Cultural sightseeing in Algeria. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

Algeria is an interesting country with its own unique lifestyle and traditions. It is also home to numerous picturesque temples, mosques, and buildings. In different periods of time, numerous cultures were dominating in this land, creating a fantastic combination of styles and epochs. Such diversity doesn’t look tasteless. Quite the opposite, it adds special charm to this country. Travelers can see Neo-Byzantine architectural style with some Roman influences in several notable landmarks like Basilique Notre-Dame d'Afrique. This church is not only an important cultural landmark but also an operating Catholic basilica that regularly offers divine service. The church was built in the north of Algerian capital in the second part of the 19th century.

The Basilica of St Augustine is one more notable non-Muslim shrine in Algeria. This Catholic church was built by the order of French colonizers at the end of the 19th century. The basilica underwent thorough restoration more than a decade ago. The Pope wanted to bring the former glory to the basilica, so the renovation works were funded and supported by the French government. Of course, the government of Algeria gave their permission for that.

Algeria is a Muslim country, so there are many gorgeous mosques here. The Algerian city of Tlemcen is a popular tourist destination famous for its landmarks, and the Great Mosque of Tlemcen is one of them. This mosque was built yet in the 11th century. A century later, the mosque was expanded, and new buildings appeared in its territory. A hundred years later, in the 13th century, the mosque was expanded once again. Since that time, the Great Mosque of Tlemcen hasn’t changed its look. In Algiers, the capital of Algeria, it is important to mention the Ketchaoua Mosque that beautifully combines Byzantine and Moorish architecture. The mosque was built in the 17th century. Later, during the colonization period, a Catholic church opened in the mosque. Later, Algerians restored the original function of the building. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The whole city of Tipasa is an architectural landmark. Many centuries ago, it was an ancient Phoenician settlement. Tipasa had an important strategic location during the prehistoric times. Ancient Romans conquered the city and kept it as their colony for more than a century. After that, the city was destroyed and restored already in the 6th century AD. Modern Tipasa attracts tourists with ruins of ancient buildings and not with modern houses and churches. Nevertheless, numerous travelers visit Tipasa every year to wander among ruins and see what is left from gorgeous amphitheaters, temples, and baths.

There are several interesting museums in the country. First of all, this is the Cirta Museum that is open in Constantine. The museum’s exhibition is dedicated to ancient civilizations that were in some way connected with Algeria. Artifacts that date back to the reign of Masinissa are the most precious items in the collection. By the way, the building of the museum is no less interesting – it is built in accordance with Roman Greek traditions and has a beautiful garden with gorgeous sculptures.

In the capital, tourists will find it interesting to visit the Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography. It exhibits artifacts found in the Sahara Desert, such as elements of ancient ceramics, petroglyphs, and ancient pictures. There are also two halls dedicated to the indigenous people of the country. This museum offers a well-structured exhibition with numerous maps, colorful photographs, and reconstructed items that cast the light upon the household and lifestyle of people who lived in the territory of modern Algeria many centuries ago. Don’t forget to visit the Museum of Antiquities in the capital. This is the oldest museum in the city that opened yet in the 19th century. Its exhibition is dedicated to the culture and history of antiquity, the Middle East, and the Islamic world.

Multiple tourists praise the National Museum of Fine Arts that is open in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. The area surrounding the museum is incredibly picturesque – there is a wonderful garden with stairs and columns, fountains, blooming bushes, and neatly trimmed trees. The museum exhibits a collection of paintings, gravures, and sculptures created by famous masters. The exhibition also features old décor items, ceramics, glassware, ancient coins, and many other precious artifacts.