Sidi El Houari Old Town
Sidi El Houari
Oran's oldest district, where Spanish city gates, Ottoman buildings and houses intermingle and are gradually being restored.
Sidi El Houari takes its name from a 14th-century local saint, and this is where Oran was founded. Sloping alleys contain Spanish-era city gates, bathhouses and walls, Ottoman-era mosques and the Bey Palace, and 19th-century French-style houses. Many buildings are dilapidated but full of character. A local heritage association offers guided tours. Visitors are advised to tour in daylight, in groups, and to keep an eye on their belongings.
Opening hours
All day (daytime recommended)
Nearby sights
- Pasha Mosque
- Place du 1er Novembre
- Palace of the Bey
- Promenade de Létang
- Former Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Chapel of Santa Cruz
- Ahmed Zabana National Museum
- Fort Santa Cruz