Elephants crossing the Zambezi river in Mana Pools National Park world heritage site, Zimbabwe

The great mosque in the Old Towns of Djenne world heritage site, Mali

Black and white ruffed lemur, Rainforests of the Atsinanana world heritage site, Madagascar

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(clockwise from top left: Grauer's gorilla (Kahuzi-Biega); Rock-hewn church (Lalibela); Hominid skull (Ethiopia); Protea flower (Cape Floral Region)

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad - Algeria

Map showing the location of Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad UNESCO world heritage site, Algeria

Website Category: Fortified Cities of the Maghreb

Area: 1.5 km²

Inscribed: 1980

Criteria: (iii) cultural tradition

Location and Values: The Al Qal’a of Beni Hammad is located in the Jebel Maadid, a mountainous area about 100 km south of the Mediterranean coast near the town of M’Sila. It is a ruined city, the first capital of the Hammadid emirs, founded in 1007, abandoned in 1090, and finally destroyed in 1152. The ruins testify to a magnificent city, with 7km of outer fortification enclosing a city with one of the largest mosques in Algeria and a number of palaces.

Slideshow of the Al Qal’a Of Beni Hammad:

Google Earth View: To view satellite imagery of this site on Google Earth, click here. This opens a new window, so when you are finished, just close the Google Earth page and you will be straight back here to continue browsing. The view here includes the ruins of two of the palaces, from which it is worth panning around to see other features and the mountainous environment in which the city was built. Unfortunately the images are not very clear.

Links to other places featuring fortified cities of the Maghreb: Algiers I Fez I Marrakech I Meknes I Tetouan I Tunis I Kerkuane I Kairouan I Sousse

Other Links: Official UNESCO Site Details

Minaret and ruins of the mosque at the ancient Hammadid capital city, Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (UNESCO world heritage site, near M'Sila, Algeria) Minaret of the mosque at the ancient Hammadid capital city, Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (UNESCO world heritage site, near M'Sila, Algeria) Archaeological remains of the Palais du Lac, one of the lavish palaces at the ancient Hammadid capital city, Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (UNESCO world heritage site, near M'Sila, Algeria) Rock strata in the Djebel Maadid, a natural fortress for the ancient Hammadid capital city, Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (UNESCO world heritage site, near M'Sila, Algeria)