Tlemesan
|
Tlemcen تلمسان / Tlemsan / ⵜⵍⴻⵎⵙⴰⵏ |
|
|---|---|
| City | |
 |
|
 Location of Tlemcen in the Tlemcen Province |
|
 Tlemcen
|
|
| Coordinates: 34°52′58″N 01°19′00″W / 34.88278°N 1.31667°W | |
| Country |
 Algeria
|
| Province | Tlemcen |
| District | Tlemcen District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9,061 km2 (3,498 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 842 m (2,762 ft) |
| Population (2008 census) | |
| • Total | 173,531 |
| • Density | 19/km2 (50/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 13000 |
Coordinates: (900000) 34°52′58″N 1°19′00″W / 34.8827758°N 1.3166696°W
Tlemcen (English: Tlemsan or Třemsan; Arabic: تْلمسان, Tlemsan; Arabic: تلمسان Tilimsān) is a city in north-western Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. The city has developed leather, carpet, and textile industries, which it ships to the port of Rashgun for export. It had a population of 140,158 at the 2008 census, while the province had 949,135 inhabitants.
The origin of the name Tlemcen (Berber: Tlemsan or Tilimsan) is uncertain. One theory is that it is the feminine plural of Talmest, which means a certain type of well which naturally forms a small lake. Another theory traces the name to the Berber words Thala Imsan, which can mean "the dry spring" or "the fountain of lions". The name is sometimes spelled Tlemsen, Tlemsan, or Tilimsen.
The town is the ancient capital of central Maghreb, and was founded by the local Berbers.
Its centuries of rich history and culture have made the city a center of a unique blend of music and art. Its textiles and handcrafts, its elegant blend of Berber and Al-Andalusian cultures, and its cool climate in the mountains have made it an important center of tourism in Algeria. It is home to a beautiful tomb - that of Sidi Boumédiène, whose tomb adjoins a mosque. The Great Mosque at Tlemcen was completed in 1136 and is said to be the most remarkable remaining example of Almoravid architecture.
...
Wikipedia