Sur les traces d’Albert Camus, Fils d’Algérie

We are just putting the finishing touches to our new Albert Camus tour, designed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the great philosopher’s death. Expert Algeria’s circuit will include visits to many of the places associated with Camus’ life and work, visiting scenes from, inter alia, l’Etranger, The Plague and The First Man.
holiJour and tour in Algeria avec Expert Algeria travel agency
Jour 1
Arrive Algiers. Transfer to hotel in central Algiers for four nights followed by walking tour including esplanade (panoramic views of port, art deco Hotel Safir, National Assembly, neo-Moorish Prefecture), Place des Martyrs (situated at the foot of the casbah and housing 17th century El Djedid Mosque) followed by Place Emir Abdelkader (with famous statue in honour of the founder of Algerian nation) and Grande Poste (Algiers’ quintessential neo-Moorish building).
Jour 2
Algiers’ UNESCO-designated casbah, including lunch in private home and visits to mosque and Museum of Arts and Crafts followed by Bab El Oued including Algiers lycée (frequented by Camus) as well as Marengo Gardens, Padovani beach and Notre Dame d’Afrique cathedral with optional visit to Bastion 23 (Ottoman Palais des Rais converted into art and architecture museum).
Jour 3
Whole-Jour excursion to the Tombeau de la Chrétienne (royal mausoleum of Mauritania, one of North Africa’s most enigmatic archaeological survivals), seaside town of Cherchell and Tipasa (UNESCO World Heritage site bordering the Mediterranean adorned with a Roman amphitheatre, 4th century basilica, forum, old port and delightful museum) including stele erected in homage to Camus.
Jour 4
Sur les Traces de Camus in Algiers: Belcourt (Camus’ childhood quartier), rue Mohamed Belouizdad (ex rue de Lyon) followed by Bardo Museum (prehistory and ethnography) and free time in central Algiers.
Jour 5
Transfer on internal flight to Oran (scene of La Peste) followed by tour Sur les Traces de Camus with visits to his apartment in rue Larbi (ex Rue d’Arzew), bookshop, Place des Armes, sea-front and cafés, town hall, Michelet market. Transfer to hotel in Oran for two nights.
Jour 6
Continuation of visits in Mediterranean city of Oran including Massif du Murdjadjo, Church of Santa Cruz, port, archaeology museum, palais du Bey, Mers El Kebir.
Jour 7
Transfer on internal flight to Annaba for two nights including visits in central Annaba (mosque and casbah) and Cap du Garde.
Jour 8
Excursion to Drean (ex Mondovi, Camus’ birthplace) with visit to family home, Chapeau du Gendarme (where Lucien Camus worked).
Jour 9
Visits to the “modern” Basilica of St Augustine followed by ancient Roman settlement of Hippo Regius (excellent museum and site where St Augustine was bishop) followed by Seraidi (mountain village). Transfer on internal flight to Algiers for two nights.
Jour 10
Algiers: Monument to the Fallen (constructed in 1982 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Algerian war of independence against France), Museum of the Liberation, Museum of Fine Arts (one of the Mediterranean’s great “undiscovered” art galleries with work by Algerian painters and canvasses by Pissarro, Gauguin and Monet) followed by Jardin d’Essai (vast complex of gardens, including a French and English garden, celebrated for its fine avenue of dragon trees).
Jour 11
Time at leisure (bookshops, shopping) followed by transfer to airport and return journey.