The walls of Miliana, founded by order of Emperor Hadrian, were rebuilt by the Turks to fortify the city and its Casbah. These fortifications were then redeveloped by the French military engineers during the new urban layout of the modern city. Stretching 3 km long, 8 m high, and 0.60 m thick, these walls, built of cut stone, are equipped with 17 bastions. In the past, they had several gates including the gate of Algiers to the East, the gate of Zaccar to the North, and the gates of Boutane and Oran to the West.
During the colonial period, a large part of the Turkish walls of Miliana was destroyed due to the new layout of the city. Some work was done to stabilize the structure. Despite these modifications, the walls remain an imposing testament to the beauty and unique charm of this medieval city.
The Turks, using the remains of Roman constructions, built two enclosures: one surrounded the Casbah in the southeast of the city, the other encircled the Turkish city to the east and north. In 1849, the walls were moved westward to establish the modern city. These walls, located on a pleasant promontory, offer a majestic view of the Chélif Valley.
The walls are equipped with loopholes forming 17 bastions. The East gate (Zaccar Gate), built in 1854, was demolished in 1954 to improve automobile traffic. The West gate (Orleansville Gate), built in 1850 and destroyed in 1974, was known as “Bab El Gherbi”. The Boutane Gate, located near Aïn El Djemmâa, was destroyed before the Zaccar Gate. Finally, the Yedmer Gate, leading to Yadmer and Aïn El Barqouq, was on the south wall and was also an important entry point during the capture of Miliana by Marshal Valée.
The walls of Miliana, founded by order of Emperor Hadrian, were rebuilt by the Turks to fortify the city and its Casbah. These fortifications were then redeveloped by the French military engineers during the new urban layout of the modern city. Stretching 3 km long, 8 m high, and 0.60 m thick, these walls, built of cut stone, are equipped with 17 bastions. In the past, they had several gates including the gate of Algiers to the East, the gate of Zaccar to the North, and the gates of Boutane and Oran to the West.
During the colonial period, a large part of the Turkish walls of Miliana was destroyed due to the new layout of the city. Some work was done to stabilize the structure. Despite these modifications, the walls remain an imposing testament to the beauty and unique charm of this medieval city.
The Turks, using the remains of Roman constructions, built two enclosures: one surrounded the Casbah in the southeast of the city, the other encircled the Turkish city to the east and north. In 1849, the walls were moved westward to establish the modern city. These walls, located on a pleasant promontory, offer a majestic view of the Chélif Valley.
The walls are equipped with loopholes forming 17 bastions. The East gate (Zaccar Gate), built in 1854, was demolished in 1954 to improve automobile traffic. The West gate (Orleansville Gate), built in 1850 and destroyed in 1974, was known as “Bab El Gherbi”. The Boutane Gate, located near Aïn El Djemmâa, was destroyed before the Zaccar Gate. Finally, the Yedmer Gate, leading to Yadmer and Aïn El Barqouq, was on the south wall and was also an important entry point during the capture of Miliana by Marshal Valée.
