A traveller's reflection: Algeria 2016: 08 Timgad - Ancient City in the Aures Mountains...

“The best part of the journey is the surprise and wonder along the way...” - Ken Poirot

(Trajan Arch in Timgad)

Day 08: 11 October 2016 (Tuesday)
Route: Constantine - Timgad - Biskra
Distance: 187 km
Hotel: Hotel Les Ziban, Biskra

We had breakfast at the hotel café. After checking-out we began our journey towards Biskra via Batna and Timgad.

(Onward journey to Biskra via Batna)

(Thick mist in the mountain)

(Date plantations in between arid desert and rocky mountains)

(Old olive oil refinery by the old railway tracks)

In Batna we visited the Medracen tomb, a mausoleum numide dating from the century on the territory of Boumia. It is a gigantic dome ringed with columns with capitals style Doric. It is the oldest preserved ancient royal mausoleum of North Africa. According to medieval historians, it takes its name from a king of Numidia. As a World Heritage, it is ranked among the 100 most endangered monuments on the planet.

(The ancient royal tomb)

(Medracen Tomb, a Numide Mausoleum)

Next we visited the Roman-Berber town of Timgad in the Aurès Mountains. It was founded by the Emperor Trajan around AD 100. The full name of the town was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi. Trajan commemorated the city after his mother Marcia, eldest sister Ulpia Marciana, and father Marcus Ulpius Traianus.

(Ancient Roman City of Timgad)

(The entrance to the Archaeological site)

(Stone slabs from the excavation sites)

(A sarcophagus, the ancient coffin)

(Ancient water fountain)

(Two perpendicular routes running through the ancient city).

(Latin inscription chiseled into the stones)

(The Triumph arch among the historical remains)

(Known as the Numidian Pompeii)

(Standing at an altitude of 1,070 meter)

(The grandeur of Rome on Numidian soil)

(Stone slabs with inscriptions)

(Camel-like stone formation)

(Also known as the ancient city of Thamugadi)

(Amused by the well-preserved remains).

Timgad Roman Ruins is located about 35 km east of the town of Batna. The ruins are noteworthy for representing one of the best extant examples of the grid plan as used in Roman city planning. Because no new settlements were founded on the site after the 7th century, the town was partially preserved under sand up to a depth of approximately one meter. The encroachment of the Sahara on the ruins was the principal reason why the town is so well preserved.

(The Roman Amphitheater)

(A short rest after a long walk)

(The Museum Curator and our guide in the Ancient City)

(A point for a good acoustic sensor-round)

(A city once buried in the sand of the Algerian desert)

(The passageway built for powerful carts)

(Northern slope of the Aures mountains)

(The main passageway leading to the Trajan Arch)

(One for the album - The two of us)

(The majestic Arch of Trajan)

(Columns and pillars standing strong)

(Leaving Timgad for Biskra)

We had lunch at a small local restaurant and performed our prayers at Masjid Al-Sanah along the route. Before reaching Biskra, we stopped at a date palm plantation at a wadi while waiting for our police escort to change shift.

(Lunch at a small restaurant

(Prayer break at a Al-Sanah Mosque)

(Journey through mountain road)

(Date palm plantation at an oasis)

(Ripened dates ready for harvest)

El Gorge de Kantara is an oasis town located 52 km north of Biskra. The natural site of El Kantara and Roman heritage are classified and protected since 1923. Wadi El Oued El Kantara is formed into irrigation channels, supplying water to the town. The first inhabitants of the town are original Berber.