Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
. It is considered the second most important city of
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
after the capital
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural importance. It is west-south-west from Algiers. The total population of the city was 803,329 in 2008,
while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000 making it the second-largest city in Algeria.
Etymology
![Barbary_lion](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Barbary_lion.jpg)
The word ''Wahran'' comes from the Berber expression ''wa - iharan'' (place of lions).
A locally popular legend tells that in the period around AD 900, there were sightings of
Barbary lions in the area. The last two lions were killed on a mountain near Oran, and it became known as ''la montagne des lions'' ("The Mountain of Lions"). Two giant lion statues stand in front of Oran's city hall, symbolizing the city.
History
Overview
During the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
, a small settlement called ''Unica Colonia'' existed in the area of current Oran, but this settlement disappeared after the Arab conquest of the
Maghreb
The Maghreb (; ar, الْمَغْرِب, al-Maghrib, lit=the west), also known as the Arab Maghreb ( ar, المغرب العربي) and Northwest Africa, is the western part of North Africa and the Arab world. The region includes Algeria, ...
.
Present-day Oran was founded in 903 by the azdaja and ajissa berbers of the Maghrawa confederation who lived the area and eventually founded the modern city of Oran.
the city enjoyed a period of prosperity under the
Almohad
The Almohad Caliphate (; ar, خِلَافَةُ ٱلْمُوَحِّدِينَ or or from ar, ٱلْمُوَحِّدُونَ, translit=al-Muwaḥḥidūn, lit=those who profess the Tawhid, unity of God) was a North African Berbers, Berber M ...
Caliph
Abd al-Mu'min
Abd al Mu'min (c. 1094–1163) ( ar, عبد المؤمن بن علي or عبد المومن الــكـومي; full name: ʿAbd al-Muʾmin ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAlwī ibn Yaʿlā al-Kūmī Abū Muḥammad) was a prominent member of the Almohad move ...
for a lengthy period of time where he built thirty vessels to connect it with Andalasia.
It endured a long, prosperous reign under the zayyanid of tlemcen and used their ports as a key out outlet to spain in particular. It was captured by the
Castilians
Castilians (Spanish: ''castellanos'') are those people who live in certain former areas of the historical Kingdom of Castile, but the region's exact limits are disputed. A broader definition is to consider as Castilians the population belonging ...
under
Cardinal Cisneros
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
in 1509, and Spanish sovereignty lasted until 1708, when the city was conquered by the
Algerians during the siege of
Siege of Oran (1707–1708)
The siege of Oran was a battle between the Spanish Empire and the Regency of Algiers. It was started by Mustapha Bouchelaghem, the Bey of Mascara. The Algerian victory in the battle led to the city being reconquered by the Algerians for 24 years ...
. 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
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
.
Under
French rule during the 19th and 20th centuries, Oran was the capital of a ''
département
In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level ("territorial collectivity, territorial collectivities"), between the regions of France, admin ...
'' of the same name (number 92). In July 1940, the
British navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
shelled French warships in the port after they refused a British ultimatum to surrender; this action was taken to ensure the fleet would not fall into German hands, as the
Nazis
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
had defeated France and occupied Paris. The action increased the hatred of the Vichy regime for
Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
but convinced the world that the British would fight on alone against
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
and its allies. The
Vichy government
Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its terr ...
held Oran during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
until its capture by the
Allies
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
in late 1942, during
Operation Torch
Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of secu ...
.
Also, during French rule, Jews were encouraged to modernize and take on jobs they had not before including agriculture, while Muslims were forced out of the city and their ancestral fertile lands were confiscated and given to Colons. Jews In the city were allowed to join the French Army starting October 24, 1870, while Muslims were forced to do
military service
Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription).
Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require a ...
. Algerian Jews were granted citizenship Algerian Muslims were not. French Jews would soon be targeted after not choosing to side with the Algerian Muslims who fought for independence against France.
Before the
Algerian War
The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...
, 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, the
FLN entered Oran and were shot at by a European. A mob attacked
pied-noir
The ''Pieds-Noirs'' (; ; ''Pied-Noir''), are the people of French people, French and other White Africans of European ancestry, European descent who were born in Algeria during the French Algeria, period of French rule from 1830 to 1962; the v ...
neighborhoods in response to the attack and
massacred
A massacre is the killing of a large number of people or animals, especially those who are not involved in any fighting or have no way of defending themselves. A massacre is generally considered to be morally unacceptable, especially when per ...
thousands of Europeans in Oran; 453 have been said to have "disappeared."
This triggered a larger exodus of Europeans to France, which was already underway. Shortly after the end of the war, most of the
European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
s and
Algerian Jews
The History of the Jews in Algeria refers to the history of the Jewish community of Algeria, which dates to the 1st century CE. In the 15th century, many Spanish Jews fled to the Maghreb, including today's Algeria, following expulsion from Spai ...
living in Oran fled to France. In less than three months, Oran lost about half its population. This population loss is similar to the Jews as many fled after siding with France in the Algerian War for Independence. As the war progressed, those who supported independence in Algeria threatened those who sided with France causing these people to flee.
Religious history
With its location as the closest port to Spain and its prominence on the Mediterranean, Jewish refugees first immigrated to Oran to flee persecution and conversion to Christianity in Spain in 1391. This refuge brought other religious refugees that included both Jews again and Muslims in both 1492 and 1502. On October 24, 1870, with the French dominance, Algerian Jews were given French citizenship with the
Crémieux Decree
The Crémieux Decree () was a law that granted French citizenship to the majority of the Jewish population in French Algeria (around 35,000), signed by the Government of National Defense on 24 October 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. It was ...
. Later, despite a World War II sentiment that favored acceptance, Oran still had a history marked by intolerance. There was a decrease in the Jewish population as Muslims were the only group granted citizenship protection in 1963, one year after Algerian independence.
