Oran.
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Overview

Oran (Arabic: وَهران, Wahran) is the second largest city in Algeria and the capital of Oran province, with more than 1,500,000 people.

Understand

Oran's beautiful sea shore, constructed under French rule, was inspired by Nice's seafront. It consists of a long boulevard lined with cafés, restaurants, and ice cream shops. The boulevard also offers a splendid view of the sea, the harbour, Santa Cruz and the cliffs ("les Falaises"). It was renamed "Boulevard de l'ALN" by the government after the independence but it is still called Front de Mer by the locals.

Present-day Oran was founded in 903 by the Azdaja and Ajissa Berbers who lived in the area. It was captured by the Castilians under Cardinal Cisneros in 1509, and Spanish sovereignty lasted until 1708 when the city was conquered by the Algerians during the Siege of Oran (1707–1708). Spain recaptured the city in 1732. However, its value as a trading post had decreased greatly, so during the reign of King Charles IV the city was recaptured in 1790-1792 by a coalition of Algerian troops against Spain which resulted in victory for the bey of Oran despite the many attempts in 1563. The beylik lasted until 1831, when the city fell to the French.

Under French rule during the 19th and 20th centuries, Oran was the capital of a département of the same name. In July 1940, the British navy shelled French warships in the port after they refused a British request to surrender; this action was taken to ensure the fleet would not fall into German hands, as the Nazis had defeated France and occupied Paris. The Vichy government held Oran during World War II until its capture by the Allies in late 1942, during Operation Torch.

Before the Algerian War, 1954–1962, Oran had one of the highest proportions of Europeans of any city in North Africa. In July 1962, after a ceasefire and accords with France, a mob attacked European neighbourhoods and massacred hundreds of Europeans in Oran, This triggered a larger exodus of Europeans to France, which was already underway. Shortly after the end of the war, most of the Europeans and Algerian Jews living in Oran fled to France. In less than three months, Oran lost about half its population.

Get in

Air Algérie (Adrar, Algiers, Alicante, Annaba, Bechar, Brussels—Seasonal--, Casablanca, Constantine, Geneva, Hassi Messaoud, In Amenas, Jeddah, Lyon, Marseille, Paris-Orly, Ouargla, Toulouse) Air France (Paris CDG, Toulouse) Iberia (Madrid) Tassili Airlines (Algiers, Hassi R'mel) Transavia (Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris ORLY) Tunisair (Tunis) Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) Vueling (Alicante, Barcelona) Volotea (Bordeaux, Marseille)

Oran is a major railway terminus with daily trains from most Algerian cities. Trains from the capital Algiers are plentiful, however, with several services daily. Other cities along the Mediterranean coast and in Northwest Algeria also have daily trains to Oran. Additional routes include an overnight train from Bechar, deep into the Sahara and about halfway from Mauritania. While a railway line continues to Morocco, the border has been closed for decades due to political conflict.

All services are operated by SNTF. Timetables are published at their website.

By boat One can also reach Oran by ferries from the ports of Marseilles as well as Alicante and Almería in Spain, via the national company Algérie Ferries or Trasmediterranea.

Get around

By foot Walking is the obvious mode of transport within the city centre.

By bus 11 Which will take you from the east to west of the city. From Hai El Sabah to Place 1er Novembre 51 From USTO UNIVERSITY to M'Dina Jdida U From Senia UNIVERSITY to M'Dina Jdida P1 From City center (Lycée lotfi) to Canastel (ORAN EAST)

By tram A single tram line runs from Es Sénia in the south to Bir El Djir in the northeast, via Place 1er Novembre. A single ticket is DA40 and can be bought at kiosks near the tram stops.

By cable car Called a 'téléphérique' in French, there are three stations that allow you to get from the old city up to Santa Cruz. Return to the top DA100, one way DA60. Opens 0730 and runs till 1900, very frequent.

See

Oran has a very walkable historic city centre with a mix of Islamic and European buildings.

district of Sidi El Houari municipal gardens Djebel Murdjadjo

Santa Cruz Fort. Fortress on top of the hill overlooking Oran.

Sacred Heart Cathedral of Oran. Former Roman Catholic church, built in 1930. Now turned into a library.

Hassan Pasha Mosque. A very ornate mosque, built in 1797. However, it is in a rather dilapidated state.

Oran zoo. Small zoo with animals such as lions, tigers and monkeys. Cage sizes would probably not pass any animal welfare inspections.

Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque. Completed in 1918, this is the former Great Synagogue of Oran. After Algerian independence, most Jewish citizens left the country. In 1975, the synagogue was converted into a mosque and named after Abdullah ibn Salam, a seventh-century Jew from Medina and companion of Muhammad who converted to Islam.

Ahmed Zabana National Museum. Named after the Algerian resistance fighter Ahmed Zabana, the first floor of the museum tells the story of the local impact of Algeria's battle for independence from France including a list of local people executed by the French between 1954 and 1962. The museum also includes artwork in the form of ancient sculptures, some mosaics terracotta portraits and paintings including works by 20th-century Algerian artists and French Orientalists including Eugene Fromentin.

Do

Walk along the Corniche. Sidewalk with good views

Buy

Note: most shops and restaurants don't accept payment cards. As of February 2022, withdrawing money from an ATM of an Algerian bank also usually doesn't work. The ATMs of will accept Visa and MasterCard . Le Marché de Medina Jedida with art products

Es-Senia Shopping & Leisure Center. Large shopping mall.

La Cave Du Vingt Août sells good Algerian wines.

Eat

Bourek - fried spring-roll like dish with meat Brik - deep-fried pastry filled with meat, vegetables or cheese Merguez - spicy lamb or beef sausages Chakhchoukha - traditional Berber dish Tajine - traditional North African dish Couscous - traditional North African dish Harira - lentil soup (v)

Le Royaume du Couscous. Many types of couscous as well as starters and desserts.

Les Ambassadeurs. Serves Mediterranean cuisine, located at the Royal Hotel.

Restaurant le Corsaire. Located in the old town.

5 Chez Isabelle, 6 Rue Aïmeur Brahim, bakery and patisserie with exceptional food. 6 Délices de Yemma, 12 Bd de la Soummam, local traditional foods.

Drink

Oran's nightlife is among the most thriving on the continent. The city has always been the capital of Algeria's parties and music. All night long, plenty of nightclubs, bars and cabarets are open and offer music, dance and partying in the city area seafront, called La Corniche, which runs from the city's Front de Mer to the neighbouring cities of Aïn El Turk, Bou Sfer and El Ançor. All kinds of nightclubs can be found, from the very posh Arena at the Sheraton Hotel to more popular ones in the Corniche, such as Solazur, Djawara and Neptune.

Sleep

Sarl Hotel El-mansour. The best among budget hotels in the town. Friendly staff, clean, shared bathroom, hot shower, air conditioning.

Hotel Residence Le Timgad. A 4-star hotel in the centre of the town, free wifi, breakfast, nice and big room with western standard facility. the only small problem is the staff speak little English but are very friendly, very good in French and Arabic.

Le Meridien Oran Hotel & Convention Center. Situated on a high cliff with a stunning view over the Mediterranean Sea and the city centre of Oran. The hotel will form part of a larger complex including an adjacent conference and exhibition centre, and an oceanfront promenade.

Royal Hotel Oran. Not far from the docks.

Sheraton Oran. One of the fanciest hotels in Oran with breathtaking views of the ocean from each room. The hotel also features a complimentary airport shuttle, restaurants and a tennis court.