Algeria is the vast expanses of the desert Sahara, the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, impressive mountain ranges, oriental flavor and a vibrant mix of different cultures.Many sights of Algeria were formed under the influence of different peoples, religions and civilizations. Beautiful mosques, extraordinarily ancient fortresses, mysterious ruins of ancient cities, rock towns and other interesting places amaze the imagination of visitors to the country, and even sophisticated travelers will find something to see in Algeria. Currently, there is not a large influx of tourists to the sights of Algeria – tourism is under development here, but despite this, excursions in Algeria today are very exciting and informative, and accompanied by an experienced guide in Algeria, there is an opportunity to explore each monument slowly and thoroughly. Hotels in Algeria are classified based on the availability of a certain set and quality of services. There are a lot of hotels operating on an economical “bed and breakfast” system, but there are also hotels of world-famous hotel brands offering a full range of services at the highest level.
Next, the readers are presented with a rating of the best attractions, which will help plan the route of a future trip.
What to see in Algeria first of all
An overview of the main attractions of Algeria is based on popular travel guides, reviews from real travelers, and helps to find answers to questions: what to see in Algeria in 1 day, where to go in Algeria so that the trip is 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. The Old Casbah of Algeria
Panorama of the old part of Algiers Yves Jalabert
In the old part of Algiers there is a Kasbah full of mysterious alleys and dark dead ends. In general, the word “Kasbah” in Algeria refers to many citadels located throughout North Africa. But it was the old Kasbah that was included in the UNESCO list in 1992. It represents a unique view of the Islamic citadel, behind the walls of which you can see ancient mosques, palaces and houses.
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2. Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa
Cathedral of Notre Dame de’Afrique or Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa
On the rocky coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at an altitude of 124 meters, stands the main religious landmark of Algeria – the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa. There is a belief that the idea of erecting a temple came to two residents of Lyon, who once installed a small sculpture of the Virgin Mary here, in the hollow of an olive tree. The cathedral itself, built in 1872, is decorated in an architectural style combining Roman and Byzantine motifs.
Official website: https://dailygospel.org
3. The 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 among the first places to visit in Algeria. The history of the city, located on the border with Tunisia, goes back to ancient times, it was repeatedly renamed and passed into the possession of different civilizations. The unique feature of the city is its location among spectacular gorges, rocks and cliffs, through which numerous bridges are laid at an altitude of several hundred meters.
4. St. Augustine’s Basilica in Annaba
Facade of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Annaba ismail soytekınoglu
This temple dating back to 1900 is the main attraction of Annaba. According to legend, it was here that St. Augustine rested, and now his relics are kept inside the basilica. The saint was especially famous for organizing the Christian trend of Augustinism, and his works produced a real revolution in theology. From an architectural point of view, the basilica is unique in its mix of different styles. Inside it there is a small altar with a sculpture of St. Augustine, which preserves 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 Ketshava Mosque, 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 has been converted into a mosque.
See the beautiful places of Algeria in this wonderful video!
6. Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque
Side view of the Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque Noureddine Gori
There is something to see in Algeria, among other oldest shrines – one of them is the Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque, the oldest building in 1082, built in the era of the ancient emirs. The building is constructed in the form of an irregular pentagon, has a rich decoration in the form of carved ornaments and many decorative arches. It was this finish 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 country’s independence in the middle of the 20th century. The 92-meter-high structure can be viewed from almost anywhere in the city. The author of the monument was a sculptor from Poland, Marjan Konecny. His creation imitates 3 palm leaves that soar skyward. Uniting at the top, they create a kind of dome, under which the eternal flame burns. At the very top there is an observation deck, from where there is something to see in Algeria from a bird’s—eye view – beautiful city panoramas and sea views.
8. Mzab Valley
Mzab Valley – five fortified settlements – Ksurov
This Algerian landmark is located in the northern part of the Sahara and is notable for its unusual fortified settlements — Ksuri, which were founded by Berber Muslims who fled religious persecution. These towns are characterized by extremely simple architecture, which is maximally adapted to the conditions of this region. All the houses are built in a circle, forming concentric circles radiating from the mosque.