Islamic dynasties (910–1509)
Spanish period (1509–1708, 1732–1792)
![20160220 130546SANTA CRUISE](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/20160220_130546SANTA_CRUISE.jpg)
Before the Spaniards, the Portuguese launched a failed expedition to capture the city in July 1501. Four years later, the Spanish took
Mers-el-Kébir, located just west of Oran. Thus began the first organized incursions against the city which, at the time, numbered 25,000 inhabitants and counted 6,000 ''fueros''. Count
Pedro Navarro
Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto (c. 1460 – 28 August 1528) was a Navarrese military engineer and general who participated in the War of the League of Cambrai. At the Battle of Ravenna in 1512 he commanded the Spanish and Papal infantry, but wa ...
, on the orders of Cardinal
Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros
Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, OFM (1436 – 8 November 1517), spelled Ximenes in his own lifetime, and commonly referred to today as simply Cisneros, was a Spanish cardinal, religious figure, and statesman. Starting from humble beginnings ...
, finally
captured the city on May 17, 1509. The occupying forces
set fire to the books and archives of the town.
By 1554, the Turks had reached Algiers. The governor of Oran,
Count Alcaudete
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
, allied himself with Moroccan Sultan
Mohammed ash-Sheikh
''Mawlay'' Mohammed al-Shaykh al-Sharif al-Hassani ( ar, محمد الشيخ الشريف الحسني) known as Mohammed al-Shaykh ( ar, محمد الشيخ) (b. 1490 – d. 23 October 1557) was the first sultan of the Saadian dynasty of Morocco ...
against them. Nine years later, in 1563,
Álvaro de Bazán Álvaro (, , ) is a Spanish, Galician and Portuguese male given name and surname (see Spanish naming customs) of Visigothic origin. Some claim it may be related to the Old Norse name Alfarr, formed of the elements ''alf'' "elf" and ''arr'' "warrio ...
, Marquis de Santa Cruz, built the
fort of Santa-Cruz, strategically placed at the top of a mountain, l'Aïdour, more than above the sea, directly to the west of the city. Pedro Garcerán de Borja, Grand Master of the
Order of Montesa
The Order of Montesa ( va, Ordre de Montesa, Aragonese and es, Orden de Montesa) is a Christian military order, territorially limited to the old Crown of Aragon. It was named after the castle of Montesa, its headquarters.
Templar background
T ...
, was captain of Oran when, on July 14, 1568,
John of Austria
John of Austria ( es, Juan, link=no, german: Johann; 24 February 1547 – 1 October 1578) was the natural son born to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V late in life when he was a widower. Charles V met his son only once, recognizing him in a secret ...
(the illegitimate son of
Charles I Charles I may refer to:
Kings and emperors
* Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings
* Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily
* Charles I of ...
and paternal half-brother of King
Philip II Philip II may refer to:
* Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC)
* Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor
* Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374)
* Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404)
* Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497)
* Philip ...
), led a
flotilla
A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a small ''flota'' (fleet) of ships), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet.
Composition
A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class ...
of 33 galleys against the Algerians.
![The Fortified City of Oran on the Barbary Coast](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/The_Fortified_City_of_Oran_on_the_Barbary_Coast.png)
In April 1669 the Spanish governor, the 6th
Marquess of Los Vélez, expelled all the Jews who lived in Oran and
Mers El Kébir
Mers El Kébir ( ar, المرسى الكبير, translit=al-Marsā al-Kabīr, lit=The Great Harbor ) is a port on the Mediterranean Sea, near Oran in Oran Province, northwest Algeria. It is famous for the attack on the French fleet in 1940, in t ...
sending them to be resettled in either
Nice
Nice ( , ; Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative c ...
, or
Livorno
Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
.
The Spanish rebuilt
Santa Cruz Fort to accommodate their city governors. "The fortifications of the place were composed of thick and continuous walls of over two and a half km in circumference, surmounted by strong towers spaced between them," with a central castle or ''
kasbah
A kasbah (, also ; ar, قَـصَـبَـة, qaṣaba, lit=fortress, , Maghrebi Arabic: ), also spelled qasba, qasaba, or casbah, is a fortress, most commonly the citadel or fortified quarter of a city. It is also equivalent to the term ''alca ...
'' where the Spanish governor had his headquarters. Under Spanish rule, the city continued to grow, requiring enlargement of the city walls. In spite of the improved fortifications, the city was the object of repeated attacks. Notable in this regard, Moroccan Sharif
Moulay Ismail
Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif ( ar, مولاي إسماعيل بن الشريف), born around 1645 in Sijilmassa and died on 22 March 1727 at Meknes, was a Sultan of Morocco from 1672–1727, as the second ruler of the Alaouite dynasty. He was the se ...
tried to force his way past the defences in 1707, only to see his army decimated.
In 1739, trade with the surroundings was forbidden fop years due to the plague.
In 1744, king
Philip V Philip V may refer to:
* Philip V of Macedon (221–179 BC)
* Philip V of France (1293–1322)
* Philip II of Spain, also Philip V, Duke of Burgundy (1526–1598)
* Philip V of Spain
Philip V ( es, Felipe; 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746) was ...
asked the governor Tomás du Rollet de la tour for dromedaries to replenish the stock at the
Royal Palace of Aranjuez
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez ( es, Palacio Real de Aranjuez) is one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family. It is located in the town of Aranjuez (Madrid), Spain. Established in the 16th century as a royal hunting lodge, the pala ...
.
However, the former
bey
Bey ( ota, بك, beğ, script=Arab, tr, bey, az, bəy, tk, beg, uz, бек, kz, би/бек, tt-Cyrl, бәк, translit=bäk, cjs, пий/пек, sq, beu/bej, sh, beg, fa, بیگ, beyg/, tg, бек, ar, بك, bak, gr, μπέης) is ...
of Oran had banned trade with the Spaniards and those dromedaries gradually sent to the king had been sold by thieving tribesmen.
