Sidi M'Cid Bridge
A suspension footbridge of 1912 hanging some 175 metres above the Rhumel gorge at Constantine.
Updated 18 October 2026
Constantine sits on a rock split from the country around it by the gorge of the Rhumel, and the city is stitched together by bridges. Sidi M'Cid, opened in 1912, is the highest of them: a suspension bridge of around 160 metres span carried on steel cables with its deck roughly 175 metres above the river, which made it one of the highest bridges in the world when it was built. It is used by pedestrians and light traffic and it sways perceptibly. From the middle the gorge drops sheer on both sides, with the Casbah above, the hospital on one bank and the old town on the other, and it is the single best place to understand how the city is put together.
History
Constantine was a city of 50,000 when Émile Morinaud became its mayor and member of parliament in 1901, and in his years in power, until 1934, he set about modernising it, building the Sidi M'Cid and Sidi Rached bridges and many other public buildings. Designed by the French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, the 164-metre suspension bridge opened to traffic in April 1912, 175 metres above the Rhumel, and it was the highest bridge in the world until the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado opened in November 1929. The Monument of the Dead on the Sidi M'Cid hill beside it, a copy of the Arch of Trajan at Timgad, honours the men of Constantine who died in the First World War, and in 2000 the Algerian company SAPTA replaced 12 of its cables (Wikipedia, Sidi M'Cid Bridge).
What you'll find
- A deck 175 metres above the river - the highest of the Constantine bridges.
- The gorge dropping on both sides - sheer walls under the span.
- Steel suspension cables of 1912 - the original engineering.
- The city seen as one structure - rock, gorge and bridges together.
When to go
October to May. One hour. Morning light falls into the gorge. It is used by traffic as well as pedestrians, so keep to the walkway.
Practical notes
The bridge moves under load and anyone uneasy with heights will find it hard going. Traffic shares the deck and the walkway is narrow. Litter in the gorge below is heavy. Photography of some adjacent buildings is discouraged.
Nearby
The Sidi Rached viaduct is downstream; the Casbah lies above.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q12205505, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Sidi M'Cid Bridge
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
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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