View source for Oran

{{Short description|Coastal city in Oran Province, Algeria}}
{{hatnote group|{{About|the city in Algeria}}
{{Distinguish|Oiran|Iran|Ouran High School Host Club}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Oran
| native_name        = وهران
| native_name_lang   = ar
| other_name         = Wahrān
| settlement_type    = [[Communes of Algeria|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 280
| image_style              = border:1;
| perrow                   = 1/2/2
| image1                   = Oran - aerial view.jpg
| alt1                     = View of Oran's port
| caption1                 = Aerial view of Oran
| image2                   = Oran, Mobilar.jpg
| alt2                     = MobilArt Towers
| caption2                 = [[Bahia Center|Mobilart Towers]]
| image3                   = Fort Santa Cruz.jpg
| alt3                     = Fort Santa Cruz
| caption3                 = [[Fort of Santa Cruz (Oran)|Fort of Santa Cruz]]
| image4                   = مسجد ابن باديس وهران الجزائر.jpg
| alt4                     = Abdelhamid Ben Badis Mosque
| caption4                 = [[Abdelhamid Ben Badis Mosque]]
| image5                   = Hotel Ville de Oran.jpg
| alt5                     = Oran City Hall
| caption5                 = Oran City Hall
| image6                   = True false church.jpg
| alt6                     = Sacred Heart Cathedral
| caption6                 = [[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran|Sacred Heart Cathedral]]
| image7                   = Photography in sidi el houari 02.jpg
| alt7                     = Imam al-Houari Mosque
| caption7                 = [[Imam al-Houari Mosque|Sidi El Houari Mosque]]
| image8                   = Palais du Bey DemeureMod (Oran) (13).jpg
| alt8                     = Bey's Palace
| caption8                 = [[Bey's Palace |Bey's Palace]]
| image9                   = Minaret of the Hassan Pasha Mosque in Oran.jpg
| alt9                     = Hassan Pasha Mosque
| caption9                 = [[Hassan Pasha Mosque]]
| image10                  = TRO Algérie (6).jpg
| alt10                    = Regional Theater of Oran
| caption10                =[[Abdelkader Alloula Theater|Regional Theater of Oran]]
}}
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_shield       = Armoirie oran.png
| nickname           = al-Bāhia {{lang|ar|الباهية}}
| image_map          = DZ 31 Oran.svg
| pushpin_map        = Algeria#Africa
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Algeria
<!-- Location ------------------>| coordinates        = {{coord|35|41|49|N|0|37|59|W|region:DZ-31_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Algeria}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Algeria|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Oran Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Algeria|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Oran District]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| established_title  = Re-founded
| established_date   = AD 944
| leader_title       = [[Wali (administrative title)|Wali]] ([[Governor]])
| leader_name        = Massoud Djari
| area_total_km2     = 2121
| area_metro_km2     = 
| elevation_ft       = 3
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Algeria: The provinces of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria as well as all cities of over 25,000 inhabitants|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html|publisher=CITYPOPULATION|access-date=2021-04-07|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140817143616/http://www.citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html|archive-date=2014-08-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_demonym = Wahrani
| population_total   = 803,329 {{increase}}
| population_as_of   = 2008 for city proper, 2024 for urban, 2019 for metro area
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 920,000
| population_metro   = 1,570,000
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = [[Gross domestic product|GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)]]
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = Year
| demographics1_info1 = 2024
| demographics1_title2 = Total (Urban)
| demographics1_info2 = $17.1&nbsp;billion<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web |title=TelluBase—Algeria Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series) |url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase-factsheet-dza.pdf |publisher=Tellusant |access-date=2025-07-11}}</ref>
| demographics1_title3 = Per capita
| demographics1_info3 = $17,500
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| postal_code_type   = Postal codes
| postal_code        = 31000 - 31037
| website            = {{URL|https://www.wilayaoran.dz/}}
| footnotes          = 
| name               = 
}}

'''Oran''' ({{langx|ar|وَهران|Wahrān}}){{efn|{{IPAc-en|ɔː|ˈ|r|ɑː|n|}} <small>also</small> {{IPAc-en|UK|ə|ˈ|r|ɑː|n|,_|ə|ˈ|r|æ|n}}, {{IPAc-en|US|oʊ|ˈ|r|ɑː|n|,_|oʊ|ˈ|r|æ|n|,_|ɔː|ˈ|r|ɑ̃}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Oran|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/oran|title=Oran|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415105405/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/oran|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Oran "Oran"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415103902/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Oran |date=2019-04-15 }} (US) and {{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Oran |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805221043/https://www.lexico.com/definition/oran |archive-date=2020-08-05 |title=Oran |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Oran|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|ɔʁɑ̃|lang}}; {{IPA|ar|wah.raːn|lang}}}} is a major coastal city located in the northwest of [[Algeria]]. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, [[Algiers]], because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is {{convert|432|km|0|abbr=on}} west-southwest from Algiers. The total population of the city was 803,329 in 2008,<ref name=citypop>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html |title=The provinces of Algeria and all cities of over 25,000 inhabitants |website=Citypopulation.de |access-date=2008-04-14 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140817143616/http://www.citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html |archive-date=2014-08-17 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000,<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://eps.revues.org/index2408.html|title=Une périurbanisation officielle dans un site contraignant|first=Abdellah|last=Messahel|date=1 June 2008|journal=Espace Populations Sociétés. Space Populations Societies|issue=2008/1|pages=89–99|access-date=23 June 2018|doi=10.4000/eps.2408|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527225743/http://eps.revues.org/index2408.html|archive-date=27 May 2013|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref> making it the second-largest city in Algeria.<ref>[http://www.visitoran.com/city/about.asp About Oran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129140331/http://www.visitoran.com/city/about.asp |date=2008-01-29 }}—from the city's website.</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Barbary_lion.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Barbary lion]], from which Oran takes its name, identified by its long [[Mane (lion)|mane]]]]
The word ''Wahran'' comes from the Berber expression ''wa - iharan'' (place of lions).<ref name="Kees Versteegh">{{cite book|author=Kees Versteegh|title=Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics: (Q-Z)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWQOAQAAMAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-04-14476-7|pages=511|access-date=2023-01-30|archive-date=2023-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729111928/https://books.google.com/books?id=OWQOAQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> A locally popular legend tells that in the period around AD 900, there were sightings of [[Barbary lion]]s in the area. The last two lions were killed on a mountain near Oran, and it became known as ''la montagne des lions'' ("The Mountain of Lions").<ref>{{cite web |title=L'histoire de la ville d'Oran |language=fr |website=Oran-dz.com |url=http://www.oran-dz.com/ville/histoire/ |access-date=2020-12-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223063105/http://www.oran-dz.com/ville/histoire/ |archive-date=2014-12-23}}</ref> Two giant lion statues stand in front of Oran's city hall, symbolizing the city.

