Tlemcen, Ancient trading city in northwestern Algeria.
Description
Tlemcen is a city in northwestern Algeria that spreads across a highland at 815 meters (2,670 feet) elevation, surrounded by mountains and orchards near the Moroccan border. The streets wind between old city walls to mosques, palaces, and winding residential quarters with courtyards.
History
Romans founded a settlement called Pomaria here in the 4th century because of the orchards and strategic location. The Almoravids captured the site in the 11th century and the Zayyanid dynasty made it the capital of their kingdom between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Culture
The old town carries the nickname Pearl of the Maghreb due to the many preserved mosques and madrasas from the Zayyanid dynasty rule. Visitors can walk through narrow lanes with traditional craft workshops, where leatherworkers and carpet weavers still use the same techniques as centuries ago.
Practical
The best visiting time falls between March and May or September to November, when temperatures are moderate and light brings out the stonework well. Comfortable shoes are important for walking the steep lanes and uneven cobbled paths in the old town.
Did you know?
The Grand Mosque from 1136 is one of Algeria's largest Islamic structures with geometric patterns and calligraphic decorations on the interior walls. The city also houses the Mosque of Sidi bel Hassan from the 12th century and the Méchouar citadel with its massive defensive walls.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Tlemcen District).
El Mechouar Palace
747 m
Mansourah Mosque
2.4 km
Great Mosque of Tlemcen
606 m
Beni Add Caves
10.6 km
Tlemcen National Park
23.5 km
Siga
44.6 kmAltava
26.7 km
Sidi Boumediene Mosque
2.5 km
El-Ourit Waterfalls
5 km
Sidi El Haloui Mosque
1.1 km
El Mechouar Mosque
675 m
Great Mosque of Nedroma
41.7 km
Albulae
48.7 km
Sidi Bel Hasan Mosque
524 m
Beni Rhenane mausoleum
43.7 km
Agadir Mosque
1.7 km
Parc d'attractions Lella setti
2 km
Ghazaouet Lighthouse
56.3 km
Ghar Boumâaza
20.2 km
Île Rachgoun Lighthouse
51.2 km
Stade Omar Oucief
48.1 km
Grand Mosque of Oujda
59 km
Oulad el Imam mosque
309 m
AquaPark Rechgoun
48.1 km
El Hadj Aissa Zoo
2.4 km
Bab Sidi Abd El Wahab
58.7 km
Bab Zir Mosque
1 km
Port of Béni Saf
46.9 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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