TLEMCEN NATIONAL PARK

Classified in 1993, this park is one of the most recent in Algeria, protecting important archaeological remains and remarkable sites in the Tlemcen region: the ruins of Mansourah, the Sidi Boumedienne mosque, the waterfalls and cliffs of El-Ourit, the caves of Beni Add, the forests of Ifri and Zariffet, and Aïn Fezza.

A dozen kilometers from Tlemcen, on the road to Sidi-Bel-Abbès, in an eminently bucolic setting:

Oued Meffrouch and the El-Ourit waterfall. An episodically underground river has carved out a deep ravine between high, glowing cliffs. The construction of a dam has unfortunately led to the disappearance of the famous seven cascades of El-Ourit, often mentioned in Tlemcénienne literature. Despite the dam, however, there's still a pleasant little lake with magical deep-blue waters, from which flows the now-artificial Cascade de l'Ourit. Just over the hill is a small metal bridge built by Gustave Eiffel.

Beni Add caves in Aïn Fezza. Open from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., except Sundays. Admission: 100 DA. Not to be confused with the marvellous caves of Jijel, these caves are nevertheless a jewel of nature not to be missed under any circumstances. Carved out of the limestone of the Tlemcen Massif 150 million years ago, they feature a deep gallery and a series of rooms sculpted with fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, all of which have been specially designed for visitors (allow 1 hour).