==History==
===Overview===
During the [[Roman Empire]], a small settlement called ''Unica Colonia'' existed in the area of the current Oran, but this settlement disappeared as the [[Maghreb]] was conquered by a succession of regional powers, beginning with the [[Vandals]] in [[Vandal conquest of Roman Africa|435]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Syvänne |first=Ilkka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fHD7DwAAQBAJ&dq=435+vandals+peace&pg=PA35 |title=Military History of Late Rome 425–457 |date=19 September 2020 |publisher=Pen and Sword Military |isbn=978-1-4738-7217-2 |language=en |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504002915/https://books.google.com/books?id=fHD7DwAAQBAJ&dq=435+vandals+peace&pg=PA35 |url-status=live }}</ref> followed by the [[Berbers]] of the [[Mauro-Roman Kingdom]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wolfram |first1=Herwig |title=The Roman Empire and Its Germanic Peoples |date=November 1997 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-24490-0 |page=170 |edition=Paperback |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7EwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |access-date=4 May 2023 |chapter=Seven - The Vandals: A Unique Case |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725012933/https://books.google.com/books?id=_7EwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA170#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> and finally the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Arabs]] around [[Muslim conquest of the Maghreb|the start of the 8th century]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Schwartz |first1=Carl |title=Mission Stations of the British Society |magazine=The Scattered Nation and Jewish Christian |date=1 March 1867 |publisher=Elliot Stock |location=London |page=76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n9_NAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Unica+Colonia%22+Roman+%22Oran%22&pg=PA76 |access-date=3 May 2023 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009034018/https://books.google.com/books?id=n9_NAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Unica+Colonia%22+Roman+%22Oran%22&pg=PA76 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Present-day Oran was founded in 903 by the {{Interlanguage link|Azdadja|fr}} and Ajissa [[Berbers]] of the [[Maghrawa]] confederation who lived in the area.<ref name="google.ca">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=45exFa6wDIIC&dq=founder+of+oran+azdaja&pg=PA169 | isbn=978-0-253-00146-7 | title=Jewish Culture and Society in North Africa | date=July 2011 | publisher=Indiana University Press | access-date=2023-03-21 | archive-date=2023-04-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419003813/https://books.google.com/books?id=45exFa6wDIIC&dq=founder+of+oran+azdaja&pg=PA169 | url-status=live }}</ref> The city enjoyed a period of prosperity under the [[Almohad]] Caliph [[Abd al-Mu'min]] for a lengthy period of time when he built thirty vessels to connect it with Andalusia.<ref name="google.ca"/> It endured a long, prosperous reign under the zayyanid of Tlemcen and used its ports as a key outlet to Spain in particular.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&dq=zayyanid+oran&pg=PA289 | isbn=978-1-57607-919-5 | title=Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia | year=2007 | publisher=Abc-Clio | access-date=2023-03-21 | archive-date=2023-04-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419003812/https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&dq=zayyanid+oran&pg=PA289 | url-status=live }}</ref> It was captured by the [[Crown of Castile|Castilians]] under [[Cardinal Cisneros]] in 1509, and Spanish sovereignty lasted until 1708 when the city was conquered by the [[Algerians]] during the [[Siege of Oran (1707–1708)]]. Spain recaptured the city in 1732. However, its value as a trading post had decreased greatly, so during the reign of King [[Charles IV of Spain|Charles IV]] the city was [[Siege of Oran (1790–1792)|recaptured]] in 1790–1792 by a coalition of Algerian troops against Spain which resulted in victory for the bey of Oran despite the many attempts in 1563. The beylik lasted until 1831 when the city fell to the [[July Monarchy|French]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=French occupation of Algeria {{!}} EBSCO Research Starters |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/military-history-and-science/french-occupation-algeria |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=en}}</ref>

Under [[French Algeria|French rule]] during the 19th and 20th centuries, Oran was the capital of the [[Département of Oran]] (number 92). In July 1940, the [[Royal Navy|British navy]] [[Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir|shelled French warships]] in the port after they refused a British ultimatum to surrender; this action was taken to ensure the fleet would not fall into German hands, as the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] had defeated France and occupied Paris. The action increased the hatred of the Vichy regime for [[United Kingdom|Britain]] but convinced the world that the British would fight alone against [[Nazi Germany]] and its allies. The [[Vichy France|Vichy government]] held Oran during [[World War II]] until its capture by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] in late 1942, during [[Operation Torch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Operation Torch: Invasion of North Africa |url=http://public1.nhhcaws.local/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1942/operation-torch.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref>

Also, during French rule, Jews were encouraged to modernize and take on jobs they had not before, including agriculture, while Muslims were forced out of the city and their ancestral fertile lands were confiscated and given to Colons.<ref name="EB">{{cite web | title=Algeria - French Rule, Colonization, and Occupation in Algeria | website=Encyclopedia Britannica | date=12 Aug 1998 | url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria | access-date=22 Jun 2023 | archive-date=17 November 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117181437/https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria | url-status=live }}</ref> Jews in the city were allowed to join the French Army starting 24 October 1870, while Muslims were forced to do [[military service]]. Algerian Jews were granted citizenship while Algerian Muslims were not. Jews would soon be targeted after the war for not supporting the struggle for independence against France.<ref name="jewishvirtuallibrary.org">{{cite web |title=Oran |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0015_0_15167.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113090003/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0015_0_15167.html |archive-date=2016-11-13 |url-status=live |work=Jewish Virtual Library }}</ref>

Before the [[Algerian War]] of 1954–1962, Oran had one of the highest proportions of Europeans of any city in North Africa. In July 1962, after a ceasefire and accords with France, the [[FLN (Algeria)|FLN]] entered Oran and were shot at by Europeans. A mob attacked [[pied-noir]] neighborhoods in response to the incident and during the subsequent [[Oran massacre of 1962]] at least 95 and as many as 365 were killed;<ref>Benjamin Stora, ''Algeria, 1830–2000: A Short History'' (Cornell University Press, 2004) p105</ref> many others are reported to have "disappeared".<ref name="lexpress">{{cite web|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/la-verite-sur-les-massacres-d-oran_460144.html|title=Algérie 1962: La vérité sur les massacres d'Oran|last=Thiolay|first=Boris|date=2006-09-13|work=[[L'Express (France)|L'Express]]|access-date=12 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813004854/http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/la-verite-sur-les-massacres-d-oran_460144.html|archive-date=13 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> This triggered a larger exodus of Europeans to France, which was already underway. In 1962, most of the Europeans and [[Algerian Jews]] living in Oran were repatriated to France..<ref name="jewishvirtuallibrary.org"/>

=== Religious history ===
==== Jewish presence in Oran ====
[[File:Mosquée Abdallah Ibn Salam (ancienne Synagogue d'Oran) en 2011.JPG|thumb|The [[Great Synagogue of Oran]] was converted into a mosque in 1975.]]
With its location as the closest port to [[Spain]] and its prominence on the Mediterranean, Jewish refugees first immigrated to Oran to flee [[Massacre of 1391|persecution and conversion to Christianity in Spain in 1391]]. This refuge brought other religious refugees that included both Jews again and Muslims in both 1492 and 1502.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/oran-algeria|title=The Jewish Community of Oran, Algeria {{!}} Beit Hatfutsot|newspaper=The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140237/https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/oran-algeria|archive-date=2018-06-12|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Islamic dynasties (910–1509)===
{|class="wikitable"
!Start year
!End year
!Event
|-
|910
|1082
|By 910 Oran became a perpetual object of conflict between the [[Umayyad]]s of [[al-Andalus]] and the [[Fatimid]]s of [[Kairouan]].
|-
|1082
|1145
|Presence of [[Almoravids]] in 1082. In 1145, [[Tashfin ibn Ali]] perished in the outskirts of Oran while trying to flee the besieging [[Almohad Caliphate|Almohad]] troops, who had already captured [[Tlemcen]].
|-
|1145
|1238
|Presence of [[Almohads]]. 1147 marked the beginning of a period of persecution of Oran's Jews.
|-
|1238
|1509
|Presence of the [[Abdalwadid|Zianides]] of [[Tlemcen]]. The Oranians grew rich from protection by the Emir, the customs system (tariffs), trade with [[Marseille]], and the [[Repubbliche Marinare|Italian Maritime Republics]] of [[Genoa]] and [[Republic of Venice|Venice]], with whom, in 1250, Oran signed a commercial treaty for 40 years. Toward the end of the 14th century, celebrated Arab historian [[Ibn Khaldoun]] wrote, "Oran is superior to all other cities by its trade. It's a paradise for the unhappy one. Those who arrive poor in its walls, will leave it again rich." The city excelled in the export of lead, wool, skins, fine burnous, carpets, haïks, cumin, nuts and galls.
|}

