Sidi-bel-Abbès

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Sidi Bel Abbès (Arabic: سيدي بلعباس‎) is a capital (2005 pop. 200,000)^[1] of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya (2005 pop. 590,000), Algeria. It is named after a Muslim holy man who is buried there.^[1] It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It is surrounded by a wall with four gates and there is a university there. Sidi Bel Abbès is 75 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea.

It is well connected to other Algerian cities by roads and railroads. Oran is 70 kilometers north and Tlemcen is 90 kilometers west of Sidi Bel Abbès. The closest airport is in Oran.^[1]

History

The city, on the Wadi Mékerra River, developed around a French camp built in 1849^[1] . From 1931 until 1961, the city was the "holy city" or spiritual home of the French Foreign Legion, the location of its basic training camp, and the headquarters of its 1st Foreign Regiment. Before 1962 Sidi Bel Abbès was headquarters of the French Foreign Legion.

In the 1930s much of the old city walls were demolished. Wide boulevards and squares replaced the traditional quarters.

Economy

The economy centers on agriculture, particularly the production of cereals such as wheat and barley and the grape industry. A farm machine manufacturing complex is located there.^[1]

Famous Natives of Sidi Bel Abbès

• René Raphaël Viviani (November 8, 1863 – September 7, 1925) was a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for the first year of World War I.
• Gaston Maurice Julia (February 3, 1893 – March 19, 1978) Mathematician famous for "Julia Set" in Chaos Mathematics.
• Marcel Cerdan (1916–49): French boxer; known as Le Bombardier Marocain (The Moroccan Bomber).
• Djillali Liabes (1948–93): Famous Algerian Sociologist, philosopher, Dr. status in literature and humanities.
• Mohammed Bedjaoui: (21 September 1929) Foreign minister. Ex Minister of Justice (1964-70), Ambassador to France (1970-79) and Algerian permanent representative to the UN (1979-82). He was a judge on the International Court of Justice at The Hague (1982-2001).Coordinates: 35°12′N 0°38′W / 35.2°N 0.633°W / 35.2; -0.633
• Kad Merad (1964): actor in Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Sidi Bel Abbes, lexicorient.com (Encyclopaedia of the Orient), internet article.

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