Tlemcen (Algeria)

The city of Tlemcen:

The city of Tlemcen is located in the northwest of Algeria 170 km southwest of Oran, 520 miles southwest of Algiers, Morocco and the border 76 km east of the city Moroccan of Oujda. Tlemcen, erected in the hinterland, is distant 40 km from the sea.

 The city is the capital of the province of Tlemcen. Its name comes from the Berber Tala imsan, the name is sometimes spelled Tlemsan or Tilimsen, the city is also nicknamed "The Pearl of the Maghreb" or "The City of Cherries".

 Area: 9061 km2 Number of municipalities: 53 Number of daïras: 09 Name daïras: Maghnia Remchi, Ghazaouet Nedroma, Mansura.

 Main towns: Fetah Ain, Ain Fezza, Aïn Ghoraba, Ain Kebira, Ain nehala, Aïn Tallout, Ain Youcef, Amieur, Azails, Bab El Assa, Beni Bahdel, Beni Boussaid Beni Mester, Beni Ouarsous, Beni Semiel, Beni Snous, Bensekrane, Bouhlou, Chetouane, Dar Yaghmouracene, Djebala, Aricha, El Bouihi, El Fehoul El Gor, Fellaoucene, Ghazaouet, Hammam Boughrara, Hennaya, Honaine, Maghnia, Mansoura, Marsa Ben M'Hidi, Msirda Fouaga, Nedroma, Oued Chouli, Ouled Mimoun Ouled Riyah, Remchi, Sabra, Sebaa Chioukh, Sebdou, Abdelli Sidi Sidi Djillali, Sidi Medjahed, Souahlia, Souani, Souk El Khemis, Souk Tlata, Tianet, tirni Beni Hediel, Tlemcen Zenata

. Relief: continental climate; Traras mountain chains, mountains of Tlemcen, Sebdou; Lsser wadis, Tafna; rainfall 500 mm / year.

The Place to visit Tlemcen

From a distance the Minaret of Mansura

The Remains of Mansura Tlemcen

The historical site of Mansura is a place to visit during your stay in Tlemcen. Currently there are only the northern and western parts of the city walls and the mosque.

The walls, a development of four meters, delineated an area of 100 ha. Mud, thick 1.50 m high and 12 m, flanked by 80 towers, they nearly disappeared in the east and south.

Mansura mosque was built around 1303 by Sultan Abu Yacoub. At his death the construction works are suspended and will resume when the year 1336.

The mosque occupies a rectangle 60 meters wide and 86 meters long. The entrance of the main mosque at the base of the minaret. The yard is 30 square meters wide. The walls of 1.50 m thick are made of stone rose siliceous.

The Citadel El Mechouar Tlemcen

The main entrance to the Citadel El Mechouar is located rue Commandant Ferradj.

The Citadel El Mechouar built in 1145 by Abd El Moumen Ben Ali of Almohad dynasty was a place of military camp during the siege Almoravide Agadir towards the middle of the eleventh century. Yaghmurasen Ibn Zyan founder of the dynasty left Qasr el el Qadim, it transferred his residence in this place became the seat of kings Zianides (beni Abdeloued) at the end of the thirteenth century.

His successors built there mosque, palace (Dar al-Mulk, Essourour Dar Dar Abi Fihr, Dar el Abu Tachefine). The enclosure was built later by the 13th ruler, Abu el Abbas Ahmed. Citadel and garrison under the Turks, it served as a refuge for families couloughlis in 1670. The French troops entered the citadel in 1836.

After the Treaty of Tafna, Emir Abdelkader occupied it from 1836 to 1837. He was reoccupied by the French military in 1842. A few years after they began to raze the palace Mechouar who had survived and aménagèrent barracks.

The Citadel is imposing its unique structure; its eastern side, apparently high, rests on a hill overlooking the neighborhoods' Hawma "of Mellala and Rhiba and other slums, overlooking the North Eastern plain. As for the north and north west sides, they were drawn along the water table.

