Oran, the pearl of North Africa, rises and falls in the tide of history

Setting foot on the land of Oran is like opening a thick history book, with every page filled with stories. Behind the city, Mount Eidur stands quietly, witnessing the changes of the past. As early as the beginning of the Spanish occupation, in order to resist the attacks of the Algerians, they began to build a fortress on Mount Aidur. In 1563, the Marquis of Santa Cruz started construction on the top of the mountain and built a fortress named after him. It took 41 years until the project was completed in 1604. Santa Cruz Fort was born. As the driver drove us slowly up the winding mountain road, every bend seemed to be opening a new chapter in history, and the view became wider and wider as the wheels turned. The afternoon sun shines on Santa Cruz Chapel, and the whole church is covered with a layer of warm glow, sacred and peaceful. Come out of the church and go up the stairs, and you will see Santa Cruz Castle. This castle was tasked with defense, so its exterior is covered with holes for placing guns and machinery, exuding a sense of historical vicissitudes everywhere. As you step inside, you can almost see Spanish soldiers holding guns and moving between the fortresses with vigilant looks. Standing on the top of the castle and looking down, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of half of Oran City, with ships coming and going in the port and cars on the road, what a lively scene. However, the wheel of history rolled forward, and as the cost of defending the city continued to rise, in 1790, Charles IV decided to abandon Oran after negotiations with the chiefs of Algiers. The era of Spanish occupation of Oran came to an end, and the brief Ottoman period followed. After that, after a series of turbulent changes, the whole of Algeria entered the French Algeria period (l’Algérie française, 1830-1962), and Oran was no exception. French Algeria, one of France's longest-ruled overseas territories, attracted hundreds of thousands of European immigrants, known as "colons" and later as "pieds-noirs." The famous French writer Albert Camus was one of them. French colonial rule was like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the popularization of French and the penetration of French culture hit Algeria like a surging tide; on the other hand, it also brought tremendous changes to this land. The French-style buildings lining the streets and alleys are the most intuitive witnesses of this history. Even today, there is no obstacle to living in Oran speaking French. Looking back on this history, colonization brought endless grief and suffering to the local people. But it is undeniable that, apart from history and national sentiment, this city full of cultural diversity has a unique charm. It combines elements of different cultures and shines with a different brilliance after years of baptism. When you come to Oran, in addition to experiencing its profound historical heritage, you can't miss the local food. Here, I would like to recommend a Spanish restaurant to you. Its name is l’écume d’argent, but you can only find it by searching Bury Wahrang. This is like a food building. The owner has created a food paradise inside. There are different delicious dishes on each floor. This restaurant is probably on the first or second floor. I highly recommend their cuttlefish rice. With one bite, the delicious flavor spreads on the tip of your tongue, leaving you with an endless aftertaste.