Ketchaoua Mosque
An Ottoman mosque at the foot of the Casbah of Algiers, rebuilt, reused and restored.
Updated 31 October 2026
AI illustration
UNESCO World Heritage
The Ketchaoua mosque stands at the foot of the Casbah of Algiers, on a stepped street where the old town begins, and its history is layered. It was founded in 1612 under Ottoman rule, was taken over and rebuilt as a cathedral in the nineteenth century in a heavy neo-Moorish and Byzantine manner with twin towers and a broad stair, and returned to use as a mosque in 1962. Structural damage and earthquakes left it closed for years until a full restoration funded by Turkey reopened it in 2018. The building now shows all of those phases at once, and it stands within the Casbah, inscribed by UNESCO as World Heritage in 1992.
History
A notarial document dates the mosque to 1611-1612, though an unconfirmed mention suggests origins as early as the 14th century, and an inscription records its rebuilding in 1793-1794, when it was described as a building of unparalleled beauty. After the French conquest its worshippers were driven out in 1831, and it was consecrated as the cathedral of Saint Philippe on Christmas Day 1832; between 1845 and 1860 the old mosque was pulled down and a new church built in its place. The building became a mosque again in 1962; an earthquake in 2003 damaged it and shut it for a time, work on the minarets began in 2009, and after a restoration by the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency it reopened in April 2018 (Wikipedia, Ketchaoua Mosque).
Highlights
- The twin-towered front - the nineteenth-century rebuilding above the stair.
- Layered building phases - Ottoman, nineteenth-century and modern restoration.
- The stepped Casbah street - the setting the mosque opens onto.
- The restored interior - marble, plasterwork and the prayer hall.
When to go
October to May. One hour. It is a working mosque; visits are outside prayer times and modest dress is required. Women should cover the head.
Before you go
Access for non-Muslims depends on the day and on who is at the door; it is not guaranteed. Prayer times close it to visitors. The surrounding Casbah streets are steep, narrow and in poor repair. Photography inside may not be permitted.
Nearby
The Casbah rises behind; Place des Martyrs is below.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q2471799, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Ketchaoua Mosque
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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