of August 1941 of the 650th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation and the performance of he play "Guillaume Tell" of Rene Morat.
Mr. Caspar Reinhart remembers this event which was a big success as all the Swiss comunity participated in it.
The villa is surrounded by trees and flower beds. A few steps lead to the main door, and behind the villa is an annex built 1940 as a garage for two cars with two apprtments on top to house the help.
To the right at the north east corner is the second annex (photo right second row below) which is today housing the care taker family. This annex was present when Mr. Reinhart bought the villa from Mr. Buhler.
In front of the second annex and near the north west corner is the second villa (photo left second row below). This villa served as the consulate; restoration work started at some point in time but was never completed.
The rest is a beautifull garden with ficus trees, palms and flower beds all arround.
Bambo trees are found behind the small villa extending over 15 meters up high in the blue sky.
Over 50 years of generous gardening helped maintain this beauty with some additions as well.
Mr. Caspar Reinhart indicates that the flower beds and short trees in front of the house were not present before, the photo (below right) is a family photo dated 1955 which he generously contributed showing how it used to look before.
The bambo trees showen above are also a new addition.
