Mostaganem is a port city in the Mediterranean Sea located in northwestern Algeria, 365km from the capital, Algiers. The charming city is the chief town of the province of the same name. At the last census of 2008, the city of Mostaganem had 145 696 inhabitants.
The city was founded in the 11th century AD, but has origins going back to the Punic and Roman times. Mostaganem was occupied initially by the Phoenicians who gave it the name of “Murustaga” then by the Romans who gave it the name of “Cartenna”.
In 1511 the Spaniards imposed a treaty of capitulation to the city of Mostaganem. The population appealed for help to the Ottoman Empire which sent Admiral Barbarossa who conquered the city in 1516. Mostaganem became a hideout of Corsair and remained under the grip of the Ottoman Empire, until the invasion French of 1833.
The city is divided in two by a ravine of the Ain Sefra River, with the modern city to the southwest, and the old Muslim city, Tidgit, to the northeast.
New and more modern buildings, some of colonial style, have been added to this growing city. The new highway from the capital Algiers to Oran provides easier access to Mostaganem by road from the capital Etand given that Mostaganem has no airport.
The city is home to the Abdulhamid Ibn Badis University of Mostaganem which was created in 1987. The university has seven university sites spread across the city. Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University is one of the five largest universities in the country.
Mostaganem has several public schools; including 59 primary schools, 25 colleges and 10 high schools.
Mostaganem has a very important agricultural potential and is near the large oil and gas port of Arzew.
The city has a commercial port with a rather limited structure but has recently become an intense activity because of the decision of the Ministry of Transport to choose the port of Mostaganem among several other Algerian ports to relieve tension on the port of Algiers. A fishing port and a marina have just been recently built at La Salamandre.
The city of Mostaganemen has an important tourist potential with its innumerable beaches. It has several seaside resorts, the best known are the Salamandre, Sablettes and Cap Ivi.
Two parks to visit during your visit to Mostaganem:
- The Park of 20-August (El Arsa) which is located on the heights of the city center, this park was realized the day after the independence.
- The public garden Emir Abdelkader embracing the Town Hall. This garden was erected at the beginning of the 20th century at the same time as the Town Hall. This garden was considered the most refined botanical garden in the country’s western part .
The Sablettes Beach of Mostaganem:
The beach Les Sablettes
The city has several museums open to the public:
- Dar El Kaïd Museum: This museum is dedicated to popular arts.
- The Mujahid Museum: The museum is located on the Place de la Revolution and is devoted to the Revolutionary War against the French colonizer.
- The museum of the mausoleum of Bey Bouchlaghemet and his wife Lalla Aïchouche.
- For archaeological pieces and works of art from the region of Mostaganem, a museum is under construction and will be open to the public soon.
Samira SALAH
Algerie-Monde
