CHAPEL OF SANTA CRUZ

Fort de Santa Cruz. Built in a strategic location and perched 386 m above sea level on the Aïdour (or Murdjadjo) mountain, the Santa Cruz Fort (literally "Holy Cross") can be seen from afar in Oran, and has even become the city's picture postcard. A place rich in history, not least because of the violent battles that took place there. It's a jewel of ^17th-century Spanish military architecture. Austerely beautiful, it is built of ashlar quarried from the Murdjadjo mountain. It bears the name of one of the Spanish governors of the time, the Marquis de Santa Cruz.

Chapel of the Virgin and Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Salut. Below the Santa Cruz fortress, the site of the Chapelle de la Vierge (Virgin's Chapel) features a dome whose blinding whiteness stands out against the deep blue of the sea, underlining the benevolence of Notre-Dame-du-Salut, also known as Lalla Mariam, who watches over the town. It was built in the ^19th century following a terrible cholera epidemic to bring the Virgin's protection to the inhabitants. In the 1950s, the Notre-Dame-du-Salut basilica was added to the chapel to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. The site of the basilica has just been superbly restored, following work carried out under the direction of the Bishop of Oran, with the support of the Algerian authorities. It was a delicate restoration, but a particularly successful one. If you've never been to Oran before, this is the place to start, as not only will you be struck by the beauty of the city, but you'll also be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and coastline from the new viewing platform above the basilica. From up there, you can even easily observe the city's surroundings, including Lake Sebkha, a large salt lake to the south, the Tessala chain, the Mers El Kebir roadstead and Oran Bay as far as the Kristel cliffs.

Good toknow. To reach the Santa Cruz site by car, you'll have to take a road that climbs steeply, with many curves. Be careful, it's narrow! In the past, Santa Cruz was reached by taking the road that wound through the Bois des Planteurs, which is no longer recommended because it is not well-travelled. Today, we prefer the road that goes around the rock to the north. Avoid visiting the site after 5 p.m., as it is not safe after dark, and several thefts and assaults have been reported in the evening. In the morning and during the day, however, there are no problems!