1 Day
Specific Tour
20 people
Arabic, English, Francais
The Bridges Tourist Route
Constantine City center
The mother of the metropolis, the city of old rock, the city of science and scholars, and the city of suspension bridges. Yes, it is the city of Constantine that has given so much to history since antiquity. Perhaps the name of the city of suspension bridges came in connection with the census of its bridges, each of which tells a story that immerses its visitor in history and civilization, like the bridges of Sidi M’cid, of Mellah Souleiman, of the Roman bridge, Ottoman, of that of Bab El Kantara and the Saleh Bey bridge. Across these bridges, each as prestigious as the other, we will take you through this city with a thousand-year-old history. And this is the reason why it was given the name of the suspension bridges:
After leaving on foot from the city center from the November 1st Square, we head towards a masterpiece of architecture, The Sidi Rached Bridge: Which connects the two banks of the city above the Rhummel, overlooks the old district called La Souika overlooking the tomb of Sidi Rched. This bridge is considered the twin of the Adolphe bridge in Luxembourg. It is 447 meters long, 12 meters wide and 105 meters high, supported by 27 pillars built in the shape of arches, the largest of which is 70 meters in diameter. After the Sidi Rached bridge, we head not far to the Devil’s Bridge. What visitors fear because of the strangeness of its name and the inviolability of its location. Some consider it a Roman installation, while others consider it an Ottoman bridge, the height of which does not exceed 66 meters. It is the last stage where the tourist route stops, starting from the bridge of the falls. echoes echoed in the distance. Some explain the origin of the name to certain European Christian legends that the French launched on the site.
Bab El Kantara Bridge: The first bridges in the city of Constantine and one of its main entrances, it is considered one of the most important testimonies to the ancient history of the city and the civilizations that succeeded it. The bridge dates back to Roman times. It was built to settle the issue of water distribution in the city. It was destroyed between the Roman and Ottoman periods. Salah bey decided in 1792 to rebuild it The French decided in 1857 to build another work just above and this is how Bab El Kantara was able to preserve its distinctive form. The attention of the passer-by just next door is retained by its unique architecture, its well-cut blue stones adorning its large arch and its arched shape linking the two parts of the city over a distance of 60 m. and a width of 7.5 m its height of 65 meters!
Mellah Suleiman Bridge: Locals call it the Sansor Bridge (meaning the lift bridge) and it is also called the Ghost Bridge, because of stories suggesting it is a bridge haunted by the ghosts of people who committed suicide there. By borrowing it you have the feeling that you are swinging from right to left. Its spiral staircases carved out of the rock on 05 floors embrace it and its elevator on the edge of the bridge can accommodate 10 people and for only a few dinars will drop you off on the other side of the city centre and as soon as the doors of the latter will open, you will find yourself at the entrance to the most prestigious neighbourhoods and streets of the city.
Sidi M’Cid Bridge: It is also called the suspension bridge, or as visitors call it, the rope arch. It is supported by pillars below, 168 meters long and 05 meters wide, and its height is estimated at 175 meters.
The Waterfalls Bridge: The Waterfalls Bridge is situated at the bottom of the Sidi M’Cid bridge between The Rhumel gorges. The bridge was constructed in 1928 and is one of the most important ways used by bathing enthusiasts, pioneers of the old Sidi M’Cid swimming pool, and by nature lovers curious to explore the depths of the ancient city of the Rock, as the water of the Rhumel crosses between the 05 arches of the bridge to flow down a slope forming a waterfall that paints a splendid natural picture. The Waterfalls Bridge is the last station on the Rhumel tourist route.
Bey Salah Bridge :
It is also called the giant bridge. It is the pride of the city to be the largest of its cable bridges. The balance of the bridge is ensured by two main towers with a height of 130 meters above the ground (the valley) and six small towers to support and distribute the loads, while its width is 27.34 meters, its construction began in 2010 and work was completed in 2014. It was named after Salah Bey, one of the Beyliks of Eastern Beylik (1771-1792) and one of the most important historical symbols of the Beylik of Constantine. The period of his passage to the beylicate was most prosperous both economically and socially. The visit ends with this last bridge, and the visitor can discover other bridges in the city.
After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel's lobby at 9h00
Departure from the city center
Devil's bridge
Devil's Bridge:
It is located under the Sidi Rached bridge. It is a bridge that visitors fear because of the strangeness of its name and the inviolability of its location. Some consider it a Roman installation, while others consider it an Ottoman bridge. Its height does not exceed 66 metres and forms a link between the two banks of the ancient rock. It is also an estuary for the waters of the Rummel and the Oued Boumerzouk, hence the name given to the bridge is “The Devil”.
These noises are nothing more than the result of the waterfalls of the aforementioned Oueds, which resonate because of the caves surrounding the bridge and emanating from inside the rock. The inhabitants of the town centre, whose houses overlook the abyss, hear terrifying roars at night that make their bodies shudder.