===Spanish period (1509–1708, 1732–1792)===
[[File:20160220 130546SANTA CRUISE.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Fort Santa Cruz, Oran|Santa Cruz Fort, Oran]]. ''Santa Cruz'' is [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "[[Christian cross|holy cross]]".]]
Before the Spaniards, the Portuguese launched a failed expedition to capture the city in July 1501. Four years later, the Spanish took [[Mers-el-Kébir]], located just {{convert|4|mi|km|0|abbr=off|order=flip|spell=on}} west of Oran. Thus began the first organized incursions against the city which, at the time, numbered 25,000 inhabitants and counted 6,000 ''fueros''. Count [[Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto|Pedro Navarro]], on the orders of Cardinal [[Cardinal Cisneros|Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros]], finally [[Spanish conquest of Oran (1509)|captured the city]] on 17 May 1509. The occupying forces [[Book Burning|set fire to the books and archives]] of the town.<ref>{{cite book |author1 = Urzainqui, Tomas |author2 = Esarte, Pello |author3 = García Manzanal, Alberto |author4 = Sagredo, Iñaki |author5 = Sagredo, Iñaki |author6 = Sagredo, Iñaki |author7 = Del Castillo, Eneko |author8 = Monjo, Emilio |author9 = Ruiz de Pablos, Francisco |author10 = Guerra Viscarret, Pello |author11 = Lartiga, Halip |author12 = Lavin, Josu |author13 = Ercilla, Manuel |year = 2013 |title = La Conquista de Navarra y la Reforma Europea |publisher = Pamiela |location=Pamplona-Iruña|isbn = 978-84-7681-803-9}}</ref>

By 1554, the Turks had reached Algiers. The governor of Oran, [[Count Alcaudete]], allied himself with Moroccan Sultan [[Mohammed ash-Sheikh]] against them. Nine years later, in 1563, [[Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz|Álvaro de Bazán]], Marquis de Santa Cruz, built the [[Fort Santa Cruz, Oran|fort of Santa-Cruz]], strategically placed at the top of a mountain, l'Aïdour, more than {{convert|1000|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} above the sea, directly to the west of the city. Pedro Garcerán de Borja, Grand Master of the [[Order of Montesa]], was captain of Oran when, on 14 July 1568, [[John of Austria]] (the illegitimate son of [[Charles I of Spain|Charles I]] and paternal half-brother of King [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]]), led a [[flotilla]] of 33 galleys against the Algerians.

[[File:The Fortified City of Oran on the Barbary Coast.png|thumb|A two-part map showing the port of Oran in the 18th century, by German map publisher [[Matthäus Seutter]]]]

In April 1669 the Spanish governor, the 6th [[Marquis of Los Vélez|Marquess of Los Vélez]], expelled all the Jews who lived in Oran and [[Mers El Kébir]]<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jonathan Israel |title=The Jews of Spanish Oran and Their Expulsion in 1669 |journal=Mediterranean Historical Review |volume=9 |issue=2 |date=1994 |pages=235–255|doi=10.1080/09518969408569672 }}</ref> sending them to be resettled in either [[Nice]], or [[History of the Jews in Livorno|Livorno]].

The Spanish rebuilt [[Fort Santa Cruz, Oran|Santa Cruz Fort]] to accommodate their city governors. "The fortifications of the place were composed of thick and continuous walls of over two and a half km in circumference, surmounted by strong towers spaced between them," with a central castle or ''[[kasbah]]'' where the Spanish governor had his headquarters.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} Under Spanish rule, the city continued to grow, requiring enlargement of the city walls. In spite of the improved fortifications, the city was the object of repeated attacks. Notable in this regard, Moroccan Sharif [[Moulay Ismail]] tried to force his way past the defences in 1707, only to see his army decimated. In 1739, trade with the surroundings was forbidden for years due to the plague. In 1744, king [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] asked the governor Tomás du Rollet de la tour for dromedaries to replenish the stock at the [[Royal Palace of Aranjuez]]. However, the former [[bey]] of Oran had banned trade with the Spaniards and those dromedaries gradually sent to the king had been sold by thieving tribesmen. Most of the maintenance of the place was paid by the [[bull of the Crusade]], a contribution of the Spanish Catholic church.<ref name="Gómez">{{cite journal |last1=Gómez-Centurión Jiménez |first1=Carlos |title=Exóticos pero útiles: los camellos reales de Aranjuez durante el siglo XVIII |journal=Cuadernos Dieciochistas |date=2008 |issue=9 |pages=155–180 |url=https://gredos.usal.es/bitstream/handle/10366/79244/Exoticos_pero_utiles_los_camellos_reales.pdf;sequence=1 |access-date=19 July 2022 |trans-title=Exotic but Useful: The Royal Camels of Aranjuez during the 18th Century |language=es-ES |issn=1576-7914 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725012810/https://gredos.usal.es/bitstream/handle/10366/79244/Exoticos_pero_utiles_los_camellos_reales.pdf;sequence=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Beylikal period (1708–1732, 1792–1831)===
{{Main|Beylik of Oran|Siege of Oran (1707–1708)}}

[[File:Minaret de la perle.jpg|left|thumb|The Bey Othmane El Kebir Mosque (Minaret de la perle)]]
The Spanish occupied the city until 1708, when the [[Western Beylik|Bey of Mascara]], [[Mustapha Ben Youssef]] (''Bouchelaghem''), vassal of the [[Deylik of Algiers]], and who was an [[Arabized Berber]] from the Mascara region<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-10|title=Le sépulcre du Bey Bouchelaghem (16?? - 1734): PATRIMOINE EN PÉRIL.|url=https://algerienetwork.com/blog/le-sepulcre-du-bey-bouchelaghem-16-1734-patrimoine-en-peril/|access-date=2021-03-14|website=Algerie network Blog|language=fr-FR|archive-date=2021-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409143232/https://algerienetwork.com/blog/le-sepulcre-du-bey-bouchelaghem-16-1734-patrimoine-en-peril/|url-status=live}}</ref> took advantage of the [[War of Spanish Succession]] to [[Recapture of Oran (1708)|drive the Spanish out]].<ref name="Terki Hassaine 197–222">{{Cite journal|last=Terki Hassaine|first=Ismet|date=2004-06-30|title=Oran au xviiie siècle: du désarroi à la clairvoyance politique de l'Espagne|url=http://journals.openedition.org/insaniyat/5625|journal=Insaniyat / إنسانيات. Revue algérienne d'anthropologie et de sciences sociales|language=fr|issue=23–24|pages=197–222|doi=10.4000/insaniyat.5625|issn=1111-2050|doi-access=free|access-date=2021-03-14|archive-date=2021-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517042741/https://journals.openedition.org/insaniyat/5625|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Epalza|first1=Miguel de|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ocL9o0VrNyAC&q=Oran+1708+Bouchlaghem|title=Planos y mapas hispánicos de Argelia: siglos XVI-XVII|last2=Vilar|first2=Juan Bautista|date=1988|publisher=Instituto Hispano-Arabe de Cultura|isbn=978-84-7472-081-5|language=fr|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=25 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725012935/https://books.google.com/books?id=ocL9o0VrNyAC&q=Oran+1708+Bouchlaghem|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1732, Spanish forces returned under [[José Carrillo de Albornoz, 1st Duke of Montemar|José Carrillo de Albornoz]], [[Spanish conquest of Oran (1732)|capturing the city from Bouchelaghem]]. Spain maintained its hold over Oran for the next six decades.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chitour|first=Chems-Eddine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TxyAAAAMAAJ&q=Oran+1732+Bouchlaghem|title=Algérie: le passé revisité|date=1998|publisher=Casbah Editions|isbn=978-9961-64-100-2|language=fr|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=25 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725012937/https://books.google.com/books?id=7TxyAAAAMAAJ&q=Oran+1732+Bouchlaghem|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the night after 8 October 1790, [[1790 Oran earthquake|a violent earthquake]] claimed more than 3,000 victims in less than seven minutes. [[Charles IV of Spain|Charles IV]] saw no advantage in continuing the occupation of the city, which had become increasingly expensive and perilous. He initiated discussions with the [[Dey of Algiers]].

