Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad, Algeria

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad are the preserved ruins of a fortified city in the mountains of Algeria. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Also written as Kalâa des Béni Hammad, it was the first capital of the Hammadid emirs. Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is also one of the most precisely dated ancient monuments of the Islamic civilization. It provides archaeologists today with a clear picture of how an ancient Muslim city looked like.

What to See at Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad

The most significant sight at Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is the square brick tower of the city. During winter, the mountains around the ruins are covered in snow.

Location

The archaeological site of Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is located in Wilaya de M'Sila, in the commune of Maadid Bechara in Algeria. It is on the southern flank of the Jebel Maâdid mountain range, about 1000 meters above sea level.

History

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad was founded by Hammad, son of Bologhine, founder of Algiers, in 1007. The Hammadids were a Berber dynasty that ruled until 1152. Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad was abandoned in 1090 following an invasion by the Hilalians. During that time, the capital moved to Bejaia. Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad was eventually destroyed in 1152 by the Almohads, which also brought an end to the Hammadid dynasty.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad was entered into the World Heritage List at the 4th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris on 1-5 September, 1980.

Location: N35 49 6.384 E4 47 12.624
Inscription Year: 1980
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: III

Location Map

View Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad in a larger map

Getting there

Getting into Algeria may be a tricky endeavour. All visitors will require visa. The visa application form has to be filled up in full, including names of deceased parents, if any. US citizens are required to pay a non-refundable fee of US$100 in the form of money order to the Embassy of Algeria; other nationals should check on requirements and fees.

There are flights from Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Milan, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Berlin, Geneva, Brussels, Montreal, Istanbul, Moscow, among others, to Algeria.

Photos

Ruins of Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Author: Michel-Georges Bernard (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Author: rasjul
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Author: Salamani
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Author: fdebbi
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

Return to Algeria's World Heritage Sites
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