Nedroma ندرومة | |
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City | |
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  Nedroma | |
| Coordinates:35°0′42″N01°44′56″W / 35.01167°N 1.74889°W /35.01167; -1.74889 | |
| Country | Algeria |
| Province | Tlemcen |
| District | Nedroma |
| Area | |
• Total | 14 km2 (5.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2008 census) | |
• Total | 32,398 |
| • Density | 2,300/km2 (6,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Postal code | 13600 |
Nedroma (Arabic:ندرومة) is a city inTlemcen Province, in northwesternAlgeria, about 77 kilometres (48 mi) fromTlemcen. Once the capital ofTrara, it was built on the ruins of aBerber town byAbd al-Mu'min theAlmohad caliph. It has a great Islamic history, with itsGreat Mosque of Nedroma once containing the earliest survivingAlmoravid minbar. Nedroma became aUNESCOWorld Heritage in 2002 for its cultural importance.
Many families ofAndalusian andMoorish origin sought refuge in this city during theReconquista.[1]
In the bookAl-Istibsar fi 'agaib al-Amsar, written in the late 12th century, the author described Nedroma as: "A beautiful city with abundant crops and fruits, and its prices are inexpensive. It has fertile plains and many farms. The city is about 10 miles from the sea. On its coast, there is a flowing river rich in fruit-bearing trees. It also has a safe and well-frequented harbor."[2]
At the beginning of the 16th century, Nedroma became an important textile[3] center, specializing in cotton wovens and blankets. Nedroma, although far fromAlgiers, was an administrative center of theTrara,[4] extending its influence to neighboring towns. TheAndalusian influence is also due to the second wave ofMorisco refugees from Spain, following the decree ofExpulsion of the Moriscos[5] in 1609.[6] Spanish-Arab philologist Guillermo Rittwagen described the city as having maintained its Andalusian heritage.[7]
At the beginning of the 19th century, it had 2,500 to 3,000 inhabitants,[8] it was among the small towns of precolonial Algeria[9] likeKalaa andMazouna. Its population is made up notably of exiles from Spain and a minority ofJews[10]
Once the capital ofTrara, it was built on the ruins of aBerber town byAbd al-Mu'min theAlmohad caliph, who himself was a native of the neighboring mountains.[11] the town has a great history of Islam.[12] The earliest surviving Almoravid minbar, dated to around A.H. 479, once belonged to the Great Mosque of Nedroma. It is now on display in theMusée Nationale des Antiquités Classiques et Musulmanes in Algiers.[13] In the 1930sUlama organizations, particularly the Boy Scouts sprang up in Nedroma and other ancient cities of the interior such asTlemcen andConstantine.[14]
Riots broke out in the town on 15 October 1953, killing one person and injuring several. 26 were convicted.[15]
Nedroma was added to theUNESCOWorld Heritage Tentative List on December 30, 2002 in the Cultural category.[11]
Nedroma is situated to the north of theTrara Hills, 77 kilometres (48 mi) fromTlemcen, and about 340 kilometres (210 mi) west ofAlgiers.[16] The N99 highway passes south-north through the town, connecting it toMaghnia in the south andGhazaouet on the coast. The W100 road leads toEl Houanet in the southwest, and the W38 road leads toAïn Kebira and Bentalha in the northeast.[17]
Nedroma contains the Great Mosque of Nedroma (Sidi Yahia Mosque) and the Nedroma Hospital in the northern outskirts along the N99.[17] Baked brick is a common building material in the town.[18]
35°00′00″N1°44′00″W / 35°N 1.7333333°W /35; -1.7333333
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