Natrun

Natrun is a town in Beheira Governorate, Egypt, located in the western Nile Delta near the Wadi Natrun, a desert depression historically rich in natron. The name derives from natron, a mineral once extracted from the area’s brine lakes and used in ancient Egyptian mummification. The region lies roughly 100 kilometers northwest of Cairo.

Historically, natron deposits in the Wadi Natrun supported local economies in antiquity and the medieval period. The valley is also known for its important role in early Christian monasticism, becoming a center of Desert Fathers’ activity and later known collectively as the Nitrian Desert or Scetis.

The area hosts several notable monasteries, including the Monastery of Saint Macarius and the Monastery of Saint Pishoy, which remain active centers of Coptic monastic life. These communities preserve ancient liturgical traditions and have long attracted pilgrims, scholars, and visitors interested in early Christian monastic heritage.

In modern times, Natrun is a sparsely populated rural locality that continues to be associated with both agricultural activity and religious tourism. The Nitrian Desert monasteries contribute to Egypt’s cultural and religious heritage, highlighting a continuity of monastic practice dating back to late antiquity.

See also: Wadi Natrun, Nitrian Desert, Monasteries of Scetis.