The old town of Bou Saâda is a compact labyrinth of narrow lanes, flat-roofed mud-brick houses, and small mosques built up against the hillside above the palm groves. The architecture is characteristic of the pre-Saharan region — thick earthen walls for insulation, small windows, shaded alleys that channel cooling breezes. It is very different from the French colonial grid that occupies the rest of the town.
Wander in with no particular destination. The old town is small enough that you cannot get seriously lost, and the maze of lanes resolves itself back into familiar streets within fifteen minutes. The best time to walk is early morning, when the light is good and it is not yet too hot.