Ahmed Bey Palace

Hadj Ahmed Bey, the last bey of Constantine, built this palace between about 1826 and 1835, and it is the largest surviving Ottoman-period residence in Algeria: a sequence of courtyards planted with orange and cypress, arcades on marble columns brought from older buildings, tiled dados, carved wood and painted ceilings. Its distinctive feature is a series of murals painted along the gallery walls showing landscapes and buildings from the bey's journeys, including his pilgrimage to Mecca and views of ports and cities, a rare piece of nineteenth-century North African painting. The palace was used as a barracks and administrative building for a long period and now houses a museum.

What you actually see

• Painted journey murals - landscapes and cities along the gallery walls.
• Courtyards with orange and cypress - the planted sequence of the plan.
• Marble columns reused from older buildings - the arcades around the courts.
• Carved wood and painted ceilings - the interior decoration.

When to go

October to May. Two hours. Opening hours are set and it closes on some days; check locally. Photography rules vary between rooms.

Honest expectations

Restoration has been long and parts remain closed. Interpretation is thin and mostly in French and Arabic. The murals have suffered from damp and past overpainting. Guided access is sometimes required.

Nearby

The Sidi Rached viaduct is below; the Casbah lies north.