Name of Monument:

Bab al-Bahr (Gate of the Sea)

Also known as:

Sarrazine Gate

Location:

Béjaia, Algeria

Date of Monument:

Around Hegira 462 / AD 1070

Period / Dynasty:

Hammadid

Description:

Bab al-Bahr (Gate of the Sea), also known as the Sarrazine Gate, was built during the reign of al-Nasir (AH 454–81 / AD 1062–88) concurrent with the building of five other gates along the walls that protected the town. 'Like the now crumbled arch that formed the entrance to the Tunisian port of Mahdiyya', wrote G. Marçais, 'and like Bab al-Mrisa in Salé (and Bab al-Bahr in Honaïn in Algeria), the Sarrazine Gate of Bougie [Béjaia] is a gate of the sea. Before its base was buried under silt, it gave passage to ships coming to take shelter in the port, which today has been filled in, and which became deeper further back' (see Bibliography). Nowhere is it mentioned whether the sea rose to pummel the foundations of the rampart, or whether a canal allowed ships to rejoin the port that was protected behind the walls.
The gate's pointed arch is constructed of solid bricks that are supported on piers of stone masonry via the intermediary support of two trimmed pieces of stone. Above this arch, a stonework wall holds up an arch similar to the first but which forms a larger vault, which supported the fort's patrol path and guardroom. On the façade facing the sea, this latter arch, which spans across the whole wall, looks as if it is a relieving arch for the first arch.

The 'Gate of the Sea' was built at the same time as five others in the wall that protected the town. The pointed arch in this gateway was built with full bricks resting on stone abutments via two ashlars. Above this, a stone wall bears a similar arch with a larger vault through which the wall walk passed and the guard rooms were to be found. Formerly, the gateway was used by boats coming to shelter in the dock.

How Monument was dated:

Through the archives of the National Archaeological and Historical Monuments Agency, notably the description form for the classification of this gate.

Selected bibliography:

Golvin, L., Le Magrib central à l'époque des Zirides. Recherches d'archéologie et d'histoire, Paris, 1957.
Marçais, G., Bougie, Algerian Documents, no. 46, 15 April 1950.

Citation of this web page:

Ali Lafer "Bab al-Bahr (Gate of the Sea)" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2025. 2025.
https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;dz;Mon01;17;en

Prepared by: Ali LaferAli Lafer

Architecte diplômé de l'École nationale d'architecture et des beaux-arts d'Alger, stagiaire du Centre international pour la conservation et la restauration des biens culturels (ICCROM) à Rome, Ali Lafer a été architecte en chef des Monuments au ministère de la Culture pendant son service civil. Directeur de l'Atelier Casbah chargé des études d'aménagement de la médina d'Alger, il a également enseigné au cours de Tunis pour la formation d'architectes du patrimoine maghrébin. Membre fondateur de l'association “Les amis du Tassili”, il est aussi chercheur dans les domaines de la numérisation de la documentation graphique et du relevé photogrammétrique.
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Maria Vlotides
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: AL 23