Beni Hammad Fort- Travel Tips

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Reviews of Beni Hammad Fort

• Hamza Mekki

  4

  Reviewed: 2024-09-16

  Much to be said, yet, the place is relatively far from the city of Msila, if you wish to catch the bus to Maadid, where this fort is located, you better be there early (7AM ) since few lines go through this region, I had to take a cab. I advise you to start first by the museum then you move to the fort, 20mn on foot. It s worth it !

• Rabah Lm

  5

  Reviewed: 2023-05-01

  A nice place for history lovers

• Sam Tls

  5

  Reviewed: 2022-08-28

  wonderful place. You get a strange feeling through the arid nature of its terrain. Honestly, I had a feeling as if the place was so full of memories that I could imagine the traces of a person not far away as if it was just a few hours ago. Feeling crazy too

• Harsh Soni

  4

  Reviewed: 2019-07-27

  Beni Hammad Fort, also called Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (Arabic: قلعة بني حماد‎) is a fortified palatine city in Algeria. Now in ruins, in the 11th century, it served as the first capital of the Hammadid dynasty. It is in the Hodna Mountains northeast of M'Sila, at an elevation of 1,418 metres (4,652 ft), and receives abundant water from the surrounding mountains. Beni Hammad Fort is near the town of Maadid (aka Maadhid), about 225 kilometres (140 mi) southeast of Algiers, in the Maghreb. In 1980, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and described as "an authentic picture of a fortified Muslim city". The town includes a 7-kilometre (4 mi) long line of walls. Inside the walls are four residential complexes, and the largest mosque built in Algeria after that of Mansurah. It is similar in design to the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, with a tall minaret, 20 metres (66 ft). Excavations have brought to light numerous terracotta, jewels, coins and ceramics testifying to the high level of civilization under the Hammadid dynasty. Also among the artifacts discovered are several decorative fountains using the lion as a motif. The remains of the emir's palace, known as Dal al-Bahr, include three separate residences separated by gardens and pavilions. The fortress was built in 1007 by Hammad ibn Buluggin, the son of Buluggin ibn Ziri, the founder of Algiers. The city became the capital of the Hammadid Berbers, and sustained a siege from the Zirid in 1017. In 1090 it was abandoned under the menace of the Banu Hilal, and was partly destroyed by the Almohads in 1152.

• Jalwin Johnson

  4

  Reviewed: 2019-04-27

  The Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is an archeological site in Algeria, which was the first capital of the Hammadid empire. It was founded in 1007 and destroyed in 1152. The Qal'a (Fortress) is located at more than 1,000m altitude. The town includes a 7 km-long line of walls. Inside the walls are four residential complexes, and the second largest mosque in Algeria. The remains of the emir's palace, known as Dal al-Bahr, include three separate residences separated by gardens and pavilions. Excavations have brought to light numerous terracotta, jewels, coins and ceramics testifying to the high level of civilization under the Hammadid dynasty.