One of Algeria's oldest and most magnificent mosques, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture
The Great Mosque of Oran — known locally as the Mosque of the Bey — was built in 1796 by the Ottoman Bey Mohamed El Kebir following his recapture of Oran from Spain. It is one of the finest examples of Ottoman-Moorish architecture in all of North Africa.
The mosque features a stunning 27-metre minaret decorated with intricate geometric tilework, a cavernous prayer hall supported by marble columns, and ornate stucco carvings throughout. Spanish materials looted from the old cathedral were incorporated in its construction — a deliberate symbolic gesture.
Dress modestly — women should cover their hair and shoulders. Remove shoes before entering. The mosque is at its most atmospheric early morning or just before sunset when the call to prayer echoes across the old city.