Most of the maintenance of the place was paid by the
bull of the Crusade
A crusade bull or crusading bull ( la, bulla cruciata) was a papal bull that granted privileges, including indulgences, to those who took part in the crusades against infidels.. A bull is an official document issued by a pope and sealed with a lea ...
, a contribution of the Spanish Catholic church.
Beylikal period (1708–1732, 1792–1831)
![Minaret de la perle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Minaret_de_la_perle.jpg)
The Spanish occupied the city until 1708, when the
Bey of Mascara,
Mustapha Ben Youssef
Mustapha Bouchelaghem, also known as Bey Bouchelaghem was the Bey of the Western Beylik from 1686 to 1734/37.
Origins and early life
Mustapha, born as Mustapha ben Youcef was the son of an Algerian Arabic man called Youcef el-Mesrati, a noble f ...
(''Bouchelaghem''), vassal of the
Deylik of Algiers
The Regency of Algiers ( ar, دولة الجزائر, translit=Dawlat al-Jaza'ir) was a state in North Africa lasting from 1516 to 1830, until it was conquered by the French. Situated between the regency of Tunis in the east, the Sultanate o ...
, and who was an
Arabized Berber
Arabized Berber denotes an inhabitant of the Maghreb region in western North Africa, whose native language is a local dialect of Arabic and whose ethnic origins are Berber.
Most populations in the Maghreb are of Berber heritage, including thos ...
from the Mascara region took advantage of the
War of Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...
to
drive the Spanish out.
In 1732, Spanish forces returned under
José Carrillo de Albornoz,
capturing the city from Bouchelaghem. Spain maintained its hold over Oran for the next six decades.
In the night after October 8, 1790,
a violent earthquake claimed more than 3,000 victims in less than seven minutes.
Charles IV saw no advantage in continuing the occupation of the city, which had become increasingly expensive and perilous. He initiated discussions with the
Dey of Algiers
Dey (Arabic: داي), from the Turkish honorific title ''dayı'', literally meaning uncle, was the title given to the rulers of the Regency of Algiers (Algeria), Tripoli,Bertarelli (1929), p. 203. and Tunis under the Ottoman Empire from 1671 on ...
.
Siege of Oran and Mers el-Kébir (1790-1792)
After another earthquake damaged the Spanish defences, the forces of the new Bey of Oran,
Mohamed el-Kébir
Muhammad was an Islamic prophet and a religious and political leader who preached and established Islam.
Muhammad and variations may also refer to:
*Muhammad (name), a given name and surname, and list of people with the name and its variations
...
besieged the city. By the end of 1790, there was a clear Algerian advantage. The Spanish, not wanting to risk their troops, signed an agreement with the Algerians on 12 September in Algiers, and on 12 December in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
, which recognized Algerian control over the city.
By February all Spanish troops evacuated. The capital was moved there the same year. In 1792, the Bey settled a Jewish community there. In 1796, the
Pasha Mosque (in honour of
Hassan Pasha,
Beylerbey
''Beylerbey'' ( ota, بكلربكی, beylerbeyi, lit=bey of beys, meaning the 'commander of commanders' or 'lord of lords') was a high rank in the western Islamic world in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, from the Anatolian Seljuks ...
of
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
) was built by the Bey with ransom money paid for the release of Spanish prisoners after Spain's final departure.
French period (1831–1962)
![Hotel Ville de Oran](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Hotel_Ville_de_Oran.jpg)
The town of 10,000 inhabitants was still in the possession of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
when a squadron under the command of captain Bourmand seized el-Kébir on December 14, 1830. The city was in a wretched state. On January 4, 1831, the French commanded by General
Damrémont occupied Oran.
In September 1831,
General Berthezène appointed Mr. Pujol as
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
of Oran; he had been captain of cavalry in retirement and was wounded in the right hand under the Empire.
In 1832, leading a force of five thousand men, the young Emir
Abd al-Qadir
Abd al-Qadir or Abdulkadir ( ar, عبد القادر) is a male Muslim given name. It is formed from the Arabic words '' Abd'', ''al-'' and '' Qadir''. The name means "servant of the powerful", ''Al-Qādir'' being one of the names of God in the ...
attacked Oran. In April 1833, commander-in-chief, General Boyer, was replaced by the baron
Louis Alexis Desmichels
Louis Alexis Desmichels, born in Digne March 15, 1779, died in Paris in 1845, was a French soldier, an ordinary soldier of the French Revolution became general under the July Monarchy, known for his role in the conquest of Algeria and relations w ...
. The city's defenders, under attack by Abd al Qadir, held their ground.
In
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Oran was one of the landing points in
Operation Torch
Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of secu ...
, the first American action in the
Europe-North Africa theatre in November 1942. The Task Force suffered some damage to its fleet, trying to land in shallow water, but the enemy ships were sunk or driven off, and Oran surrendered after heavy fire from British battleships.
[Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p. 175.]
Since independence (1962)
Due to the exodus of
Pieds-Noirs
The ''Pieds-Noirs'' (; ; ''Pied-Noir''), are the people of French and other European descent who were born in Algeria during the period of French rule from 1830 to 1962; the vast majority of whom departed for mainland France as soon as Alger ...
, the
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran (''Sacred Heart Cathedral of Oran'') is a former Roman Catholic church located at Place de la Kahina, on Boulevard Hammou-boutlelis, in Oran, Algeria.
History
The church building was built between 1903 and 1913 ...
was converted into a public library in 1984. Further information:
Aubert Library of Oran The Aubert Library is a library located in Oran, Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates ...
Today, Oran is a major port and a commercial centre, and has three universities. The old quarter of Oran has a
casbah
A kasbah (, also ; ar, قَـصَـبَـة, qaṣaba, lit=fortress, , Maghrebi Arabic: ), also spelled qasba, qasaba, or casbah, is a fortress
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territo ...
and an 18th-century
mosque
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
. The modern section of Oran is referred to as La Ville Nouvelle and was built after 1831; this section contrasts with the older section, La Blanca.
