Sidi Bel Abbès (Arabic: سيدي بلعباس), also called Bel Abbès, is the capital (2005 pop. 200,000)[1] of the Sidi Bel Abbèswilaya (2005 pop. 590,000), Algeria. It is named after Sidi bel Abbass, a Muslim marabout or noble man who is buried there.[1] The city is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It was formerly surrounded by a wall with four gates, and today is home to a university. Sidi Bel Abbès is 75 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea.
History
The present city, on the Wadi Sig River, developed around a French camp built in 1843. In 1849 a planned agricultural town was established around the existing military post. From the 1830s until 1962 the city was closely associated with the French Foreign Legion, being the location of its basic training camp, and the headquarters of its 1st Foreign Regiment. In the late 1890s the town, described as being of Spanish appearance, had a civilian population of about 30,000.[2] The main buildings were in the French military district of the Quartier Vienot.The training centre of the modern Algerian National Gendarmerie is located in Sidi Bel Abbès.
In the 1930s much of the old city walls were demolished. Wide boulevards and squares replaced the traditional quarters, causing the town to lose much of its former character.
Geography
The city sits astride both banks of the Sig River, and lake Sidi Mohamed Benali. The lake provides a major water reserve for the area.
Sidi Bel Abbès has 26 regional neighborhoods. These are: Campus, Ben Hamouda, American Village, Rocher, Sidi Djilali, Environment, Gambetta, Maconi, Soricor, La Brimer, Londeau, Sidi Yacine, Saqia Hamra, Village Perrin, Village Bira, Adda boudjelal, El Makam, El madina el Mounaouara, Bab Eddaya, Boumlik (Campo), Downtown, Grebah, Cimitiere Houria, Cite 20 Aout, Village Tierre, Village de Gaulle.
Culture
École des Beaux Arts in Sidi Bel Abbès.
Music
Rai music is the most famous music in the city and it is known of many rai chebs Like Djilali Amarna.
Sport
Association football is the most popular sport in the city. The local football team is USM Bel Abbès, which plays in 24 Fevrier Stadium. Basketball, handball, and volleyball are also popular and are played in middle and high schools or sports complexes, such as Adda Boudjelal Sportive Complex. The city also has a rugby union club, MC Sidi Bel Abbès.
Economy
The economy centers on agriculture, particularly the production of cereals such as wheat and barley and the grape industry. A farm machine manufacturing complex is located there.[1] There is an industrial zone which plays a major role in the city's economy.
Markets
There are many markets in Sidi Bel Abbès. Souk el Felah and Souk el Lile are the main two markets for fruit and vegetables.
Sidi Bel Abbès is well connected to other Algerian cities by roads. Oran is 70 kilometers north and Tlemcen is 90 kilometers west. The West-East Route passes near the city.
The Sidi Bel Abbès tramway line was opened on July 25, 2017.[4] The light rail line is 14.7 kilometers in length, with 22 stations covering most of the main points in the city such as 3 Bus stations, Daira, University campus, Down Town, and Public Garden, although it doesn't serve the west of the city and the south.
Train
Sidi Bel Abbès has a railway station from which trains travel to Oran, Tlemcen, Bechar and Saïda. A rail link between Algeria and Morocco passes through the city but this link has been discontinued for political reasons.
Tourism
Place Carnot.
Landmarks
Sidi Bel Abbès has several historical landmarks. These include Place Carnot which was renamed Place 1er Novembre after independence. This is a square situated in the central city. Perrin Castle is a fortress situated between Sidi Bel Abbès and Sidi Lahcene and built in the French style of architecture, The town hall, also built in the historical French pattern was formally a cathedral. The FLN party office was in colonial times a military building.
Hotels
Sidi Bel Abbès has five hotels, including Beni tella and Eden, "Metropole I", "Metropole II", "Quods".
Notable people
René Raphaël Viviani (November 8, 1863 – September 7, 1925), a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for the first year of World War I
Marco Torrès (January 22, 1888 - January 15, 1963), Olympic gymnast, two-time World All-Around Champion
Marcel Cerdan (1916–49), French boxer, known as Le Bombardier Marocain ("The Moroccan Bomber")
Mohammed Bedjaoui (born 21 September 1929), foreign minister, former Minister of Justice (1964–70), Ambassador to France (1970–79) and Algerian permanent representative to the UN (1979–82). He was a judge on the International Court of Justice at The Hague (1982–2001).
^ abcdSidi Bel Abbes, lexicorient.com (Encyclopaedia of the Orient), internet article.
^Martin Windrow, page 138 Our Friends Beneath the Sands - The Foreign Legion in France's Colonial Conquests 1870-1935, ISBN978-0-297-85213-1
^"Sidi Bel Abbès Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
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