Fly from Nice to Constantine

The jewel of Algeria, Constantine is a city blessed by the gods. For starters, it enjoys a privileged setting. Constructed on a succession of plateaus and hills, it dominates the Rhummel valley. Several bridges span the gorges, with 200 metres of emptiness below them. Next stop: vertigo!
This eagle’s nest naturally caught the eye of many a conqueror. Founded by the Phoenicians who named it Cirta, this spectacular city became the capital of Numidia, the largest Berber realm in Antiquity. The Romans followed, making it one of their strongholds on this side of the Mediterranean. In fact, the city gets its current name from Emperor Constantine the Great. Berbers, Arabs, Ottomans and the French continued the fight over it for the next 1000 years. A lively history that has left its mark in both patrimony and culture. Today, it makes for a fantastic city break, right on the outskirts of the Sahara.

• Cross the Sidi M’Cid suspension bridge, the highest in the city. The Rhummel flows 175 metres below it. It’s an unforgettable panoramic view.
• Zigzag your way across the city's numerous bridges and footbridges: the pedestrian-only Passerelle Perregaux; El-Kantara, one of the oldest; Sidi Rached, which was the tallest stone bridge in the world when built a century ago...
• From the Pont du Diable to the Pont des Chutes, walk the Chemin des Touristes, a walking tour that takes you along the Rhummel Gorge and its fiery scenery, which Maupassant once called “the red abyss”.
• Linger in the Medina, also called “Le Rocher”, the historical centre of Constantine. Here you’ll discover its nearly 1000 year old mosque, as well as souks and Ottoman palaces that have faded with time.
• Have a coffee or an ice cream and let the heart of the city beat through you on one of the many terraces on the Place du 1 Novembre, a large esplanade that locals still refer to as Place de la Brèche.
• Tour the Cirta Museum, which brings together relics of the Numidian, Roman and Berber civilisations as well as a collection of 19th century paintings by Middle Eastern artists, all under one roof.
• Go into one of the most beautiful palaces in the city: Ahmed Bey. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, this immense palace is covered in incredible detail, a testament to the skill of Algerian craftsmen. “A dream of a thousand and one nights,” exclaimed the painter Horace Vernet upon seeing it.
• Sample the delicacies of local cuisine: okra tagine (okra being a regional vegetable here, known for its nutritional qualities), and djouzia, a walnut-based nougat flavoured with vanilla and honey.
• Listen to the music than rocked Enrico Macias, the famed French singer of Algerian descent, to sleep: Malouf, an Arabic-Andalusian music that has been played in Constantine for centuries.
• Get out of the city and explore the ruins of Tiddis, and ancient, humid Roman city, or else head for the Mediterranean coast and enjoy the beaches of the Skikda region, which are reputed to be the most beautiful in Algeria.