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Algeria is the vast expanses of the desert Sahara, the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, impressive mountain ranges, oriental flavor and a vibrant mixture of different cultures. Many of the sights of Algeria were influenced by different peoples, religions and civilizations. The most beautiful mosques, unusually ancient fortresses, mysterious ruins of ancient cities, rock cities and other interesting places amaze the guests of the country, and even sophisticated travelers will find something to see in Algeria. At present, there is no large influx of tourists to the sights of Algiers – tourism is in the development stage here, but despite this, excursions in Algiers today are very exciting and informative, and accompanied by an experienced guide in Algeria, there is an opportunity to examine each monument slowly and thoroughly. Hotels in Algiers are classified based on the availability of a certain set and quality of services. There are plenty of budget B&B hotels here, but there are also world-famous hotel brands that offer a full range of services at the highest level.
The following is a ranking of the best attractions for readers to help plan itinerary of the future travel.
What to see in Algiers first of all
The review of the main attractions of Algiers is based on popular guidebooks, reviews of real travelers, and helps to find answers to questions: what to see in Algiers in 1 day, where to go in Algiers to make the trip memorable and full of impressions. Of course, the first day of the tour should start with a visit to the iconic sights located in the capital of the state – the city of Algiers.
1. Old Kasbah of Algiers
Panorama of the old part of Algiers city Yves Jalabert
In the old part of the city of Algiers is the Kasbah, full of mysterious alleys and dark dead ends. In general, the word “Kasbah” in Algeria refers to many strongholds located throughout North Africa. But it was the old Kasbah that was included in the UNESCO list in 1992. It is a unique view of the Islamic citadel, behind the walls of which you can see ancient mosques, palaces and houses.
2. Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa
Notre Dame de`Afrique Cathedral or Notre Dame Cathedral
On the rocky coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at an altitude of 124 meters, rises the main religious landmark of Algeria – the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa. There is a belief that the idea of building a temple came to two residents of Lyon, who once here, in the hollow of an olive tree, installed a small sculpture of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral itself, erected in 1872, is decorated in an architectural style that combines Roman and Byzantine motifs.
Official website: https://dailygospel.org
3. City of Constantine
Scenic view of the bridges and the city of Constantine Alaa Benz
Anyone who has visited the city of Constantine will confirm that this city is definitely one of the first places to visit in Algeria. The history of the city, located on the border with Tunisia, is rooted in antiquity, it was repeatedly renamed and passed into the possession of different civilizations. The unique feature of the city lies in its location among spectacular gorges, cliffs and cliffs, through which numerous bridges are laid at a height of several hundred meters.
4. Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba
Facade of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Annaba ismail soytekınoglu
This 1900 temple is the main attraction of Annaba. According to popular belief, Saint Augustine rested here, and now his relics are kept inside the basilica. The saint was especially famous for organizing the Christian direction of Augustinism, and his works made a real revolution in theology. From an architectural point of view, the basilica is unique in its mixture of different styles. Inside it is a small altar with a sculpture of St. Augustine, which holds a particle of his relics.
5. Ketshava Mosque
Ketshava Mosque in the old city of the capital – Kasbah Brahimpic
In the heart of the capital city of Algiers is the medieval mosque of Ketshava, which is considered one of the most remarkable architectural structures in the city. Built by the Turks in 1612, Ketshava is an unusual mixture of Byzantine and Moorish styles, and over the years of its existence, it has repeatedly changed its appearance. During the French occupation, it was the Catholic Cathedral of St. Philip, and only since 1962 the building was converted into a mosque.
Check out the beautiful places of Algiers in this wonderful video!
6. Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque
Side view of Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque Noureddine Gori
There is something to see in Algiers and among other oldest shrines – one of these is the Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque, the oldest building in 1082, erected in the era of the ancient emirs. The building was built in the form of an irregular pentagon, has a rich finish in the form of carved ornaments and many decorative arches. It was this decoration that served as the basis for the development of the Baroque style in the Middle Ages
7. Monument of Glory and Martyrdom
Monument in honor of the twentieth anniversary of Algeria's independence from France Mouh2jijel
This monument was erected in Algiers in honor of the soldiers who fell in the struggle for the independence of the country in the middle of the 20th century. The building, 92 meters high, can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. The author of the monument was a sculptor from Poland Marian Konechny. His creation imitates 3 palm leaves that soar up. Combining at the top, they create a semblance of a dome, under which an eternal flame burns. At the very top there is an observation deck, from where there is something to see in Algiers from a bird's eye view – beautiful city panoramas and sea views.
8. Mzab Valley
Mzab Valley – five fortified settlements – xurs
This landmark of Algiers is located in the northern part of the Sahara and is notable for unusual fortified settlements – Xurs, which were founded by Berber Muslims who fled religious persecution. These towns are distinguished by extremely simple architecture, maximally adapted to the conditions of this region. All houses are built in a circle, forming concentric circles radiating from the mosque.
9. Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania
Mausoleum of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II
Approximately 80 kilometers from the capital, on the sea coast, there is a small town of Tipaza. It hides an ancient Christian burial, which has become an unsolved mystery for historians and archaeologists around the world. In different languages, this historical monument, created in 3 BC by order of the Moorish king, has different names – for example, in English the name “Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania” has settled down.
