Al Qal'a Of Beni Hammad
Since peace and stability has been restored to Algeria after many years of civil war, this North African country has started becoming a bona fide tourist destination in the Arabic World. Algeria is the continent’s second largest country and boasts an outstanding plethora of sights and sounds for visiting holiday-makers to enjoy. While its natural spectacles such as the Sidi Fredj Peninsula and Chiffa Gorges are among the main attractions on offer, Algeria is also the home of a deep and rich cultural and historical legacy.
This is none more evident than at the Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad, which is located in the mountains of M’Sila, near to the town of Bechara and approximately 225km south east of the Algerian capital of Algiers. Dating as far back as 1007 when it was founded, Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad became the capital of the Hammadid Empire before it was destroyed in 1152. Today, the excavated ruins are one of Algeria’s most famous and prominent historical sites and became a treasured UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Visitors can expect to find an authentic and comprehensive picture of what a fortified Muslim town would have looked like during the 10th century. The main feature amongst the ruins is a large and impressive Mosque, which has a prayer room featuring 13 aisles and 8 bays – one of the largest such structures in the country. The surrounding area is blessed with intense and breathtaking beauty making a visit out to the inspiring site of Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad an even more memorable and special occasion.
