Tlemcen sits in the hills of northwestern Algeria, close to the Moroccan border. Historically it had closer cultural ties to Fez than to other Algerian cities, and that Moorish influence is still visible in its architecture and traditions. The city was the capital of a medieval Berber kingdom and a major centre of Islamic learning.
The Mosque and Tomb of Sidi Bou Medien, on the outskirts of the city, is the most important sight — a beautifully decorated complex dating from the 14th century, built around the tomb of the Sufi saint who is the city's patron. The Great Mosque in the old town dates from 1136 and is one of the finest Almoravid buildings in the Maghreb. A short walk west, the great ruined minaret of Mansourah marks the site of the abandoned Marinid siege city; the restored Zayyanid Mechouar Palace inside the medina holds the small archaeological museum.
The Ville Nouvelle, the French colonial quarter centred on Place Emir Abdelkader, is among the most handsome in North Africa — wide boulevards, arcaded buildings, and a pleasant central square. Tlemcen's altitude (about 800 metres) keeps it noticeably cooler than Oran on the coast, making it a pleasant place to spend a few days. For an afternoon's escape from the centre, the cable car up to the Lalla Setti plateau gives the classic panorama of the city.