Visit of the bab el kantara bridge
El-Kantara has a rich and diverse heritage namely the Dachra Dhahraouia (red village) and its Casbah, the Roman remains as well as the open air museum. The Dachra (village) is an open-air museum. Its narrow, often covered alleys and its typical dwellings with a practical structure withstand the heat of the summer and the harshness of the winter. It is located in the north-western part of the city. These traditional dwellings are built in “toub” (clay bricks). these type of bricks are made from a uniform pattern of earth by means of a wooden mould. Their roofs are terrace-shaped and covered with transversely cut palm trunks, palm leaves, earth and often wicker.
Sidi Rached Bridge
Sidi Rached Bridge: Among the bridges from which Constantine is derived its ancient name “The City of Suspended Bridges”. This architectural masterpiece joins the two parts of Constantine City, crossing the Rhumel Wadi. It lies in the Souika neighbourhood, not far from Constantine's city centre, just above the tomb of Sidi Rashed. The bridge is a twin version of the Adolf Bridge in Luxembourg. It was constructed by Algerian hands and overseen by the French engineer “Auban Giraud” with the help of his fellow French engineer “Paul Sigourney” between 1907 and 1912. It was constructed on large hand-polished stones brought from the Catalan region of Ibiza in Spain, and it was classified for several decades as the largest stone bridge in the world, as it measures 447 meters long, 12 meters wide and 105 meters high, is sustained by 27 pillars shaped like arches of which the largest measures 70 meters in diameter.
Yugoslavia Street, Constantine, Constantine.
Bridge of Sidi M'cid: Also known as the suspension bridge. It links the Casbah and the University Hospital. By crossing it, one feels as if hanging in the air. Actually, it waddles with the slightest breeze. In 1903, the mayor of the city, Emile Morinaud, conceived the idea of building it. At first, the project could not be realized because of some technical issues, but it was resurrected by the engineers Rabi and Soilar in 1909 with the assistance of the French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin (the most famous designer of metal suspension bridges in Europe) and opened to the public in 1912. The pillars beneath measure 168 meters long, 05 meters wide and 175 meters high.
The bridge is also known as the Bridge of Giants or the Bridge of Independence. It makes the pride of the city by being the largest of its suspension bridges. Its length is 1,119 meters (749 meters of main bridge and 370 meters of subsidiary bridges) which links the two banks of the Rhumel wadi from the United Nations square at the western end to the Mansoura, located on the eastern end in the city centre at an altitude of 60 meters above the wadi. It is embedded in a total structure of 4,300 meters in length among “connections” and “entries”.
Its equilibrium is sustained by two main towers with a height of 130 meters above ground level (the wadi) as well as 6 small towers to support and redistribute the loads, whereas its width is 27.34 meters. The bridge includes two lanes opened to the automobile traffic and two pedestrian lanes on each side (tourists).
The bridge crossing the Rummel Wadi is distinguished by its guaranteed maximum safety and security conditions by means of foundations and columns adapted to the solid nature of the soil, and exit and entrance supports designed to withstand earthquakes as well as winds. Its construction was launched in 2010 under the supervision of the Brazilian company Andrade Gutierrez, financed by Algeria, inaugurated in 2014 on Knowledge Day, 16 April 2014. It became operational on 26 July 2014.
It was named after Salah Bey, one of the beys of the Eastern Beylik (1771-1792) and a major historical symbol of the city of Constantine, which witnessed great economic and social prosperity during his reign.
The Waterfalls Bridge is situated at the bottom of the Sidi M'Sid bridge between The Rhumel gorges. The bridge was constructed in 1928 and is one of the most important ways used by bathing enthusiasts, pioneers of the old Sidi M' Sid swimming pool, and by nature lovers curious to explore the depths of the ancient city of the Rock, as the water of the Rhumel crosses between the 05 arches of the bridge to flow down a slope forming a waterfall that paints a splendid natural picture. The Waterfalls Bridge is the last station on the Rhumel tourist route.
Mellah Slimane Bridge: The inhabitants of the city call it the Sansor Bridge (i.e. the lift) or the ghost bridge, because of the stories about the fact that it is inhabited only by the ghosts of the people who throw themselves into it. When you walk across it, you feel as if you are swinging left and right. In the beginning it was called "Perigo Corridor". At independence it was named after the martyr Rashid El-Halawani, known as Mellah Slimane. The bridge is a miniature model of the Sidi M'Sid bridge, it was built by the French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin between 1917 and 1925. It was opened to the public on 12 April of the same year.
Unlike the rest of the city's bridges, the Mellah Slimane Bridge is the only bridge for pedestrians. It is 125 metres long. It connects Larbi Ben M'hidi Street to Romania Street and the station to Bab Al Qantara. It is 2.5 metres wide and 130 metres high.
Its spiral staircase cuts through the ancient rock on five floors. Its lift can accommodate 10 people. For only a few dinars you can go to the other side of the city centre. Indeed, as soon as the lift doors open, you will find yourself at the entrance to the most prestigious districts and streets.
Back to the city center to have lunch in a traditional restaurant
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