10. Tipaza
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Ruins of a Roman city in Tipaza
The town of Tipaza itself is one big attraction in Algeria. The ruins of ancient settlements lurk here, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as evidence of a lost civilization. The city served as the most important trading post in the Mediterranean, later it was endowed with the functions of a military base, so here you can see a lot of buildings testifying to different eras and historical events.
11. The ancient Roman city of Timgad
The ancient Roman city of Timgad in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains
The ruins of the lost ancient Roman city of Timgad are about 2000 years old. The city, built in a desert area, served as a military colony for several hundred years and became one of the origins of Christianity. It was the sands of the desert Sahara, which covered the abandoned city, that partially preserved the buildings of the city to our times.
12. Cala Beni Hammad
The ruins of the ancient city against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains Fdebbi
The ancient city of Beni Hammad contains the remains of the first capital, founded in 1007. Cala Beni Hammad is an ancient landmark of Algeria, which is an ancient fortress of amazing beauty among high mountains. Its fortress walls stretched for 7 kilometers, and behind them – palaces, minarets and a mosque. It is especially worth noting the beauty of the Lighthouse of Light castle, located on the very peak of one of the rocks.
13. The ancient Roman city of Dzhemila
The ancient Roman city of Dzhemila – a fortress city in Algeria harmony lameche
One of the largest Roman ruins in North Africa was left by the ancient city of Jemila, which today has become an open-air museum. Initially, the city had the shape of a square, in which there were many streets, and the two main ones, perpendicular to each other, divided the territory into 4 equal parts. It was a large settlement that included several temples, an amphitheater, a forum, a market, baths and much more.
14. Fort Santa Cruz
View of Mers El Kebir from Fort Santa Cruz
The ancient fort, built in 1610, has become the main attraction of the city of Oran. It is a fortification, which in the old days was part of the external defense structures. The structure with walls up to 2 meters thick was made of strong natural stone, and about 2 thousand people took part in its construction.
15. Dzhurjura National Park
The green territory of the Djurdjura Amine.Bentoutah National Park
In addition to numerous historical monuments, there is something to see in Algiers among natural attractions. Among them, the national park in the north of Algeria – Dzhurjura deserves special attention. The picturesque landscapes of this beautiful place are worth seeing with your own eyes: dizzying mountain peaks covered with dense forests, deep canyons, valleys and gorges – all this amazes the imagination of any traveler.
What else to visit in Algiers
This part of the review provides recommendations on what other sights of Algeria are worthy of attention. We will talk about natural monuments, a brief description of which will give a first idea about them.
16. Tassilin-Adjer Plateau
Mountain formations on the Tassilin-Adjer plateau
In the southeast of Algeria, the Tassilin-Adjer mountain plateau stretches for about 500 kilometers. Erosion here has formed more than 300 natural arches, the ridge is also cut through by the dried-up channels of former rivers and numerous caves. Stunning views open from a height – stone arches and pillars, mysterious shadows, sheer cliffs, gaping cave holes. In some places, ancient drawings depicting people, animals and scenes from life have been preserved in the rocks. These drawings are 6-8 thousand years old.
17. Ahaggar Highlands
High mountain range in the Algerian part of the Sahara
The highest mountain range is located in the Algerian part of the Sahara desert. Its main peak, Mount Tahat, reaches a height of about 3000 meters. The massif itself was formed over thousands of years, as the underground plates moved and as a result of active volcanic activity in this region. The result is bizarre rocks of various unusual shapes, basalt walls, huge boulders and a host of other natural formations.
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Mineral formations of various shades and shapes habib kaki 2
One of the most visited places that everyone should visit in Algeria is the unique Hammam Mescutin thermal spring at an altitude of about 200 meters, which has unique healing properties. Here, springs with boiling water saturated with minerals beat, the temperature of which is 95-98 degrees. It is believed that its beneficial properties allow you to heal almost all known diseases.
19. Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains – a chain of mountain ranges Progskynet
This is a whole mountainous country that stretches along the coast from west to east through the territories of the states of Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Its length is so great that climatic zones change on the territory of the mountains, from tropical to subtropics. The north and west of the valley are covered with dense picturesque forests, and in the south and inland the climate is more arid, cereals, wormwood and feather grass take root well here. The longtime inhabitants of these places are the Berbers, who perfectly adapted to local conditions and built entire mountain villages here.
20. Sahara Desert
Landscape of the Sahara desert
It is no secret that many travelers dream of seeing the famous Sahara Desert in Algeria. The harsh rocky desert appears in yellow-red tones, and now and then clay-sand towers appear along the way. But even deep into the desert you can get on a bus, a road has been laid. Once upon a time, green gardens bloomed in these territories, lush vegetation grew, but the changing climate also led to dramatic changes in the landscape, replacing the sea of greenery with endless sandy expanses where dry hot winds roam.
Described in this article sights of Algiers – only a small part of the wealth that this amazing land is fraught with. To comprehend its secrets, you will need more than one trip, but even in a few days you can see a lot of interesting things. Visit an ancient mosque, wander through the ruins of ancient settlements, take photos of the picturesque natural landscapes of Algeria, and these lands will conquer you, and the journey will leave a vivid mark on your memory. Read also about the best attractions in Malta and get inspired for your next trip to Asia!