The main entrance was probably a drawbridge bridge called Bab El Bounoude. It is clear in the South, the walls are high relative to the outside at ground level, which with time and embankments, won a remarkable rise from its current level.

This monument, during the long reign Ziyanid has expanded greatly, transformations and enrichments in several stages by a variety of buildings, outbuildings, annexes and other buildings like the two Bastions Style Ziyanid round columns that continue to this days.

Despite the destruction of the large building by colonization and of all the East wall, which is the current Mustapha area, space is still imposing.

Mechouar, famous citadel, has gained fame and played a key role in all areas: political, social, military and others. Worthy of its etymology, "The Place of Mouchawara" or advisory boards, it was still the residence of the central government.

Again, it must research to inform its true role. Configuration, continues to deteriorate gradually by the disregard of its prestigious past. The remains of a royal palace come to see the day after digging the ground. Leave traces appear splendid mosaics and small ponds decorated with marble trim.

The walls of the top indicate the presence of the Andalusian art (Cordoba) through decoration fragments. All refined masterpiece was disfigured to serve after his dismemberment, vulgar Méchouar dependencies as a colonial barracks.

All of its interior works was destroyed, except for its minaret and its mosque, which, in turn, was converted into a chapel.

In 1942, this was a premeditated act of desecration decided by the French military engineering: in order to strip the walls of their natural plastering, which removed all the charm of its historic setting and has merely made perspective discrediting of their authors.

In this global destruction, only a small strip from the top of two famous round towers and part of the walls jealously guard their original coating. They are visible in front of the Maghreb hotel in the height of the old street of Sidi Bel Abbes.

Previously available battlements and battlements, exuded an artistic symmetry strongly inspired by the Andalusian aesthetics. His identity is recognizable on the walls of the old Córdoba. The act in question was dictated by denaturalization intentions.

Plateau Lalla Setti Tlemcen

Must-see destination when visiting Tlemcen Plateau Lalla Setti dominates the city of Tlemcen to 1000 meters above sea level offering breathtaking panoramic views of the entire city of Tlemcen.

Plateau Lalla Setti Tlemcen is connected to the city center by a recently completed car. This means that air transportation through the city of Tlemcen from the large pool to the plateau terminus. For a ridiculous price of 20 AD, this modern equipment can transported up to 2 000 passengers / hour to the new waterfront perched at 1000 meters altitude.

At Lalla Setti is particularly the new Mujahid museum, amusement park, the 5-star Renaissance, an artificial lake fed naturally composed of two basins separated by a ford is equipped with paddle boats that delight children .

Not far from the tray is the forest of the Petit partridge to the delight of hikers.

Bab El Qarmadine Tlemcen

Bab El Qarmadine, also called Gate Tuliers is one of the remains of the walls of Tlemcen located at the Independence Avenue. This monument is famous Tlemcen because it is here that Yaghmoracen has escaped being murdered by the head of his Christian garde ...

Mosque Sidi Boumediene

Mosque Sidi Boumediene is located in the district of El Eubbad, the mosque was built in 1339 (739 AH) by the Marinid Sultan Abu Hassan Ali says "black sultan."

 The tomb of Saint Sidi Boumediene is close, forming a complex consisting in particular of a madrasa built in 1347, a small palace (Dar Es Sultan), a zaouia, steam room and latrines dating from the same period .

El Ourit

The History of Tlemcen: 

Located 800m above sea level, Tlemcen (Berber sources) on the proximity to the sea has a temperate Mediterranean climate and highly diversified natural resources. Receiving heavy rains its very fertile soil ensured population settlement from the earliest times. Human occupation of Tlemcen and its region had held since the beginning of time.

Its position at the crossroads of major roads connecting western Algeria in Morocco and the Sahara tell, was predisposed to provide a forum for exchange between urban and rural communities complementary, pastoral and agricultural.

