Al Qal"a of Beni Hammad Site - (World Heritage Site in Algeria)

Brief Report

In a mountainous area of exceptional beauty, the ruins of the first capital of the Hammadid now, set up in 1007 and scrapped in 1152, an authentic image of a reinforced islamic city. The mosque, whose prayer room has 13 courses with eight bays, is one of the largest in Algeria.

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is a remarkable archaeological site is located 36 km northeast of the city M'Sila. This ensemble of preserved ruins, at 1,000 m altitude, is located in a mountainous area of eye-catching beauty on the southern flank of Jabel Maâdid. The Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad was founded in the beginning of the 11th century by Hammad, son of Bologhine (founder of Algiers), and abandoned in 1090 under the threat of a Hilalian invasion. It is one of the most interesting and most precisely dated monumental complexes of the Islamic civilisation. It was the first capital of the Hammadid now enjoyed and much splendour. The Al Qal'a consists of, 7 km of partly dismantled fortress walls, a large number of monumental relics, including the great mosque and the minaret and a series of palaces. The mosque, with its prayer hall consists of 13 naves of 8 bays is the largest after that of Mansourah and the minaret is the oldest in Algeria after that Sidi Boumerouane. The ruins of the Al Qal'a witnesses of the great refinement of the Hammad civilisation, an original architecture and the beautiful culture of North Africa. 

Wide Report

The ensemble of preserved ruins known as Al Qal'ah of Beni Hammad is located on the southern flank of the Jebel Maâdid in a mountainous area of outstanding beauty. The bears special witness of a cultural tradition: it is one of the most interesting and most precisely dated monumental complexes of the Islamic civilisation, and gives an authentic picture of a Muslim city.

In a mountainous terrain at 1,000 m above sea level, on the southern flank of the Jebel Maâdid, you will find the ruins of the first capital of the Hammadid now, founded in 1007 by Hammad, son of Bologhine, the founder of Algiers. The city was abandoned in 1090 when he was threatened by a Hilalian invasion, and finally destroyed in 1152 by the Almohads. He enjoyed great splendour during the 11th century. The Al Qal'a comprises a large number of monumental relics, including the Great Mosque and the minaret, as well as a number of palaces, including the Kanar, Greeting and more palaces. 

The mosque, with the prayer room of 13 courses with eight bays, is one of the largest in Algeria after Mansura. The minaret, 25 meters high, is the prototype of the three-tiered minaret composition can be seen in particular in the Giralda in Seville. The impressive ruins testify to the great refinement of the Hammadid civilisation. The Castle of the beacon, located on a huge rock which remains dominated by the surrounding area, was inspired by the classification of eastern palaces. The palace of the Hammadid now is a complex consists of three houses separated by gardens, pavilions and cisterns. 

Excavations have brought to light the locations of other palaces, as well as a wealth of other material that is exhibited in the museums of Setif and Constantine and Algiers.