The Casbah is the citadel of Algiers in Algeria and the traditional quarter clustered around it. In 1992, UNESCO proclaimed Kasbah of Algiers a World Cultural Heritage site, as there are remains of the citadel, old mosques and Ottoman-style palaces as well as the remains of a traditional urban structure associated with a deep-rooted sense of community.

The Casbah of Algiers is founded on the ruins of old Icosium in the 10th century. It was a city built on a hill, stretching towards the sea, divided into the high city and the low city. Before French rule, the casbah contained around 13 Jama Masjids, 109 mosques, 32 mausoleums and 12 Zawiyas, total of 166 religious-related buildings. The site was inhabited at least from the 6th century BC when a Phoenician trading post was established there.

However, the majority of these religious buildings were destroyed during the occupation. In 1862, there were only nine Jama Masjids, 19 mosques, 15 mausoleums and five Zawiyas left. The Casbah played a central role during the Algerian War of Independence.

The Kasbah of Algiers was listed as a national historic site in November 1991 and safeguarded sector in 2003. The Kasbah of Algiers is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement representing a profoundly Mediterranean Muslim culture, synthesis of numerous traditions.

Algeria

Casbah of Algiers |  Tipasa |  Timgad