Geography
Climate
![German Climate Oran](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/German_Climate_Oran.png)
Oran features a
semi-arid climate
A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
''BSk''/''BSh''). Oran's climate does show influences of a
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
; however, the combination of the city's relatively high average annual temperature and relatively low annual precipitation precludes it from falling under that climate category. Oran averages of precipitation annually, the bulk of which falls between November and May. Summers are the warmest times of the year, with average high temperatures in the warmest month (August) approaching 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are the coolest times of the year in Oran, with high temperatures in the coolest month (January) at around 17 degrees Celsius.
Earthquakes
As Oran is located in Northern Algeria, it faces the threat of earthquakes that can cause damage. However, the last major earthquake was in 1790; 3,000 people died as a result. Many of the existing older buildings in the city have been reinforced, and newer construction is designed to withstand earthquakes. While the city dates back to the 900s, the oldest remaining buildings are from the French period in the 1800s making it easier to reinforce these buildings.
Government
City districts
List of districts of Oran
![quartiers-oran-fr](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Quartiers-oran-fr.svg)
Since 2019, Oran have 18 communal délégations (ex. districts) et les 83 quarters.
Medina Jedida
or, ''new city'' in English, is a large historical and popular district. It was one of the Muslim quarters during the French colonial period. In this district, there is one of the biggest markets in the country, called Le Marché de Medina Jedida (Medina Jedida Market).
El Hamri
![Mosquée du Pacha](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Mosqu%C3%A9e_du_Pacha.jpg)
El Hamri is a large and popular district in the center of Oran, known under French rule as Lamur. The football club
Mouloudia d'Oran is found there.
Neighborhood streets
* Avenue of Lamur
* Street Captain-Rahou
* Sebbalet Ayada
* Place The Sahara
* Gahwat Ettoubi
* Street Staoueli
* Street Djemaa Gazouna
* Street Bougandoura
* Street Belhadri Smain
Sidi El Houari
The historical district is a suburb in the north of the d'Oran city. The Saint-Louis college is there, as well as the old mosque of the Pasha dating from the 17th century. In this district the skin of Saint-Patron of the city in the name of "
Sidi El Houari
''Sidi'' or ''Sayidi'', also Sayyidi and Sayeedi, ( ar, سيدي, Sayyīdī, Sīdī (dialectal) "milord") is an Arabic masculine title of respect. ''Sidi'' is used often to mean "saint" or "my master" in Maghrebi Arabic and Egyptian Arabic. Wi ...
" rests. Other tourist curiosities: one ancient prefecture of the data base Stalingrad, the Spanish vestiges dating from the 16th century, and especially the Palate of the Bey d'Oran.
Oranian agglomeration
![Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Cath%C3%A9drale_du_Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur_d%27Oran.jpg)
The Oranian metropolis comprises several
communes
An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork from the start. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, ...
.
Mers El-Kébir
Mers El Kébir
Mers El Kébir ( ar, المرسى الكبير, translit=al-Marsā al-Kabīr, lit=The Great Harbor ) is a port on the Mediterranean Sea, near Oran in Oran Province, northwest Algeria. It is famous for the attack on the French fleet in 1940, in t ...
("The Great Port") is a municipality northwest of Oran, about from the city centre. As its name indicates, it is a major port and has an important naval base, home to the Algerian Navy.
Aïn El-Turk
Aïn El Turk ("Fountain of the Turks") is also northwest of Oran, at a distance of . It is a seaside town which includes several hotels and other tourist attractions.
Es-Sénia
Es Sénia
Es Sénia ( ar, السانية) (formerly La Sénia) is a municipality in Oran Province, Algeria. It is the seat of Es Sénia District
Es Sénia is a district in Oran Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Es Sénia.
Municipalitie ...
, located in the south of Oran, is home to industrial parks, several university institutes (Oran-Es-Sénia University, Institut of Communication, ENPO "National Polytechnic School of Oran", CRASC "Research center in social sciences" etc.) and the international airport.
Bir El-Djir
Bir El Djir
Bir El Djir is a town located close north-east of Oran in the Oran Province, Algeria. According to the 2009 census it has a population of 171,883.
University
Bir El Djir hosts the University of Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed
2022 Mediterranean Game ...
is a commune that represents the suburbs of Oran (apart from the districts). It is the future beating heart of the Oranian agglomeration. It has several buildings which are the seats of institutions as the headquarters of
Sonatrach
Sonatrach ( ar, سوناطراك; french: Société Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation, et la Commercialisation des Hydrocarbures) is the national state-owned oil company of Algeria. Founded in 1963, it is ...
's downstream activity, the hospital ''Établissement Hospitalo-universitaire'' "November 1st, 1954", the convention center (Palais des Congrès), University of sciences and technology (conceived by the Japanese architect
Kenzō Tange
was a Japanese architect, and winner of the 1987 Pritzker Prize for architecture. He was one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, combining traditional Japanese styles with modernism, and designed major buildings on five cont ...
), the Institute of medical sciences, the Court of Justice and the
. There is as well a stadium with a capacity of 50000 places under construction.
Bir El Djir is an urban extension east of Oran, from the city center, with a population of 118,000 inhabitants.
Misserghin
Misserghin
Misserghin is a city in Boutlélis District, Oran Province, Algeria. Its territory is mainly covered by a salt lake called the ''Sebkha of Oran''.
In city, the known fruit clementine were discovered by Father Clément Rodier in 1892.
Dr. Chérif ...
is a small city located to the southwest of Oran.