==== Siege of Oran and Mers el-Kébir (1790–1792) ====
{{Related articles|Siege of Oran (1790–1792)}}
After another earthquake damaged the Spanish defences, the forces of the new Bey of Oran, [[Mohammed el Kebir]] besieged the city. By the end of 1790, there was a clear Algerian advantage.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Notice sur le Bey d'Oran, Mohammed el Kebir Revue africaine{{!}} Bulletin de la Société historique algérienne|url=http://revueafricaine.mmsh.univ-aix.fr/n/Pages/1858_009_004.aspx|access-date=2021-03-14|website=revueafricaine.mmsh.univ-aix.fr|archive-date=2019-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909091937/http://revueafricaine.mmsh.univ-aix.fr/n/Pages/1858_009_004.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The Spanish, not wanting to risk their troops, signed an agreement with the Algerians on 12 September in Algiers, and on 12 December in [[Madrid]], which recognized Algerian control over the city.<ref name="Terki Hassaine 197–222"/> By February all Spanish troops evacuated. The capital was moved there the same year. In 1792, the Bey settled a Jewish community there. In 1796, the [[Hassan Pasha Mosque|Pasha Mosque]] (in honour of [[Hasan Pasha (son of Barbarossa)|Hassan Pasha]], [[Beylerbey]] of [[Ottoman Algeria|Algiers]]) was built by the Bey with ransom money paid for the release of Spanish prisoners after Spain's final departure.

===French period (1831–1962)===
[[File:Oran from steps of City Hall LCCN2004707262.jpg|thumb|right|Oran from steps of City Hall, 1894]]
[[File:ORAN - La ville arabe, 1880.jpg|thumb|[[Fantasia (performance)|Fantasia]] in Oran, 1880]]
[[File:Hotel Ville de Oran.jpg|thumb|Oran's [[city hall]], dating from the French period]]
The town of 10,000 inhabitants was still in the possession of the [[Ottoman Empire]] when a squadron under the command of captain Bourmand seized el-Kébir on 14 December 1830. The city was in a wretched state. On 4 January 1831, the French commanded by General [[Charles-Marie Denys de Damrémont|Damrémont]] occupied Oran. In September 1831, [[Pierre Berthezène, Baron Berthezène|General Berthezène]] appointed Mr. Pujol as [[List of mayors of Oran|mayor]] of Oran; he had been captain of cavalry in retirement and was wounded in the right hand under the Empire.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 1832, leading a force of five thousand men, the young Emir [[Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri|Abd al-Qadir]] attacked Oran. In April 1833, commander-in-chief, General Boyer, was replaced by the baron [[Louis Alexis Desmichels]]. The city's defenders, under attack by Abd al Qadir, held their ground.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} Many Europeans settled in Oran during the French period, and by the early 20th century they formed a majority of the city's population.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hourani|first1=Albert|last2=Hourani|first2=Albert Habib |title=A History of the Arab Peoples|year=2022|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Harvard|isbn=9780674010178|pages=323}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | author=Cook, Bernard A. | title=Europe since 1945: an encyclopedia | url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaeuro01acoo | url-access=limited | year=2001 | publisher=Garland | location=New York  | isbn=0-8153-4057-5 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaeuro01acoo/page/n461 398]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Making Algeria French|first=David|last=Prochaska|year=2002|isbn=9780521531283|page =11|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref>

In [[World War II]], Oran was one of the landing points in [[Operation Torch]], the first American action in the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Europe-North Africa theatre]] in November 1942. The Task Force suffered some damage to its fleet, trying to land in shallow water, but the enemy ships were sunk or driven off, and Oran surrendered after heavy fire from British battleships.<ref name="R&C">Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p. 175.</ref>

===Since independence (1962)===
Due to the exodus of [[Pieds-Noirs]], the [[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran]] was converted into a public library, [[Aubert Library of Oran]], in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitoran.com/city/attractions.asp?id=cathedrale |title=Cathédrale de Sacré Coeur |website=Visit Oran |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109224206/http://www.visitoran.com/city/attractions.asp?id=cathedrale |archive-date=2016-11-09 |access-date=2016-11-09}}</ref>

Today, Oran is a major port and a commercial centre, and has three universities. The old quarter of Oran has a [[casbah]] and an 18th-century [[mosque]]. The modern section of Oran is referred to as La Ville Nouvelle and was built after 1831; this section contrasts with the older section, La Blanca.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Oran|title=Oran {{!}} Algeria|newspaper=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=2016-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114171914/https://www.britannica.com/place/Oran|archive-date=2016-11-14|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==

