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The Glossary
If Italy is known for being the proponent of the Western classical music tradition called opera, Oran or "The Lions" (from the Berber word "uhran") is famed for being the home of the wild Rai music. Judging from the laidback and liberal atmosphere of the town, there is no doubt that the inventive music movement was born here. However, Rai music is not the only artistic expression that hails from the city - Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus was born here, and so was the famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
It is a major city in the Mediterranean coast of northwestern Algeria and much of its success is attributed to the French who settled here in 1831. Today, the city serves as a major seaport to Algeria but most of the structures of Oran were built by the Spanish and French.
A good way to start a tour around Oran will be a visit to the Great Mosque built in 1796 to celebrate the liberation of the country from the Spanish. Equally fascinating is the Chateau Neuf which was originally a fort of Sultan Abou Hassan, now being rebuilt into a hotel.
Other worthwhile landmarks to visit include the Bey's Palace (a colossal complex built in 1340's), the Pasha's Mosque, and the Cathedral de Sacré Coeur (now a public library). There is also a main square called Place 1 Novembre which served in the past as a famous meeting place of Napoleon, Foch and d'Armes.
History and archeology buffs will surely be entertained at the Musée National Ahmed Zabana for it has a collection of the narratives created during the battle of independence that took place in the city. The Demaegth Museum, on the other hand, which is quite smaller compared to the Musee National, displays some exhibitions about the European buildings built in Oran along with the prehistoric archaeological relics and natural exhibits of animals found throughout Maghreb.
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