City Layout of Algiers
The city has three parts. The lower part or the French areas, which were erected after the demolition of the traditional quarters, when the French put up their new administrative centre. The French parts are made up of high French style buildings, with wide boulevards, theatres, cathedrals, museums, an opera and several institutions for higher learning.
Then the upper part, the old, which is known as the Kasbah, and has over the recent decades turned into almost a slum, with some of the worst living conditions in North Africa. The Kasbah was built in the early 16th century as an Ottoman fort and a palace for the local ruler, the dey.
The third part is made up of the large suburbs surrounding the city, which date to the post-colonial period. These suburbs now cover most of the surrounding Metidja plain.
Among Algiers mosques, the Grand Mosque is the oldest, dating back to early 11th century, but its minaret is more than 300 years younger. The mosque called the New Mosque is from the 17th century and interestingly shaped as a Greek cross.
Algiers also has a selection of churches, of which the Holy Trinity from 1870 is the most noteworthy. The Ketchaoua mosque was used as a cathedral from 1612 to 1845 and dates back to early 17th century. The Roman Catholic cathedral of Notre Dame d'Afrique was finished in 1872 and mixes Roman and Byzantine styles.
The University of Algiers was founded in 1879. There are also other institutions of higher education. |