=== Climate ===
Oran features a [[hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSh''). Oran's climate does show influences of a [[Mediterranean climate]]; however, the combination of the city's relatively high average annual temperature and relatively low annual precipitation precludes it from falling under that climate category. Oran averages {{convert|326|mm|0|abbr=on}} of precipitation annually, the bulk of which falls between November and May. Summers are the warmest times of the year, with average high temperatures in the warmest month (August) approaching 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are the coolest times of the year in Oran, with high temperatures in the coolest month (January) at around 17 degrees Celsius.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Oran ([[Ahmed Ben Bella Airport]]) (1991–2020, extremes 1886–present{{efn|Extremes are sourced from NOAA, Deutscher Wetterdienst, and Meteo Climat.}})
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 28.4
|Feb record high C = 33.0
|Mar record high C = 36.6
|Apr record high C = 37.9
|May record high C = 40.0
|Jun record high C = 42.2
|Jul record high C = 46.3
|Aug record high C = 43.0
|Sep record high C = 41.1
|Oct record high C = 40.4
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 30.8
|Jan high C = 17.0
|Feb high C = 17.9
|Mar high C = 20.1
|Apr high C = 22.1
|May high C = 25.0
|Jun high C = 28.5
|Jul high C = 31.5
|Aug high C = 32.4
|Sep high C = 29.4
|Oct high C = 26.0
|Nov high C = 20.9
|Dec high C = 17.9
|year high C = 24.1
|Jan mean C = 11.2
|Feb mean C = 12.2
|Mar mean C = 14.4
|Apr mean C = 16.5
|May mean C = 19.5
|Jun mean C = 23.0
|Jul mean C = 25.9
|Aug mean C = 26.7
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 20.2
|Nov mean C = 15.4
|Dec mean C = 12.4
|year mean C = 18.4
|Jan low C = 5.4
|Feb low C = 6.5
|Mar low C = 8.7
|Apr low C = 10.8
|May low C = 14.0
|Jun low C = 17.6
|Jul low C = 20.4
|Aug low C = 21.0
|Sep low C = 18.3
|Oct low C = 14.4
|Nov low C = 9.8
|Dec low C = 6.9
|year low C = 12.8
|Jan record low C = -2.9
|Feb record low C = -3.3
|Mar record low C = -1.3
|Apr record low C = 1.0
|May record low C = 3.0
|Jun record low C = 9.5
|Jul record low C = 11.5
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 7.8
|Oct record low C = 1.2
|Nov record low C = 1.0
|Dec record low C = -2.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 46.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 41.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 37.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 35.7
|May precipitation mm = 23.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 3.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 2.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 17.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 34.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 64.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 47.9
|year precipitation mm = 355.4
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 5.6
|Mar precipitation days = 5.0
|Apr precipitation days = 4.7
|May precipitation days = 3.1
|Jun precipitation days = 0.9
|Jul precipitation days = 0.2
|Aug precipitation days = 0.5
|Sep precipitation days = 2.6
|Oct precipitation days = 4.4
|Nov precipitation days = 6.6
|Dec precipitation days = 5.7
|year precipitation days = 45.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan humidity = 80 
|Feb humidity = 77
|Mar humidity = 74
|Apr humidity = 73
|May humidity = 69
|Jun humidity = 70
|Jul humidity = 69
|Aug humidity = 68
|Sep humidity = 72
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 78
|year humidity = 73
|Jan sun = 194.1
|Feb sun = 200.5
|Mar sun = 238.1
|Apr sun = 
|May sun = 303.8
|Jun sun = 323.8
|Jul sun = 337.0
|Aug sun = 319.9
|Sep sun = 260.7
|Oct sun = 237.7
|Nov sun = 194.3
|Dec sun = 184.2
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Algeria/CSV/OranSennia_60490.csv
|title = Oran Sennia Climate Normals for 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = 9 October 2023
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231009031344/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Algeria/CSV/OranSennia_60490.csv
|archive-date = 9 October 2023
}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity 1949–1967, records 1941–1970),<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_604900_di.pdf
|title = Klimatafel von Oran - Es Senia (Flugh.) / Algerien
|publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
|access-date = 9 October 2023
|language = de
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231009032647/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_604900_kt.pdf
|archive-date = 9 October 2023
}}</ref> Meteo Climat (records)<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-667.php
|title = Station Oran
|website = Meteo Climat
|access-date = 9 October 2023
|language = fr
|archive-date = 1 September 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140901020201/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-667.php
|url-status = live
}}</ref>
|date=January 2011}}

== Earthquakes ==
{{further|List of earthquakes in Algeria}}

As Oran is located in Northern Algeria, it faces the threat of earthquakes that can cause damage. However, the last major earthquake was in 1790; 3,000 people died as a result. Many of the existing older buildings in the city have been reinforced, and newer construction is designed to withstand earthquakes. While the city dates back to the 900s, it is rare to find houses and buildings older than the French occupation.<ref>{{Cite conference |url= http://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/WCEE2012_2310.pdf |title=Classification of Buildings of Oran City (Algeria) Based on Their Seismic Vulnerability| first1= A. |last1= Senouci| first2= M. A. | last2= Taibi| first3= D.| last3= Nedjar| display-authors= 3| author4= P.Y. Bard| author5= M.N. Farsi| author6= E. Beck | author7= S. Cartier |via=Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur |conference=15 WCEE Conference, Lisbon |date=2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161109222227/http://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/WCEE2012_2310.pdf| archive-date=2016-11-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Government==
{{further|List of mayors of Oran}}

==City districts==
{{further|Quarters of Oran}}

=== List of districts of Oran ===
[[File:quartiers-oran-fr.svg|thumb|Neighborhoods and districts of Oran, old map]]

Since 2019, Oran have 18 communal délégations (ex. districts) and 83 quarters.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.lequotidien-oran.com/index.php?news=5238933&archive_date=2017-01-16 |language= fr |title= AG extraordinaire aujourd'hui: L'APC d'Oran passera de 12 à 18 délégations communales |work= [[Le Quotidien d'Oran]] |location= Oran |date= 16 January 2017 |access-date= 2021-05-06 |archive-date= 2021-05-06 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205919/http://www.lequotidien-oran.com/index.php?news=5238933&archive_date=2017-01-16 |url-status= live }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Arabic name and names of the districts of Oran (old division)
! District
! Arabic name
! Name
|-
|align="right"|1 {{bg|#fdd2ab|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|الحمري
|align="right"|El Hamri
|-
|align="right"|2 {{bg|#b8ba05|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|حي الإمام الهواري
|align="right"|Hai Imam El-Houari
|-
|align="right"|3 {{bg|#ffafaf|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|السعادة
|align="right"|Es-Saada
|-
|align="right"|4 {{bg|#cb9f0a|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|المقري
|align="right"|Al-Maqarri
|-
|align="right"|5 {{bg|#ffafaf|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|الحمري
|align="right"|El-Hamri
|-
|align="right"|6 {{bg|#fcfdab|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|البدر
|align="right"|El-Badr
|-
|align="right"|7 {{bg|#fad89b|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|الصديقية
|align="right"|Es-Seddikia
|-
|align="right"|8 {{bg|#ffafaf|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|المنزه
|align="right"|El-Menzeh
|-
|align="right"|9 {{bg|#c16b1e|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|الأمير
|align="right"|El-Emir
|-
|align="right"|10 {{bg|#ffafaf|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|العثمانية
|align="right"|El-Othmania
|-
|align="right"|11 {{bg|#ba3f05|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|بوعمامة
|align="right"|Bouamama
|-
|align="right"|12 {{bg|#ba3f05|&nbsp;&nbsp;}}
|align="right"|محي الدين
|align="right"|Muhieddine
|-
|}

===Medina Jedida===
{{interlanguage link|Medina Jedida|fr|Médina Jdida}} or, ''new city'' in English, is a large historical and popular district. It was one of the Muslim quarters during the French colonial period. In this district, there is one of the biggest markets in the country, called Le Marché de Medina Jedida (Medina Jedida Market).

===El Hamri===
[[File:Mosquée du Pacha.jpg|thumb|[[Hassan Basha Mosque]]]]
El Hamri is a large and popular district in the center of Oran, known under French rule as Lamur. The football club [[MC Oran|Mouloudia d'Oran]] is found there.

'''Neighborhood streets'''
* Avenue of Lamur
* Street Captain-Rahou
* Sebbalet Ayada
* Place The Sahara
* Gahwat Ettoubi
* Street Staoueli
* Street Djemaa Gazouna
* Street Bougandoura
* Street Belhadri Smain

===Sidi El Houari===
The historical district {{interlanguage link|Sidi El Houari, Oran|es|Sidi El Houari|lt=Sidi El Houari}} is a suburb in the north of the d'Oran city. The Saint-Louis college is there, as well as the old mosque of the Pasha dating from the 17th century. In this district the skin of Saint-Patron of the city in the name of "[[Sidi El Houari]]" rests. Other tourist curiosities: one ancient prefecture of the data base Stalingrad, the Spanish vestiges dating from the 16th century, and especially the Palate of the Bey d'Oran.

