Oran I

Oran is the second largest city in Algeria, about 300 miles west of Algiers.  Cindy had a conference there and I was able to tag along as a tourist.  The area around the Bay of Oran has been settled a long time, of course, but oddly enough only came under Turkish rule in the early 18th Century.  The Spanish and Turks traded control throughout the 18th Century, and it was under Turkish control by late 18C, not too long before the French colonized it.  It has a lot of art deco French buildings in the downtown area, most of which need renovation.  The good news is that a lot of buildings are being renovated, like the French city hall, opera house, and apartments.  Because of its proximity to Andalusia a lot of Moors and Jews settled here when forced to leave Spain (by decree of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, wonderful Chrisian monarchs that they were), there is also Spanish influence. 

The photo below is looking east over the Bay of Oran and the city.  Fort Santa Cruz is in the foreground.

 

 The train station in Oran.  Designed and built by the French around the turn of the century.  

 A closeup of the Moorish entrance arches.  The tile work in Turkish/Moorish architecture is really incredible.

The Star of David in the cupola.  A tribute to the influence of Jews in Oran.  There was a large synagogue and Jewish community here.  Ferdinand & Isabella were equal opportunity Catholics:  no Jews or Moors need apply.  Those who didn't want to convert to Catholicism were forced out of Spain, many of whom came to North Africa.  Oran is only about 100 miles from Almeria, Spain, just up the coast from Malaga.  There is a ferry that goes between the two cities.

More tile:

La Cathedrale du Sacre Coeur,  which is now a library.

The organ pipes are still there, and the stained glass, the choir stalls, and the pulpit, seen below.

The pulpit, looking out over the library tables and bookshelves.

The photo above is of recently renovated art deco apartments, and below a Turkish a sort of Turkish Flatiron building.

Above, the opera, which is now used as a theater (plays, not movies, three days a week for children, weekends for adults.)

The lions on the front of the city hall, which is currently undergoing restoration. 

The former Jewish synagogue, which is now a mosque.  It was built in the late 19th Century, and became a mosque only in 1975.

 Fort Santa Cruz from Oran, and the white building directly below it is the Chapel of Santa Cruz, with the large statue of the virgin on top of the tower to the right.  Directly behind the fort is the old city of Mers el-Kebir,