Transportation
![Oran train station, Boumlik Messaili, 29-07-2008](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Oran_train_station%2C_Boumlik_Messaili%2C_29-07-2008.jpg)
The city's public transportation is centered on the
Oran Metro
The Oran Metro (Arab : ''مترو وهران'') is planned to be an extensive network of rapid transit electrified railway lines that will run mostly underground in central Oran and into the city's suburbs. It will be part of the larger public ...
covering coastal neighborhoods with the connecting
Oran tramway covering suburbs not yet served by the metro. There is an extensive network of "clandestine" taxis in the City. A project started in 2008/9 and lasted approximately two to three years, to deliver the first line of the tramway in 2010. It should comprise 31 stations over a distance of going to Es-Sénia, in the South and Sidi Maarouf in the east side, while passing by the centre town The tramway should serve Haï Sabbah, University of Sciences and Technology (USTO), the Crossroads of the Three Private clinics, the Law courts, Dar El Baïda, the Plate-Saint Michel, the Place of the 1st November, Saint-Anthony, Boulanger, Saint-Hubert, the 3rd Ring road and finally The University of Es-Sénia. The
Ahmed Ben Bella Airport
Ahmed Ben Bella Airport ( ar, مطار أحمد بن بلة), formally Es-Sénia Airport is an airport located 4.7 nautical mile, nm (8.7 km) south of Oran (near Es Sénia), in Algeria.
History
During World War II, La Sénia Airport was f ...
, also known as Es-Senia Airport, serves both domestic and international flights, with frequent connections to the capital Algiers, served by the public airline company
Air Algerie
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
. The same company also has flights to many French cities (Marseille, Paris, Lyon, etc.) and other European and EMEA cities. The Es Senia Airport also serves passengers from most smaller towns in proximity to Oran (Sig, Mostaganem, Arzew, etc.). The airport building is a fairly limited construction and does not operate on a 24-h basis.
Sports
Oran held its first international marathon on November 10, 2005. The event, sponsored by Toyota of Algeria, attracted runners from Morocco, Libya, Spain, France and Kenya. The marathon served to publicize the health benefits of running and to provide a novel form of public entertainment for the city's residents.
The Championnat d'Afrique d'Athlétisme was scheduled to be held in Oran in June 2021.
The
XIX Mediterranean Games was held in Oran in 2022.
Culture
![DiscoMaghrebOran RomanDeckertJuliaJoerin01012017](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/DiscoMaghrebOran_RomanDeckertJuliaJoerin01012017.jpg)
The folk music
Raï
Raï (, ; ar, راي, Latn, ar, rāʾy, ), sometimes written rai, is a form of Algerian traditional music, folk music that dates back to the 1920s. Singers of Raï are called ''cheb'' (Arabic: شاب) (or ''shabab,'' i.e. young) as opposed ...
("opinion" in Arabic), had its beginnings in Oran. This genre of music was formulated by shepherds in the 1930s through Arab and European influences. This music was surrounded by controversy due to women's key role in public performances of the music, as well as the hedonistic lyrics about love and alcohol. This led to strict governmental control in the area which led to arrests, injuries, and assassinations. Many notable Raï musicians (including
Cheb Hasni
Cheb Hasni ( ar, الشاب حسني), born Hasni Chakroun ( ar, حسني شقرون), (1 February 1968 – 29 September 1994), was an Algerian raï singer. He was popular across the Maghreb, having reached the height of his career in the late 1 ...
,
Cheb Khaled
Cheb (; german: Eger) is a town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 30,000 inhabitants. It lies on the river Ohře.
Before the 1945 expulsion of the German-speaking population, the town was the centre of the German-s ...
, and
Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha ( ar, رشيد طه, Latn, ar, Rashīd Ṭāhā, ; 18 September 1958 – 12 September 2018) was an Algerian singer and activist based in France described as "sonically adventurous". His music was influenced by many different styles i ...
) hail from Oran. The violinist Akim el Sikameya was also born in Oran. One of Oran's most famous emigrants is
Yves Saint Laurent.
Cuisine
The traditional Algerian lemon sorbet
creponne
Creponne is a traditional Algerian lemon sorbet that originates from Oran, Algeria.
This Algerian speciality is white colored. originated in Oran.
Representation in other media
![31-4 Chapelle de Santa-Cruz (6)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/31-4_Chapelle_de_Santa-Cruz_%286%29.jpg)
*
Albert Camus
Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...
' 1939 essay ''
The Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur ( , ;. grc, ; in Latin as ''Minotaurus'' ) is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a being "pa ...
'' describes life in Oran.
*Albert Camus' 1947 novel ''
The Plague'' presents a fictional tale of observations of a physician during the emergence and recession of bubonic plague in the 1940s in Oran.
*''
El Gallardo Español
EL, El or el may refer to:
Religion
* El (deity), a Semitic word for "God"
People
* EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer
* El DeBarge, music artist
* El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...
'' (1615) by
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was an Early Modern Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-emin ...
takes place in Oran.
*In the movie ''
Casablanca
Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
'' (1942), the route for refugees fleeing to the Americas was
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
to
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
, across the Mediterranean to Oran, then by train, auto or foot to
Casablanca
Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
. If they acquired an exit visa, they went on to
Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
from there.
*
Paul Bowles
Paul Frederic Bowles (; December 30, 1910November 18, 1999) was an American expatriate composer, author, and translator. He became associated with the Moroccan city of Tangier, where he settled in 1947 and lived for 52 years to the end of his ...
' 1949 novel ''
The Sheltering Sky
''The Sheltering Sky'' is a 1949 novel of alienation and existential despair
In psychology and psychotherapy, existential crises are inner conflicts characterized by the impression that life lacks meaning. Some authors also emphasize confus ...
'' mainly takes place in Oran.
*Part of
Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Arturo Pérez-Reverte Gutiérrez (born 25 November 1951 in Cartagena) is a Spanish novelist and journalist. He worked as a war correspondent for RTVE for 21 years (1973–1994). His first novel, ''El húsar'', set in the Napoleonic Wars, was ...
's Capitán Alatriste adventure novel, ''
Corsarios de Levante'' (Pirates of the Levant, 2006), takes place in early 17th-century Oran. The action of the book occurs a few years after the forced expulsion of the last
Moriscos
Moriscos (, ; pt, mouriscos ; Spanish for "Moorish") were former Muslims and their descendants whom the Roman Catholic church and the Spanish Crown commanded to convert to Christianity or face compulsory exile after Spain outlawed the open ...