==Oranian agglomeration==
[[File:Fort Mers el-Kebir.jpg|thumb|right|Fort Mers el-Kebir]]
[[File:Plage en Algérie.jpg|thumb|Madagh Beach (West of Oran)]]
[[File:Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran.jpg|thumb|The Great Library (ex. [[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oran|Cathédrale Sacré-Cœur d'Oran]])]]

The Oranian metropolis comprises several [[Communes of Algeria|communes]].

[[File:DZ 31 Oran.svg|400px|center]]

===Mers El-Kébir===
[[Mers El Kébir]] ("The Great Port") is a municipality northwest of Oran, about {{convert|7|km|mi|frac=2|spell=in}} from the city centre. As its name indicates, it is a major port and has an important naval base, home to the Algerian Navy.

===Aïn El-Turk===
[[Aïn El Turk]] ("Fountain of the Turks") is also northwest of Oran, at a distance of {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}}. It is a seaside town which includes several hotels and other tourist attractions.

===Es-Sénia===
[[Es Sénia]], located in the south of Oran, is home to industrial parks, several university institutes (Oran-Es-Sénia University, Institut of Communication, ENPO "National Polytechnic School of Oran", CRASC "Research center in social sciences" etc.) and the international airport.
[[File:Vue d'Oran depuis le sommet du Murdjajo, Algérie.jpg|thumb|View of part of Oran from the Summit of Murdjajo]]

===Bir El-Djir ===
[[Bir El Djir]] is a commune that represents the suburbs of Oran (apart from the districts). It is the future beating heart of the Oranian agglomeration. It has several buildings which are the seats of institutions as the headquarters of [[Sonatrach]]'s downstream activity, the hospital ''Établissement Hospitalo-universitaire'' "November 1st, 1954", the convention center (Palais des Congrès), University of sciences and technology (conceived by the Japanese architect [[Kenzō Tange]]), the Institute of medical sciences, the Court of Justice and the [[National Centre of Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology]]. There is as well a sports complex with an Olympic stadium of 50000 places created for the [[2022 Mediterranean Games]].

Bir El Djir is an urban extension east of Oran, {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the city center, with a population of 118,000 inhabitants.

===Misserghin===
[[Misserghin]] is a small city located to the southwest of Oran.

{{wide image|Oran - Front de mer.jpg|1200px|{{center|Panorama of sea front at Oran, Algeria}}|alt=Mediterranean side – Oran}}

==Transportation==
{{see also|Port of Oran}}
{{Update|section|date=April 2016}}
[[File:Oran train station, Boumlik Messaili, 29-07-2008.jpg|thumb|right|Railway station in Oran]]

The city's public transportation is centered on the [[Oran Tramway|Oran tramway]] centering in the city center and running south to Es-Senia. The [[Oran Metro]] is a planned metro system expected to be complete in 2026, ran by the [[Algiers Metro Company]]. There is an extensive network of "clandestine" taxis in the city. A project started in 2008/9 for the [[Oran Tramway|Oran Tram]], a tramway system consisting of 32 stations over a distance of {{convert|18.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} going to Es-Sénia, in the South and Sidi Maarouf in the east side, while passing by the centre town The tramway serves Haï Sabbah, University of Sciences and Technology (USTO), the Crossroads of the Three Private clinics, the Law courts, Dar El Baïda, the Plate-Saint Michel, the Place of 1 November, Saint-Anthony, Boulanger, Saint-Hubert, the 3rd Ring road and finally The University of Es-Sénia. The system was opened on 1 May 2013.

The [[Ahmed Ben Bella Airport]], also known as Es-Senia Airport, serves both domestic and international flights, with frequent connections to the capital Algiers, served by the public airline company [[Air Algérie|Air Algerie]]. The same company also has flights to many French cities (Marseille, Paris, Lyon, etc.) and other European and EMEA cities. The Es Senia Airport also serves passengers from most smaller towns in proximity to Oran (Sig, Mostaganem, Arzew, etc.). The airport building is a fairly limited construction and does not operate on a 24-h basis.

==Sports==
Oran is represented in [[association football]] by [[MC Oran]].

Oran held its first international marathon on 10 November 2005. The event, sponsored by Toyota of Algeria, attracted runners from Morocco, Libya, Spain, France and Kenya. The marathon served to publicize the health benefits of running and to provide a novel form of public entertainment for the city's residents.

The Championnat d'Afrique d'Athlétisme was scheduled to be held in Oran in June 2021.

The [[2021 Mediterranean Games|XIX Mediterranean Games]] was held in Oran in 2022.

==Culture==
[[File:DiscoMaghrebOran RomanDeckertJuliaJoerin01012017.jpg|thumb|"Disco Maghreb" in Oran, 2017]]

The folk music [[Raï]] ("opinion" in Arabic), had its beginnings in Oran. This genre of music was formulated by shepherds in the 1930s through Arab and European influences. This music was surrounded by controversy due to women's key role in public performances of the music, as well as the hedonistic lyrics about love and alcohol. This led to strict governmental control in the area which led to arrests, injuries, and assassinations.<ref>{{Cite book|first= Gross |last= Joan |title= "Arab Noise and Ramadan Nights: Rai, Rap and Franco-Maghrebi Identities" The Anthology of Globalization: A Reader|editor= Jonathan Xavier and Renato Rosaldo |place= Oxford |publisher= Blackwell|year= 2002}}</ref> Many notable Raï musicians (including [[Cheb Hasni]], [[Khaled (musician)|Cheb Khaled]], and [[Rachid Taha]]) hail from Oran. The violinist Akim el Sikameya was also born in Oran. One of Oran's most famous emigrants is [[Yves Saint Laurent (designer)|Yves Saint Laurent]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/algeria/oran |title=Oran |website=Lonely Planet |access-date=2016-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114232735/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/algeria/oran |archive-date=2016-11-14 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cuisine===
The traditional Algerian lemon sorbet [[creponne]] originated in Oran.

==Representation in other media==
[[File:Place d'armes.jpg|thumb|right|Place 1er novembre (ex.Place d'Armes)]]
[[File:Vue sur Oran - Chapelle de Santa-Cruz.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fort of Santa Cruz (Oran)|Chapelle Santa Cruz]]]]

