The old medina of Constantine occupies the southern part of the plateau and is the oldest continuously inhabited part of the city. Streets are steep, irregular, and sometimes very narrow — the rock plateau's topography doesn't allow for grid planning. The older residential architecture mixes Ottoman-era courtyarded houses (dars) with French colonial interventions, most in a state of advanced decay. Some of the most dramatic lanes run directly along the gorge edge, with views straight down the cliff face.
Walking the old medina takes the better part of a morning and is best done without a fixed itinerary — the streets reward getting lost. The Place des Martyrs at the northern edge of the medina is the main open space, flanked by the Ahmed Bey Palace and the Cirta Museum. The Friday market on the nearby streets sells traditional textiles, spices, and household goods.