(Spanish Christians of Muslim descent) from Valencia. Oran is featured as a sun-blasted North African military stronghold. Capitán Diego Alatriste finds Oran to be manned by an impoverished garrison of Spanish Christians, living alongside Muslims (some fiercely loyal to Spain), and Sephardic Jews, descendants of refugees from the 1492 expulsions from Spain.
*In the
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
drama series ''
Hornblower'', Lieutenant Hornblower is sent by Captain Pellew to Oran to obtain supplies, only to discover that the city was suffering from a
bubonic plague
Bubonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the plague bacterium (''Yersinia pestis''). One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and vomiting, as well a ...
epidemic.
*The heroine of
Geraldine Brooks' novel, ''
Year of Wonders
''Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague'' is a 2001 international bestselling historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks. It was chosen as both a ''New York Times'' and ''Washington Post'' Notable Book.
Plot introduction
The novel is wri ...
,'' emigrates to Oran after leaving her home village that was quarantined in 1666 due to the plague.
*
Joann Sfar
Joann Sfar (; born 28 August 1971) is a French comics artist, comic book creator, novelist, and film director.
Life and career
Sfar was born in Nice, the son of Lilou, a pop singer, who died when he was three, and André Sfar, a lawyer well know ...
's graphic novel ''The Rabbi's Cat 2'' begins in Oran.
*
Kamel Daoud
Kamel Daoud ( ar, كمال داود; born June 17, 1970) is a French-Algerian writer and journalist. He currently edits the French-language daily '' Le quotidien d’Oran,'' for which he writes a popular column, "Raïna Raïkoum" (Our Opinion, Y ...
's novel ''
The Meursault Investigation
''The Meursault Investigation'' (french: Meursault, contre-enquête) is the first novel by Algerian writer and journalist Kamel Daoud. It is a retelling of Albert Camus' 1942 novel, '' The Stranger.'' First published in Algeria by Barzakh Editi ...
'' is set in a bar in Oran.
Economy and infrastructure
Oran has become a major trading centre for the wider area, serving
Arzew
Arzew or Arzeu ( ar, أرزيو Berber; ) is a port city in Algeria, 25 miles (40 km) from Oran. It is the capital of Arzew District, Oran Province.
History
Antiquity
Like the rest of North Africa, the site of modern-day Arzew was orig ...
, the area's oil/gas port as well as Sonatrach, the country's biggest oil and gas company.
Sonelgaz
Sonelgaz ( ar, سونلغاز, ''Société Nationale de l'Electricité et du Gaz'', National Company for Electricity and Gas) is a state-owned utility in charge of electricity and natural gas distribution in Algeria. It was established in 1969, r ...
has built a new congress centre in Oran and in 2010 the 16th International Conference & Exhibition on
Liquefied Natural Gas
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. It takes up about 1/600th the volu ...
was held in the city of Oran, which attracted around 3,000 visitors and major companies from around the world.
To accommodate all visitors, new hotels are currently being constructed and floating hotels will be used in the future. With a growth in urbanization, water quality and management is being harmed in Oran; this change in water quality is affecting marine life and the state of beaches in this tourism driven city.
The city and region participates in the
R20 Regions of Climate Action
The R20 – Regions of Climate Action is a non-profit environmental organization founded in September 2011, by former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, with the support of the United Nations. R20 is a coalition of sub-national governm ...
, with goals focused on reduced
waste valorization Waste valorization, beneficial reuse, value recovery or waste reclamation is the process of waste products or residues from an economic process being valorized (given economic value), by reuse or recycling in order to create economically useful m ...
and energy efficiency.
Tourism
Oran has numerous hotels in all categories, from luxury to basic, as well as many restaurants offering Algerian specialities and other foods. Tourists will also find a variety of cinemas, arts centres, the regional theatre, an open-air theatre, the Museum, the historic city centre of Oran, the district of Sidi El Houari, the municipal gardens, Médina Djedida with its artisanal products, the cathedral, Djebel Murdjadjo, and nearby seaside resorts.
Ahmed Ben Bella Airport
Ahmed Ben Bella Airport ( ar, مطار أحمد بن بلة), formally Es-Sénia Airport is an airport located 4.7 nautical mile, nm (8.7 km) south of Oran (near Es Sénia), in Algeria.
History
During World War II, La Sénia Airport was f ...
is from the town centre. One can also reach Oran by ferries from the ports of
Marseilles
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
,
Sète
Sète (; oc, Seta, ), also historically spelt ''Cette'' (official until 1928) and ''Sette'', is a commune in the Hérault department, in the region of Occitania, southern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Sétois'' (male) and ''Sétoises' ...
,
Alicante
Alicante ( ca-valencia, Alacant) is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city was 337,482 , the second-largest in t ...
and
Almería
Almería (, , ) is a city and municipality of Spain, located in Andalusia. It is the capital of the province of the same name. It lies on southeastern Iberia on the Mediterranean Sea. Caliph Abd al-Rahman III founded the city in 955. The city gr ...
, via the national company
Algérie Ferries
Algérie Ferries or Entreprise Nationale de Transport Maritime de Voyageurs (ENTMV) is a state-owned Algerian shipping company. The company operates passenger and freight services between Algeria, France and Spain.
Routes
Algérie Ferries operate ...
. The Great Mosque is another attraction for tourists. The Great Mosque was built in 1796 to celebrate the end of Spanish rule of the city.
Attractions
The main museum in Oran is called
Musée National Ahmend Zabana. Although often overlooked by tourists, it includes a natural history exhibit in addition to art pieces like mosaics and portraits.
Bey's Palace
Bey's Palace () is a historic palace in Oran, Algeria dating back to the Ottoman era. It was a residence of the ruler who belonged to the . The palace is situated in Sidi al-Houari, near the mount Marjaju, and it is categorized as a national heri ...
is another favorite spot for tourists, situated in Sidi al-Houari in the city center. It is an Ottoman era palace built of
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Islamic world encompasses a wide geographic ar ...
