The Place des Martyrs — formerly Place d'Armes under the French — is the central square of Blida, a long rectangular plaza shaded by mature plane trees with a central kiosk, several fountains, and cafés around all four sides. It was laid out in the 1830s on the site of the old Ottoman market square and remains the social heart of the city; men play dominoes on the benches, families promenade in the late afternoon, the call to prayer carries from the surrounding mosques.
The Grande Mosquée and the city's main covered market are both a short walk away, and most of the city's hotels, restaurants, and cafés are within a few streets of the square. Stop for a glass of mint tea at one of the older cafés — they have been in continuous operation for over a century.