After a prehistoric period, a period Numidian especially with the reign of Syfax Berber king, with its capital Siga, came the Roman period. The Romans gave it the name of Pomaria (orchards), the city was 32-430 AD a fortified post held by a Roman cavalry scouts at the western end of the Limes Africa.

In the 7th century, the Islamic period begins: it is 671 that is the beginning of the permanent occupation of North Africa by the Arabs. The Muslim conquest reached Tlemcen in 675 and 790, Tlemcen is occupied by Idrissistes of Fez.

In 1079 began the Almoravid period with Youcef Ibn Tachfine its founder and his son Ali Benyoucef, it will be followed in 1143 by the Almohad period Abdelmoumène founded by Ben Ali, during which asserts its economic expansion.

Tlemcen good times is the 13th to 16th century under the prestigious dynasty Zianides. This dynasty will group in the Central Maghreb, territories ranging from Moulouya beyond Oujda to Bejaia meridian. Tlemcen was then the capital of central Maghreb with King founder Yaghomracen (1236-1283), Abu Said Othman Abu Ziane 1 Abu Tachfine.

All government and official buildings was built at the Mechouar, large square of downtown Tlemcen surrounded by imposing walls. Scientific activity is developed through both the reputation of many scientists and scholars and also to the patronage of some princes.

Due to its geographical position, Tlemcen developing its economic relations with Africa and Europe; the capital is a large shopping center with a free area of El Kessaria. Similarly, the city hosts the Muslims of Andalusia and the Jews expelled from Spain, headed by the famous Rabbi Ephraim Enkaoua. She then reached a population of 100,000 inhabitants considerable sum for the time.

Although she often had trouble with its western neighbors, the city was besieged twice by Méridines (1299-1307 and 1335-1337) who erected mosques Haloui Sidi Sidi Boumedienne, the Mosque and the Palace of the victory at Mansoura: Pure jewels of Arab-Muslim architecture Tlemcen.

But the whole thing to an end the dynasty zianide disappears XVI th century Tlemcen is attached to the Regency of Algiers. To begin her bad days, as evidenced by the popular poet Ibn Msaib which exalts the XVIII th century, in dark elegies. It reappears for a fleeting light when the Treaty of 1837 recognizes Tafna Tlemcen among the territories under the sovereignty of the Emir Abd El Kader.

The colonial period began in 1842 with the definitive occupation of Tlemcen by the French in 1962 and ends with the independence of Algeria.

In the glory days of his past, Tlemcen be today the reliquary of Muslim art in Algeria. Apart from that it has retained a full population of urbanity, morals and exquisite and colorful traditions, according specialists would be its Mosques, among the most beautiful in the Muslim world. Since independence, the city became a major project, works for his future worthy of its past.

Established in 1974 with only two channels and a small number of students in higher education has grown considerably. Tlemcen became a university town in 1989, with an enrollment of 5,000 students, staff always expanding, and 7 institutes currently reaching 15,000 students, divided into six faculties, geographically located mainly around three areas; Imama, Chetouane and Bel-Horizon.

Today, Tlemcen is an economic and cultural scale very important, thanks to the various development plans made.

At the dawn of the 21st century, the city of Tlemcen, with its human, natural resources and geo-strategic position, contributes greatly to the momentum and the emancipation of our people.

The Beaches of Tlemcen

The Beach of Rachgoun

The Madrid Beach

Beach Marsat Ben Mhidi

video on the city of Tlemcen

Sidi Bel Abbes (Algeria)