*[[Albert Camus]]' 1939 essay ''{{ill|The Minotaur (Camus)|lt=The Minotaur|fr|L'Été (Albert Camus)}}'' describes life in Oran.
*Albert Camus' 1947 novel ''[[The Plague (novel)|The Plague]]'' presents a fictional tale of observations of a physician during the emergence and recession of bubonic plague in the 1940s in Oran.
*''[[El Gallardo Español]]'' (1615) by [[Miguel de Cervantes]] takes place in Oran. Other works from Cervantes mention the city, and during the first part of ''[[Don Quixote]],'' the story of the captive takes place here.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Abi Ayad |first=Reda |date=2020 |title=Orán y Argel en la obra de Cervantes |url=http://rua.ua.es/dspace/handle/10045/112447 |doi=10.14198/RevArgel2020.11.03 |issn=2444-4413 |journal=Revista Argelina |issue=11 |doi-access=free |access-date=2023-10-04 |archive-date=2023-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009034017/http://rua.ua.es/dspace/handle/10045/112447 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In the movie ''[[Casablanca (film)|Casablanca]]'' (1942), the route for refugees fleeing to the Americas was [[Paris]] to [[Marseille]], across the Mediterranean to Oran, then by train, auto or foot to [[Casablanca]]. If they acquired an exit visa, they went on to [[Lisbon]] from there.
*[[Paul Bowles]]' 1949 novel ''[[The Sheltering Sky]]'' mainly takes place in Oran.
*Part of [[Arturo Pérez-Reverte]]'s Capitán Alatriste adventure novel, ''[[Corsarios de Levante]]'' (Pirates of the Levant, 2006), takes place in early 17th-century Oran. The action of the book occurs a few years after the forced expulsion of the last [[Moriscos]] (Spanish Christians of Muslim descent) from Valencia. Oran is featured as a sun-blasted North African military stronghold. Capitán Diego Alatriste finds Oran to be manned by an impoverished garrison of Spanish Christians, living alongside Muslims (some fiercely loyal to Spain), and Sephardic Jews, descendants of refugees from the 1492 expulsions from Spain.
*In the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] drama series ''[[Hornblower (TV series)|Hornblower]]'', Lieutenant Hornblower is sent by Captain Pellew to Oran to obtain supplies, only to discover that the city was suffering from a [[bubonic plague]] epidemic.
*The heroine of [[Geraldine Brooks (writer)|Geraldine Brooks]]' novel, ''[[Year of Wonders]]'', emigrates to Oran after leaving her home village that was quarantined in 1666 due to the plague.
*[[Joann Sfar]]'s graphic novel ''The Rabbi's Cat 2'' begins in Oran.
*[[Kamel Daoud]]'s novel ''[[The Meursault Investigation]]'' is set in a bar in Oran.<ref>{{cite news|title='The Meursault Investigation,' by Kamel Daoud|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/books/review/the-meursault-investigation-by-kamel-daoud.html?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612024424/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/books/review/the-meursault-investigation-by-kamel-daoud.html?_r=0|archive-date=12 June 2015|url-status=live|date = 2015-06-08|last1 = Lalami|first1 = Laila}}</ref>

== Economy and infrastructure ==
Oran has become a major trading centre for the wider area, serving [[Arzew]], the area's oil/gas port as well as Sonatrach, the country's biggest oil and gas company. [[Sonelgaz]] has built a new congress centre in Oran and in 2010 the 16th International Conference & Exhibition on [[Liquefied natural gas|Liquefied Natural Gas]] was held in the city of Oran, which attracted around 3,000 visitors and major companies from around the world.

To accommodate all visitors, new hotels are currently being constructed and floating hotels will be used in the future. With a growth in urbanization, water quality and management is being harmed in Oran; this change in water quality is affecting marine life and the state of beaches in this tourism driven city.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Tayeb A, Chellali M, Hamou A, Debbah S |title=Impact of urban and industrial effluents on the coastal marine environment in Oran, Algeria |journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin |volume=98 |issue=1–2 |pages=281–288 |date=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.07.013|pmid=26164780 |bibcode=2015MarPB..98..281T }}</ref>

The city and region participates in the [[R20 Regions of Climate Action]], with goals focused on reduced [[waste valorization]] and energy efficiency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oran, Algeria - R20 Regions of Climate Action |url=https://regions20.org/oran-algeria/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=R20 - Regions of Climate Action |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819090421/https://regions20.org/oran-algeria/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tourism===
Oran has numerous hotels in all categories, from luxury to basic, as well as many restaurants offering Algerian specialities and other foods. Tourists will also find a variety of cinemas, arts centres, the regional theatre, an open-air theatre, the Museum, the historic city centre of Oran, the district of Sidi El Houari, the municipal gardens, Médina Djedida with its artisanal products, the cathedral, Djebel Murdjadjo, and nearby seaside resorts. [[Ahmed Ben Bella Airport]] is {{convert|7+3/8|mi|km|1|order=flip|abbr=on}} from the town centre. One can also reach Oran by ferries from the ports of [[Marseille]], [[Sète]], [[Alicante]] and [[Almería]], via the national company [[Algérie Ferries]]. The Great Mosque is another attraction for tourists. The Great Mosque was built in 1796 to celebrate the end of Spanish rule of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitoran.com/city/attractions.asp?id=greatmosque |title=Great Mosque |website=Visit Oran |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109224336/http://www.visitoran.com/city/attractions.asp?id=greatmosque |archive-date=2016-11-09 |access-date=2016-11-09}}</ref>

==== Attractions ====
The main museum in Oran is called [[Ahmed Zabana National Museum|Musée National Ahmend Zabana]]. Although often overlooked by tourists, it includes a natural history exhibit in addition to art pieces like mosaics and portraits.<ref name="auto"/>

[[Bey's Palace]] is another favorite spot for tourists, situated in Sidi al-Houari in the city center. It is an Ottoman era palace built of [[Islamic architecture]], consists of [[harem]], guard towers and [[stucco]]-painted halls.<ref>[https://www.djazairess.com/elhayat/36521 قصر الباي بوهران ..عانق تاريخ العثمانيين ليبكي على الأطلال اليوم] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110061837/https://www.djazairess.com/elhayat/36521 |date=2018-01-10 }}. ''Djazairess''. Retrieved 10 January 2018.</ref>

=== Water ===
{{Further|Water supply and sanitation in Algeria}}
Water supply in Oran has historically been stressed because of the lack of consistent rainfall.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Baba Hamed |first=Samira |date=March 2021 |title=Impact of water pollution on public health and the environment in Oran |journal=Larhyss Journal |issue=45 |pages=203–222}}</ref> The regional government invested in hydraulic projects in the 2010s to increase retention of water, and installing a desalination plant increased [[water security]].<ref name=":0" /> Oran's region uses a mix of groundwater (11%), surface water (51%) and desalinization (38%).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Magri |first1=Adnane |last2=Berezowska-Azzag |first2=Ewa |date=2019-07-01 |title=New tool for assessing urban water carrying capacity (WCC) in the planning of development programs in the region of Oran, Algeria |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221067071831148X |journal=Sustainable Cities and Society |language=en |volume=48 |pages=101316 |doi=10.1016/j.scs.2018.10.040 |s2cid=116191171 |issn=2210-6707|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The [[wilaya of Oran]] is also equipped with five desalination plants, including the unit of [[Macta]], with a maximum daily capacity of 500,000 m<sup>3</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magtaa Reverse Osmosis (RO) Desalination Plant, Algeria - Water Technology |url=https://www.water-technology.net/projects/magtaa-desalination/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=www.water-technology.net |archive-date=2023-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115030558/https://www.water-technology.net/projects/magtaa-desalination/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=Oran: Plein régime à la station de dessalement d'El-Mactaâ |url=https://www.jeune-independant.net/oran-plein-regime-a-la-station-de-dessalement-del-mactaa/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=Le Jeune Indépendant |language=fr-FR |archive-date=2023-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202211453/https://www.jeune-independant.net/oran-plein-regime-a-la-station-de-dessalement-del-mactaa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==International relations==
{{See also|List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Africa#Algeria|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Algeria}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Oran is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with 21 cities:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apc-oran.dz/la-p-c/jumelage/|title=Jumelage de la ville d'Oran|work=APC d'Oran|language=fr|access-date=2021-02-26|archive-date=2022-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601191159/https://apc-oran.dz/la-p-c/jumelage/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Alicante]], Spain
*[[Bizerte]], Tunisia
*[[Bordeaux]], France (2003)<ref name="Bordeaux twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.bordeaux.fr/p63778/europe%C2%A0et%C2%A0international|title=Bordeaux – Rayonnement européen et mondial|access-date=2013-07-29|work=Mairie de Bordeaux|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207154903/http://www.bordeaux.fr/p63778/europe%C2%A0et%C2%A0international|archive-date =2013-02-07}}</ref><ref name="Bordeaux twinnings 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-recherche-resultat.asp?searchField=bordeaux&x=36&y=14|title=Bordeaux-Atlas français de la coopération décentralisée et des autres actions extérieures |access-date=2013-07-29|work=Délégation pour l'Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères)|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207152951/http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-recherche-resultat.asp?searchField=bordeaux&x=36&y=14|archive-date=2013-02-07}}</ref>
*[[Cairo]], Egypt
*[[Casablanca]], Morocco (1999)
*[[Dakar]], Senegal
*[[Durban]], South Africa<ref name="Durban">{{cite web|url=http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/government/igr/idr/sister |title=Sister Cities Home Page |website=eThekwini Online: The Official Site of the City of Durban |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011232124/http://www1.durban.gov.za/durban/government/igr/idr/sister |archive-date=11 October 2012}}</ref>
*[[Elche]], Spain
*[[Gdańsk]], Poland
*[[Havana]], Cuba
*[[Jeddah]], Saudi Arabia
*[[Leicester]], England (2001)
*[[Lyon]], France
*[[Metz]], France
*[[Oujda]], Morocco
*[[Rangpur, Bangladesh|Rangpur]], Bangladesh
*[[Seoul]], South Korea
*[[Sfax]], Tunisia (1989)
*[[Strasbourg]], France (2013)
*[[Toulon]], France
*[[Zarqa]], Jordan
{{div col end}}

