Oran

Oran is a Mediterranean port in western Algeria, set between a sheltered bay and the hills above it. Founded by merchants in the medieval period, it became an important outlet for the inland country around Tlemcen. Its harbor and commanding position made it a prize in the struggles between Iberian and North African powers.

Spanish forces captured Oran in 1509 and held it as a fortified outpost, with a garrison defending its port and surrounding fortifications. Troops of the Regency of Algiers took the city in 1708, but Spain recovered it in 1732. After another long contest and a destructive earthquake, the Spanish withdrew in 1792 and the city returned to Algerian control. Forts overlooking the bay bear witness to the centuries in which the port was fought over.