9. The Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania
Mausoleum of Juba II and Cleopatra Selena II
About 80 kilometers from the capital, on the seashore, there is a small town of Tipaza. It conceals an ancient Christian burial site, 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, the name “Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania” has been established in English.
10. The type of
Ruins of a Roman city in Tipaza
The town of Tipaza itself is one of the great attractions of Algeria. The ruins of ancient settlements are hidden here, which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as evidence of a vanished 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 epochs 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 Timgada are about 2,000 years old. The city, built in a desert area, served as a military colony for several hundred years and became one of the sources of the birth of Christianity. It was the sands of the desert Sahara that covered the abandoned city that partially preserved the buildings of the city to our times.
12. Kala Beni Hammad
Ruins of an ancient city on the background of snow-capped mountains Fdebbi
The ancient city of Beni Hammad preserves the remains of the first capital, founded in 1007. Kala Beni Hammad is an ancient landmark of Algeria, which is an amazing ancient fortress among the high mountains. Its fortress walls stretch for 7 kilometers, and behind them are palaces, minarets and a mosque. It is especially worth noting the beauty of the Lighthouse of Light Castle, located at the very peak of one of the rocks.
13. The ancient Roman city of Cemila
The ancient Roman city of Djemila is a fortress city in Algeria harmony lameche
One of the largest Roman ruins in North Africa was left by the ancient city of Cemila, which has become an open-air museum these days. 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 the height of 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 participated in its construction.
15. Jurjura National Park
The green area of the Giurgiura Amine National Park.Bentoutah
In addition to numerous historical monuments, there is something to see in Algeria and among the natural attractions. Among them, the Jurjoura National Park in northern Algeria 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 Algeria
This part of the review provides recommendations on which other sights of Algeria are worthy of attention. We will talk about natural monuments, a brief description of which will give the first idea about them.
16. Tassilin-Ajer Plateau
Mountain formations on the Tassilin-Ajer plateau
In the south-east of Algeria, the Tassilin-Ajer mountain plateau stretches about 500 kilometers long. Erosion has formed more than 300 natural arches here, the ridge is also cut through by dried-up riverbeds of former rivers and numerous caves. Stunning views open from the height – stone arches and pillars, mysterious shadows, sheer cliffs, gaping holes of caves. In some places, ancient drawings depicting people, animals and life stories have been preserved in the rocks. These drawings are 6-8 thousand years old.
17. Ahaggar Highlands
A 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 Takhat, reaches a height of about 3,000 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 was bizarre rocks of various unusual shapes, basalt walls, huge boulders and a lot of other natural formations.
18. Thermal springs Hammam Mescutin
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 thermal spring Hammam Meskutin at an altitude of about 200 meters, which has unique healing properties. There are springs with boiling water saturated with minerals, the temperature of which is 95-98 degrees. It is believed that its beneficial properties make it possible to heal almost all known diseases.
19. Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains – Progskynet Mountain Range chain
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 subtropical. The north and west of the valley are covered with dense picturesque forests, and in the south and in the interior the climate is more arid, cereals, wormwood and grasshopper take root well here. The long-standing inhabitants of these places are Berbers, who have adapted perfectly to local conditions and built entire mountain villages here.
20. The Sahara Desert
The 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 clay-sand towers appear every now and then along the way. But even deep into the desert you can get by bus, there is a road. Once in ancient times, green gardens bloomed in these territories, lush vegetation grew, but the changed climate also led to drastic changes in the landscape, replacing the sea of greenery with endless sandy expanses where dry hot winds walk.
The sights of Algeria described in this article are only a small part of the riches that this amazing land conceals. To understand its secrets, it will take 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 in your memory. Read also about the best sights of Malta and get inspired for your further journey through Asia!
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