, consists of
harem
Harem (Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A hare ...
, guard towers and
stucco
Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...
-painted halls.
Water
Water supply in Oran has historically been stressed because of the lack of consistent rainfall.
The regional government invested in hydraulic projects in the 2010s to increase retention of water, and installing a desalination plant increased
water security
Water security is the focused goal of water policy and water management. A society with a high level of water security makes the most of water's benefits for humans and ecosystems and limits the risk of destructive impacts associated with water. T ...
.
Oran's region uses a mix of groundwater (11%), surface water (51%) and desalinization (38%). The
wilaya of Oran
Oran Province ( ar, ولاية وهران, ) is a province (''wilayah'') in Algeria whose seat is the city of the same name.
Geography
It is located in the northwestern part of the country. Its population is 1,584,607 and it covers a total area ...
is also equipped with five desalination plants, including the unit of
Macta
The river Macta is in Algeria.
The Macta is only long and, enters the sea in the Gulf of Arzeu, some west of the mouth of the Chelif. It is formed by the Habra ( long) and the Sig ( long), which rise in the Amour Range and flowing north befo ...
, with a maximum daily capacity of 500,000 m³.
International relations
Twin towns – sister cities
Oran is
twinned with 21 cities:
*
Alicante
Alicante ( ca-valencia, Alacant) is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city was 337,482 , the second-largest in t ...
, Spain
*
Bizerte
Bizerte or Bizerta ( ar, بنزرت, translit=Binzart , it, Biserta, french: link=no, Bizérte) the classical Hippo, is a city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia. It is the northernmost city in Africa, located 65 km (40mil) north of the cap ...
, Tunisia
*
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
, France (2003)
*
Cairo
Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...
, Egypt
*
Casablanca
Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
, Morocco (1999)
*
Dakar
Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar metropolitan area is estimated at 3.94 million in 2 ...
, Senegal
*
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
, South Africa
[ eThekwini Online: The Official Site of the City of Durban]
*
Elche
Elche ( ca-valencia, Elx) is a city and municipality of Spain, belonging to the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community. According to 2014 data, Elche has a population of 228,647 inhabitants,[Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...]
, Poland
*
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. , Cuba
*
Jeddah
Jeddah ( ), also spelled Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda ( ; ar, , Jidda, ), is a city in the Hejaz region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the country's commercial center. Established in the 6th century BC as a fishing village, Jeddah's pro ...
, Saudi Arabia
*
Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands.
The city l ...
, England (2001)
*
Lyon
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
, France
*
Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
, France
*
Oujda
Oujda ( ar, وجدة; ber, ⵡⵓⵊⴷⴰ, Wujda) is a major Moroccan city in its northeast near the border with Algeria. Oujda is the capital city of the Oriental region of northeastern Morocco and has a population of about 558,000 people. It ...
, Morocco
*
Rangpur, Bangladesh
*
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
, South Korea
*
Sfax
Sfax (; ar, صفاقس, Ṣafāqis ) is a city in Tunisia, located southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD849 on the ruins of Berber Taparura, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate (about 955,421 inhabitants in 2014), and a Mediterranean ...
, Tunisia (1989)
*
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
, France (2013)
*
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...
, France
*
Zarqa
Zarqa ( ar, الزرقاء) is the capital of Zarqa Governorate in Jordan. Its name means "the blue (city)". It had a population of 635,160 inhabitants in 2015, and is the most populous city in Jordan after Amman.
Geography
Zarqa is located in t ...
, Jordan
Partner cities
In addition, Oran has partnerships and cooperation with one city:
*
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
, France (2013)
Notable residents
Below the list of some of many notable personalities of Oran:
*
Kaddour Bekhloufi
Kaddour Bekhloufi (7 June 1934 – 26 July 2019) was a professional association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward and also as a Defender (association football), defender. He played international football ...
(1934-2019), played international football for
FLN football team
The FLN football team (in ar, فريق جبهة التحرير الوطني لكرة القدم, in french: Équipe du FLN de football), also known as ''Le onze de l'indépendance'' ( en, The eleven of the Independence) was a team made ...
*
Miloud Mourad Benamara
Miloud Mourad Benamara (born 28 October 1977) is an Algerian-born Italian actor.
Early life
Benamara is originally from Oran; he studied drama in Algeria before moving to Italy.
Career
In Italy, Benamara has frequently appeared in character act ...
(born 1977), actor
*
Jean Benguigui
Jean Benguigui (born 8 April 1944 in Oran) is a French actor. He is of Jewish-Algerian descent. In 2006 and 2007 he played the role of impresario Cartoni in a new adaptation of the operetta Le Chanteur de Mexico at the Théâtre du Châtelet
...
1944, French Actor
*
Pierre Bénichou
Pierre Bénichou, Commandeur, (1 March 1938 – 31 March 2020) was a French journalist.
Early life
Pierre Bénichou was born on 1 March 1938 in Oran, French Algeria. His father, André Bénichou, a philosophy professor, opened a private school a ...
(1938-2020), French journalist
*Sirat Boumediène (1947-1995), actor
*Hamou Boutlélis (1920-1957), nationalist militant for
Algerian War
The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...
*
Albert Camus
Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...
(1913-1960), French philosopher, author, and journalist
*
Alain Chabat
Alain Chabat (; born 24 November 1958) is a French actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, producer and television presenter. He was originally known for his work in the comedy group Les Nuls, including as the co-writer and lead actor of ''La C ...
(born 1958), French actor, director, screenwriter, producer and TV presenter
*
Étienne Daho
Étienne Daho (; ; born 14 January 1956) is a French singer. He has released a number of synth-driven and rock- surf influenced pop hit singles since 1981.
Career
Daho was born in Oran, French Algeria. He sings in a low, whispery voice somewha ...
