[2025 Oran Attraction] Travel Guide for Fort of Santa Cruz (Updated Mar)

Oran, Algeria, a two-day North African fantasy trip✨ My dears! Today I will share with you a super exciting self-guided tour guide to Oran, Algeria, focusing on a two-day trip to take in all the essence of Oran~ Itinerary Planning It is recommended to take a flight from Algiers to Oran in the morning, stay in Oran for one night, and return the next day. If you have enough time, like three days, you can try taking a train from Agha Station. Although it takes a little longer, the scenery along the way may add a different kind of fun to your journey. Check-in treasure spots Fort of Santa Cruz & Church of Santa Cruz: This is a castle and church built by the Spanish on the mountain, full of historical charm. After the tour, we continued walking up the mountain and saw the Mardjadjo cable car station. There is a big flagpole and a mosque on the top of the mountain. It is very convenient to take the cable car down the mountain. There is a tram station not far from the bottom of the mountain. At the cable car station at the foot of the mountain, you can also overlook the Municipality of Sidi El Hawari, named after a 14th-century religious celebrity, which is the local neighborhood town hall. Place Premier November: Located in the heart of the old town, it is filled with French-style buildings. There is a theater to the west, and two lions guarding the door of the town hall to the south. The name Oran means lion in Berber, which is super interesting! Oran Arena: This arena is very unique, but there is a military base behind it. When you are taking photos and playing, don’t let people misunderstand you as spying on you. Pay attention to the small details and have more peace of mind. Ahmed Zabana National Museum: The museum has three floors. When I went there, it was closed due to the general election. Fortunately, after communicating with the administrator, I was able to visit the first floor. The collections inside may contain many stories about Oran, so you should definitely explore them if you have the chance. Disco Maghreb: Oranje is the hometown of Raïs music. It was originally a CD store and can be considered the origin of Raïs music. A certain DJ Snake singer also has a single with the same name. Although I don’t think it sounds very good, it is very meaningful to check in here. Abdullah Bin Salem Mosque: This building was formerly a synagogue, and is now a mosque. You can go in and visit to experience the fusion of different religious cultures here. Palais du Bey & Red Tower: This place has witnessed many periods of history, with the Spanish, Ottomans and French successively building buildings here. The 14th-century Spanish castle was once an important line of defense at the foot of Santa Cruz Castle. Although the Ottoman Governor's Palace Palais is more dilapidated than the one in Constantine, its sense of vicissitudes is more fascinating. Not many people know about this place, so it is considered a niche treasure attraction. Oran Seafront: The coastal promenade is a great place to enjoy the view, overlooking the port and marina. There is an open-air cafe and many local restaurants on the opposite corner. When you are tired of shopping, you can sit down and have a cup of coffee and try the local food. It is really delicious. Recommended accommodation Royal Hotel: Great location, in the center of the old town, recommended by many YouTube celebrities. There is also a pub on the first floor, where you can relax when you are tired of playing, the atmosphere is great. Le Palme Hotel: Highly recommended! The transportation is super convenient, and it is easy to take the tram. The environment is good and the breakfast is particularly rich. Only if you live comfortably can you have fun. Other options: like Melissa, Sheraton, Hotel Oran Bay (there is a pub in the lobby, with TV but no music, but there is a piano), Le Méridien (the pub faces the sea and has dynamic music at night), you can choose according to your preferences. My dears, pack your bags and go to Oran to start a unique journey in North Africa! If you have any questions, please leave a comment~

Hey friends! 👋 Today, we're bringing you a super practical travel guide to Oran, ensuring your trip is worthwhile! 🎉 🏰 First, don't forget to check in at Fort of Santa Cruz and Church of Santa Cruz. This castle and church, built by the Spanish, has a long history and stunning scenery, making it the perfect place to take photos! 📸 🏛️ Next, take a stroll through Place Premier November, the heart of the old town. French architecture, theaters, and the city hall all exude a rich historical atmosphere. 🍽️ Food is another highlight of Oran. Don't miss the local casbah, chicken tagine, and couscous, each bite is a taste of authentic Algerian cuisine. 🤤 🛍️ Shopping enthusiasts, Oran Market and Algiers Shopping Center are waiting for you. Whether you're looking for souvenirs or international brands, you'll find it all here! 🛍 🏨 We recommend Le Palme Hotel, which offers a pleasant environment, a rich breakfast, and convenient access to the tram. 🛏️ 🚇 Finally, don't forget to experience Oran's tram, a beautiful way to explore the city! 🚃 Come to Oran and experience the unique charm of this city! 💕 Remember to bring your camera and good mood, and record these wonderful moments together! 🌈

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.