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Tlemcen Capital of Zianids Kings

      Historical Landmarks

11th century: Founded by Youssif bin Tachfin, and named Tagrart.
1236: The Berber dynasty Zianids founds a dynasty with Tlemcen as capital. It became soon an important link in the trans-Saharan trade and the propagation of Islam in the Sub Saharian countries..
1282: Siege by the Merenids. They built the walled city Mansoura.
1337: New siege by the Merenids, short occupation.
1353: Third and the last siege by the Merenids, once again short occupation.
1553: End of the Zianid epoque.
1834: Abdu l-Qadir starts using Tlemcen as one of his bases.
1842: Tlemcen becomes part of French Algeria.
1962: With the independence of Algeria, Tlemcen becomes part of independent Algeria.

Tlemcen lies near the Moroccan border,it is situated in the northwestern Algeria backed by the cliffs of the well-watered Tlemcen Mountains and overlooks the fertile Hennaya and Maghnia plains. Lying at an elevation of 2,648 feet (807 m). Tlemcen is located sufficiently inland to avoid the humidity of the Mediterranean coast but is near enough to receive cooling sea breezes in summer. The resulting temperate climate favoured Tlemcen's development and explains its historical importance.

Its location on a crossroads between the Mediterranean coast and the Sahara and between Algeria and Morocco has made it a commercial center since ancient times. Its prime importance was as a trade center during the Middle Ages. It flourished (13th–15th cent.) as the capital of a Muslim Berber dynasty, which ruled over much of what is now Algeria.

The earliest settlement on the site was called Pomaria ("Orchards") by the Romans in the 4th century because of the local profusion of orchards and gardens. The town was later renamed Agadir ("Escarpment") by the Berbers. This eventually merged with the neighbouring Almoravid military settlement of Tagrart, which was founded in the 11th century. The union evolved in the 13th century as the town of Tlemcen (from the Berber tilmisane, "springs," for the local perennial springs). Tlemcen was the capital of the 'Abd al-Wadid kingdom of Tilimsan from the 13th to the 15th century. It became a religious and cultural centre of Islam as well as a focal point of trading routes along coastal northern Africa. Tlemcen was coveted by the neighbouring Merinid kingdom of Fès to the west, however, and the Merinids established during 8 years the fortified camp of Mansourah 1.5 miles (2.4 km) West of Tlemcen as a base from which to besiege the town.

Zianides Swimming Pool