Analysis of the restoration of mosque Ali Betchine of Algiers

• Main Authors: Nassereddine Attari, Zineb Mechouari, Souad Laoues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2018-01-01
• Series: MATEC Web of Conferences
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201814902060

Ali Betchine is one of the oldest mosques in the city of Algiers of the Ottoman period. Classified as a national monument in 1947. In 1986, UNESCO gave Ali Betchine its universal cultural dimension. This classification of the mosque has resulted in the building currently being protected from any major architectural shuffle in order to protect and preserve it. The Ali Betchine mosque underwent several transformations during the French colonization, it was converted into a church under the name “Notre Dame des Victoires”. After the independence of the country, this church was converted into a mosque. The evolution of heritage protection in Algeria can be monitored after a period of follow-up by the country's first regulations on heritage protection. It is noticed that an awareness of the architectural heritage of the country was beginning to emerge. The Ali Betchine mosque underwent restoration work which ended in September 2010 after more than twelve years of closure to the faithful. The paper traces the different stages of its restoration.