(born 1956), French singer
*Habib Draoua (1914-2008), co-founder of the ALN football team
*
Sidi El Houari
''Sidi'' or ''Sayidi'', also Sayyidi and Sayeedi, ( ar, سيدي, Sayyīdī, Sīdī (dialectal) "milord") is an Arabic masculine title of respect. ''Sidi'' is used often to mean "saint" or "my master" in Maghrebi Arabic and Egyptian Arabic. Wi ...
(1350-1439), imam and patron saint of the city of Oran
*
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach (born 29 September 1937) is a French journalist.
Biography
Elkabbach was born to an Algerian Jewish family in Oran in 1937, then the prefecture of the ''département d'Oran'' in French Algeria. He began his journalisti ...
(born 1937), French journalist
*
Maurice El Mediouni Maurice El Mediouni, French El Médioni ( ar, مــوريــس الــمــديــونــي, born on 18 October 1928 in Oran, Algeria) is an Algerian-Jewish pianist, composer and interpreter of Andalusian, rai, Sephardic and Arab music. He i ...
(born 1928), pianist, composer and interpreter of Andalusian, Raï, Sephardic and Arab music
*Miloud El Mehadj (1909-2001), imam, writer and ulama
*Tayeb El Mehadj (1881-1969), imam and ulama
*
Kader Firoud
Abdelkader Firoud (October 11, 1919 in Oran, Algeria – April 3, 2005 in Nîmes, France), most commonly known as Kader Firoud, was a French-Algerian professional football midfielder
A midfielder is an outfield position in associati ...
(1919-2005), professional footballer and manager
*Henri Fouques-Duparc (1903-1976), French politician, deputy and mayor of Oran
*
Miloud Hadefi
Miloud Hadefi ( ar, ميلود هدفي; March 12, 1949 – June 6, 1994) was an Algerian football player and manager. Hedefi represented Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_captio ...
(1949-1994), international footballer and manager
*
Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah
Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah (Arabic: عبد الرحمن حاج صالح) was an Algerian linguist (8 July 1928 - 5 March 2017), popularly labelled the "father of linguistics" in Algeria.
Life
Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah was born in Oran on 8 July 1928 ...
(1928-2017), linguist
*Caïda Halima (1859-1944), great personality and business woman
*
Cheb Hasni
Cheb Hasni ( ar, الشاب حسني), born Hasni Chakroun ( ar, حسني شقرون), (1 February 1968 – 29 September 1994), was an Algerian raï singer. He was popular across the Maghreb, having reached the height of his career in the late 1 ...
(1968-1994), Raï singer
*
Blaoui Houari
Blaoui Houari ( ''Blawī al-Hwārī''; 23 January 1926 – 19 July 2017) was an Algerian singer-songwriter, composer and conductor. Over the course of his career, he recorded over 900 songs and released over 100 albums.
Early life
Blaoui Houari ...
(1926-2017), singer-songwriter, composer and conductor
*
Khaled (born 1960), prominent
Raï
Raï (, ; ar, راي, Latn, ar, rāʾy, ), sometimes written rai, is a form of Algerian traditional music, folk music that dates back to the 1920s. Singers of Raï are called ''cheb'' (Arabic: شاب) (or ''shabab,'' i.e. young) as opposed ...
singer and multi-instrumentalist
*
Mustapha Moussa
Mustapha Moussa ( ar, مصطفى موسى; born February 2, 1962 in Oran) is an Algerian former boxer who fought in the light heavyweight division. He won the first-ever Olympic medal for Algeria, winning a bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in L ...
(born 1962), former boxer, first Algerian Olympic medalist
*
Armand Mouyal
Armand Mouyal (13 October 1925 – 15 July 1988) was a French epee world champion fencer.
Early and personal life
Born in Oran, French Algeria, Mouyal was Jewish.
Fencing career
Mouyal began fencing in the early 1950s.
National champio ...
(1925–88), French world champion épée fencer
*Ahmed Saber (1937-1969), singer-songwriter, composer, conductor and actor
*
Yves Saint Laurent (1936–2008), French fashion designer
*
Henri Stambouli
Henri Stambouli (born 5 August 1961) is a French former football player and a current manager.
Coaching career
Stambouli coached Marseille and Sedan in France.
He managed the Togo national football team, leaving the position in September 200 ...
(born 1961), former footballer and current manager
*Ahmed Wahby (1921-1993), singer-songwriter, composer and conductor
*
Ahmed Zabana
Ahmed Zabana ( ar, أحمد زبانة; real name: Ahmed Zahana, born 1926, died June 19, 1956) was an Algerian militant who participated in the outbreak of the Algerian War. He was executed by guillotine on June 19, 1956, in Algiers.
Early life ...
(1926-1956), nationalist militant who participated in the outbreak of the Algerian War
*Belkacem Zeddour Mohamed Brahim (1923-1954), nationalist activist for Algerian War
See also
*
European enclaves in North Africa before 1830
The European enclaves in North Africa (technically ‘Enclave and exclave#Related constructs and terms, semi-enclaves’) were towns, fortifications and trading posts on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of western North Africa (sometimes calle ...
References
Bibliography
External links
EasyOran The Oran electronic guide
Visit OranVoted in 2007 as "Oran's best website" by the ministry of culture and Panoramic Tours. Mostly dedicated to tourism. Features photo galleries, short films, news, city guides & information, hotel info & reservation forms, forum...
Le Souk d'OranOran student's community
Oran's Community FORUMThe Community Discussion Forum for Oran and tourism.
*
Oran MAPS—Detailed maps of the Oran Region and City.
*
Oran-dz
{{Authority control
Cities in Algeria
Province seats of Algeria
Coastal cities in Algeria
Communes of Oran Province
Mediterranean port cities and towns in Algeria
Populated coastal places in Algeria
Port cities of the Mediterranean Sea
Former Spanish colonies
Spanish Africa
Populated places established in the 1st century
903 establishments
10th-century establishments in Africa