Name of Monument:

Tamentafoust Borj (fort)

Location:

Algiers, Algeria

Date of Monument:

Hegira 1135 / AD 1722

Period / Dynasty:

Ottoman

Patron(s):

Dey Muhammad.

Description:

During the Ottoman era, Algiers was defended by several external forts that were situated outside the ramparts, among which was the fort of Tamentafoust. Unlike many other forts, it has survived up until now in a well-preserved state.
This fort is situated on the Tamentafoust cape, at the other end of the bay of Algiers. Built on an octagonal plan, it consists of 22 rooms, 21 of which are set out in groups of three along seven sides of the octagon and around a courtyard. One of these rooms has been turned into a prayer hall with an undecorated mihrab. The twenty-second room is found on the eighth side and opens out towards the exterior, serving as a chicane entrance into the fort. The terrace is situated above these rooms and is bordered by parapets that include 24 embrasures for cannons, including some that were designed as double loopholes. A rapier sits above the door.
The walls are built from large pieces of recycled stone and have a height of about 9 metres from the depth of the moat to the top. It is the only fort, along with the fort known as 'Fort of the English', that features a moat.

Situated on the Tamentafoust headland and intended to protect Algiers, this fort was built on an octagonal plan and consists of 22 rooms, including the entrance hall, arranged around a courtyard. One of these rooms is laid out as a prayer room with a very simple mihrab. The terrace is lined with parapets with 24 embrasures for cannon and double loopholes. The entrance is protected by a gatehouse. Surrounded by a ditch, the wall is built of large stone blocks.

How Monument was dated:

Through an inscription inside the fort.

Selected bibliography:

Colin, G., Corpus des inscriptions arabes et turques de l'Algérie, Paris, 1901.
Comité du Vieil Alger (H. Klein, founder), Feuillets d'El-Djezaïr, Blida, 2003.
Marçais, G., L'architecture musulmane d'Occident, Paris, 1954.

Citation of this web page:

Ali Lafer "Tamentafoust Borj (fort)" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;dz;Mon01;33;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 42