City of Sidi Bel Abbes

Sidi Bel Abbes wants to show increasing its tourist potential. This city which is nicknamed "The little Paris" has something spellbound. It remains deeply marked by its urbanism that has suggested to Napoleon III during his visit (May 1865): "It's a lil Paris! The styles of the second half of the nineteenth century there are noticeable. This is an open-air museum. There are large shady avenues lined with beautiful buildings including castles, Châtelets, administrative buildings and mansions beautifully made. Sidi Bel Abbes is an airy city where the walk takes us from one discovery. Among the recommended monuments include the office of the Town Hall, built in 1875, with its imposing facade, the old church, the gatehouse Lomet to the more sober lines, which currently houses the School of Fine Arts, the Napoleon Castle Square November 1st (ex-Carnot) which is the center of the city and is flanked by the theater, on one hand, and the court, on the other hand, with its center in a nice booth that decorates the 'reigning atmosphere. There was also the dome, built in 1954 to serve the wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, and public garden containing rare species introduced from layout and a set of equipment. A first artificial beach, nationally, will be located at the lake Sidi M'hamed Benali, located in the town of Ain TLID, 3 km from the town of Sidi Bel Abbes. This artificial beach will last a lake with an area of 7700 square meters and a depth of between 80 cm and 1 meter. The project is supported by the local management of hydraulics, which will undertake all the amenities and will transfer the lake water to the artificial beach, processing and installation of adequate equipment to create mini waves . The creation of this artificial beach is part of a project to build a leisure center on this natural site, which drains, especially during weekends and holidays, hundreds of visitors, looking for a place to rest and tranquility. Located three kilometers from Sidi Bel Abbes, this lake, nestled at the foot of Tessala Mountains is a tourist site greatly appreciated for its beauty and its micro-climate that prevails. Many tourists who expressed their amazement at the stunning scenery and mild climate. Space of discovery and knowledge, Lake Sidi M'hamed Benali is also, for lovers of photography, a photographic base, because it is a true rich deposit in migratory birds and waterfowl such as mallard , ducks and moorhens, the flamingo, the greylag goose. Fishing trips are organized between friends, just to cut with the daily fast-paced major cities. Here, the visitor is in the arms of nature. A sort of homecoming, authenticity and beauty of the landscape. You do not see the time passing. Young and old alike can jog to fresh air and keep fit. For those who want to drink spirituality and ancient wisdom, there many brotherhoods such as El Aissaouia, Eddarkaouya El Ulwya and Tidjania located in Ras El Ma. Many delegations come to stop. Religious tourism is a major trend that transforms the global travel industry. An estimated 330 million the number of passengers who fly every year to sacred sites and places of pilgrimage. Traditionally reserved for devout practitioners leading a strict religious approach this market now affects people eager for new experiences and motivated by different aspirations. Like religion, religious tourism is becoming more individualized, is a reflection of a more modern religiosity and a more contemporary spirituality. Thus, Sidi Bel Abbes can surf three products: urban tourism, ecological tourism, spiritual tourism. Le P'tit Paris thinks big!

Largest city in the west of the country, 80 km south-west of Oran, at an average altitude of 470 m on the Mekerra the center of a vast plain between the Jebel Tessalah north and the mountains Dhaia to south, its area is around 8300km² and the number of inhabitants was 529,704 in 1998.

 originally Sidi Bel Abbes was built in a checkerboard pierced rectangular central four-door watching the cardinal points. Doors and demolished walls allowed the extension of the city where the suburbs widened steadily.

 The main arteries connecting the old doors, the street that extends Tebessi Larbi Mohamed V Avenue, the Republic Boulevard and the boulevard Emir Abdelkader former General Rollet cross at the right angle at the intersection of four clocks, geometric center of the city. The entertainment center is the place of the former Carnot 1 November 1954, which extends between the court and the regional theater, nationally renowned, Sidi Bel Abbes. The cultural center Sheikh Benghazi equipped with computer equipment allows the youth of the city to be connected with its 'cyberspace', in addition to books and other reading magazines.

 Nearly four clocks on the Avenue Larbi Tebessi the Officers' Mess (converted to complex) surrounded by cool shades, remains an attraction of the city because of its beautiful garden. The Republic Square, along the avenue Mohamed V we arrive at Martyrs Square dominated right cupola, art architecture, home to a planetarium and various shops, further north the intersection of road Oran, west of Avenue Lieutenant Khelladi leads to the district of Sidi Bel Abbes.

