World Heritage Identification Number: 565
World Heritage since: 1992
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Historic Cities & Urban Areas
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇩🇿 Algeria
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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The Kasbah of Algiers: A Unique Medina Overlooking the Mediterranean
The Kasbah of Algiers, officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, is a captivating testament to the rich history and cultural diversity of Algeria. Situated in the heart of the country's capital, this ancient fortress offers a glimpse into the past while maintaining its relevance in modern times.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The Kasbah is a unique kind of medina, or Islamic city. It stands in one of the finest coastal sites on the Mediterranean, overlooking the islands where a Carthaginian trading-post was established in the 4th century BC. There are the 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.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ii): The Kasbah of Algiers has exercised considerable influence on architecture and town-planning in North Africa, Andalusia and in sub-Saharan Africa during the 16th and 17th centuries. These exchanges are illustrated in the specific character of its houses and the density of its urban stratification, a model of human settlement where the ancestral lifestyle and Muslim customs have blended with other types of traditions.
Criterion (v): The Kasbah of Algiers is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement representing a profoundly Mediterranean Muslim culture, synthesis of numerous traditions. The vestiges of the citadel, ancient mosques, Ottoman palaces, as well as a traditional urban structure associated with a strong sense of community testify to this culture and are the result of its interaction with the various layers of populations.
Encyclopedia Record: Casbah of Algiers
The Casbah of Algiers, commonly referred to as the Casbah, corresponds to the old town or medina of Algiers, the capital of Algeria. It is a historic district that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Administratively, it is located within the municipality of Casbah, in the province of Algiers.Additional Site Details
Area: 54.7 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: 36.78333 , 3.06028
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