===Partner cities===
In addition, Oran has partnerships and cooperation with one city:
* [[Strasbourg]], France (2013)<ref name="COOPÉRATIONS ET PARTENARIATS">{{cite web|url=https://www.strasbourg.eu/oran-algerie|title=VILLE PARTENAIRE ET SOLIDAIRE|access-date=2019-10-10|work=Ville de Strasbourg|language=fr|archive-date=2019-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010071537/https://www.strasbourg.eu/oran-algerie|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
Below the list of some of many notable personalities of Oran:

*[[Kaddour Bekhloufi]] (1934–2019), played international football for [[FLN football team]]
*[[Miloud Mourad Benamara]] (born 1977), actor
*[[Jean Benguigui]] (born 1944), French actor
*[[Pierre Bénichou]] (1938–2020), French journalist
*Sirat Boumediène (1947–1995), actor
*Hamou Boutlélis (1920–1957), nationalist militant for [[Algerian War]]
*[[Albert Camus]] (1913–1960), French philosopher, author, and journalist
*[[Alain Chabat]] (born 1958), French actor, director, screenwriter, producer and TV presenter
*[[Étienne Daho]] (born 1956), French singer
*Habib Draoua (1914–2008), co-founder of the ALN football team
*[[Sidi El Houari]] (1350–1439), imam and patron saint of the city of Oran
*[[Jean-Pierre Elkabbach]] (1937–2023), French journalist
*[[Maurice El Mediouni]] (1928–2024), pianist, composer and interpreter of Andalusian, Raï, Sephardic and Arab music
*Miloud El Mehadj (1909–2001), imam, writer and ulama
*Tayeb El Mehadj (1881–1969), imam and ulama
*[[Kader Firoud]] (1919–2005), professional footballer and manager
*Henri Fouques-Duparc (1903–1976), French politician, deputy and mayor of Oran
*[[Miloud Hadefi]] (1949–1994), international footballer and manager
*[[Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah]] (1928–2017), linguist
*Caïda Halima (1859–1944), great personality and business woman
*[[Cheb Hasni]] (1968–1994), Raï singer
*[[Blaoui Houari]] (1926–2017), singer-songwriter, composer and conductor
*[[Khaled (singer)|Khaled]] (born 1960), prominent [[Raï]] singer and multi-instrumentalist
*[[Mustapha Moussa]] (born 1962), former boxer, first Algerian Olympic medalist
*[[Armand Mouyal]] (1925–1988), French world champion épée fencer
*Ahmed Saber (1937–1969), singer-songwriter, composer, conductor and actor
*[[Yves Saint Laurent (designer)|Yves Saint Laurent]] (1936–2008), French fashion designer
*[[Henri Stambouli]] (born 1961), former footballer and current manager
*Ahmed Wahby (1921–1993), singer-songwriter, composer and conductor
*[[Ahmed Zabana]] (1926–1956), nationalist militant who participated in the outbreak of the Algerian War
*Belkacem Zeddour Mohamed Brahim (1923–1954), nationalist activist for Algerian War

==See also==
{{portal|Algeria}}
* [[Cebon]]
* [[European enclaves in North Africa before 1830]]
* [[Dhaya]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Oran#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Oran}}

== External links ==
{{wikivoyage|Oran}}
{{commons category}}
{{EB1911 poster|Oran}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100830045409/http://www.easyalgerie.com/ EasyOran]—{{in lang|fr}} The Oran electronic guide
* [http://www.visitoran.com Visit Oran]—Voted in 2007 as "Oran's best website" by the ministry of culture and Panoramic Tours. Mostly dedicated to tourism. Features photo galleries, short films, news, city guides & information, hotel info & reservation forms, forum...
* [http://www.lesouk-oran.org Le Souk d'Oran]{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}—Oran student's community
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614161728/http://forum.visitoran.com/ Oran's Community FORUM]—The Community Discussion Forum for Oran and tourism.
* {{in lang|en}} {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060622224658/http://www.ulivewhere.com/low/downloads/download-oran.html Audio interview with Oran resident about life in Oran.]}}
* [http://www.visitoran.com/city Oran MAPS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010065052/http://www.visitoran.com/city |date=2018-10-10 }}—Detailed maps of the Oran Region and City.
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.oran-dz.com Oran-dz]<!-- Note for Wikipedia: Not Oran's official website. The official website is wilaya-oran.dz which is down at the moment. -->

{{Geographic location
|Northwest = ''[[Aïn El Turk]]'' • ''[[Mers El Kébir]]'' • ''[[Bousfer]]''
|North     = ''[[Mediterranean Sea]]''
|Northeast = ''[[Aïn Bya]]'' • ''Aïn Franin''
|East      = ''[[Mers El Hadjadj]]'' • ''[[Gdyel]]'' • ''[[Bir El Djir]]''
|Centre    = Wahrān
|West      = ''[[Boutlélis]]''
|South     = ''[[El Kerma]]'' • ''[[Tafraoui]]'' • ''[[Es Sénia]]''
|Southwest = ''[[Misserghin]]''
|Southeast = ''[[Oued Tlélat]]''
 |مقاطعة          =
}}

{{Oran}}
{{Oran Province}}
{{Province seats of Algeria}}
{{Barbary Corsairs}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Oran| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Cities in Algeria]]
[[Category:Province seats of Algeria]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Algeria]]
[[Category:Communes of Oran Province]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Algeria]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Former Spanish colonies]]
[[Category:Spanish Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century]]
[[Category:903 establishments]]
[[Category:10th-century establishments in Africa]]