 The cemetery and the marabout Sidi Bel Abbes, holy character of the line of descendants of the prophet and son of Sidi El Bouzidi and who lived in the eighteenth century and left the entire region a revered memory. North Tessalah going towards the university area, home of the faculties of science and law. 

 Place Carnot

 Beni Tala Hotel

School of Fine Arts

The current Sidi Bel Abbes has become a major center radiating socioeconomic over the entire region, firstly by its rich industrial fabric of an industrial area located southeast of the city, there are two large industrial complexes (electronic and mechanical) and the small and medium enterprise (plastics, building materials, ...). The city of Sidi Bel Abbes continues to grow and is among the cities that passed its urban plan.

 The University of Djillali Liabes whose District Office is located on the former agricultural school occupies a special place in the life of the city, different scientific and cultural events are controlled by the university added to that the different interactive projects including academics associated (eco-development projects, statistics, studies, etc ...).

public garden

The Avenue Macta

 The city of Sidi Bel Abbes also has a park with rare species of trees, vegetable garden once, became the oxygen area of the city where young and old are exercised jogging, garden recently with wild animals. Adjoining the park, the outdoor theater, a relaxation area designed for cultural and musical entertainment for hot summer nights. In Macon area, north of the city, the garden and the forest house, reserve archive for history enthusiasts. Further north on the way to the foot of the Ain Trid Tessalah Mountains, Lake If M'hamed Benali, large water reservoir surrounded by a beautiful pine forest, a must for walkers spring and summer.

 Lake Sidi M'hamed Ben Ali

In reality it is not a pond, a water reservoir intended to contain and to initially control flooding of Mekerra who was Sidi Bel Abbes often swamp the taste of settlers who made their Eldorado. Sidi M'hammed - Ben Ali is powered recovering runoff from Mount Tessalah and canal diverting the overflow flood of Mekerra. This is simply a pond with stagnant water, most of the year and which is connected to the spillway dam Sarno, famous in the circle of the architecture for the originality of its daisy shaped design to eight petals. If nothing is done by Mother Nature, such waters reserves (this also applies to certain types of lakes) are doomed, and even condemned to be gradually filled by alluvial deposits that accumulate as on their funds. Excessive evaporation doing the rest, only frequent water receiving may, without a doubt, make the "lake" optimal viability and thus perpetuate the now in a natural setting, at the option of human genius. At birth it was decided to let the water take it easy to blend with nature itself - indeed welcoming. This allowed the stabilization of a particular ecosystem in the region of Sidi Bel Abbes, ecosystem formed by an association of living beings (biota) and its environment. It is a dynamic complex of micro-organisms, plants, fish, plankton that eventually settle and give life to a whole unsuspected world, though vulnerable, constantly in critical danger and easy to destabilize. It is this dynamic complex - which should have been protected - which has done to the ecosystem an unprecedented upheaval, engaging the lake in an accelerated agony and we absolutely do not accept fate, too easy parade to clear itself. Where were the environmentalists and their multiple associations, who are worried today unjustly for harvesting some carob trees on the route of the tramway, with strength and hype? Where was the university with its patented experts? These circles were alerted use their weight and their scientific arguments to oppose any work on and around the lake, knowing with certainty that we were going to a disaster foretold, while we, neophytes, had everything to deter policymakers braving the regulations since they were, at that time, no registered for the operating budget. After the catastrophe predicted with certainty and enjoying the executive change, some associations boasting ecologists, unknown to the larger number and a bag arisen conjurer, have suddenly awakened to deplore the visual degradation of the lake,, well, oh too late in adopting a new approach in the zeitgeist, gesturing for ulterior motives, reminding them how dedicated this adage: "other times, other morals" of course.