At the entrance to the Lower Casbah, Ketchaoua Mosque overlooks Ibn Badis Square with its monumental façade and two towers. It was an ancient mosque, later transformed into a cathedral during the French colonial period, before being returned to Muslim worship after independence. Its architecture reflects the political, religious, and urban transformations experienced by Algiers.
Located at the foot of the Casbah’s first alleyways, Ketchaoua Mosque forms a passage between the historic medina and Martyrs’ Square. Its monumental staircase, arcades, and two symmetrical towers make it one of the most recognizable landmarks in the old centre of Algiers.
However, the present building does not entirely correspond to the mosque that once stood on this site. It is the result of several successive transformations. This complex history explains its distinctive appearance, where Algerian, Moorish, Roman-Byzantine, and nineteenth-century European elements come together.
Practical Information
Current name: Hassan Pasha Palace
Type of site: Historic mosque and active place of worship
1436:
The traditionally accepted date for the construction of the first sanctuary.
1794:
Major reconstruction under Hassan Pasha.
1832:
Conversion to Catholic worship.
From 1844 onwards:
Demolition of the old mosque and construction of the cathedral.
History and Architecture of the Building
The exact foundation date of the first mosque remains uncertain. Some traditions date it back to the fifteenth century, while the earliest known document formally confirming its existence dates from 1612. An older place of prayer may therefore have existed before the later reconstructions.
The name “Ketchaoua” is generally associated with a Turkish expression meaning “goat plateau,” referring to the former name of the area. However, this interpretation concerns the name of the place and, by itself, does not determine the origin of its architecture.
The mosque was extensively rebuilt or enlarged in 1794, during the rule of Dey Hassan Pasha. At that time, it was located in one of the city’s most important districts, near Hassan Pasha Palace, Dar Aziza, and the old Djenina, the historic seat of power.
Ketchaoua Mosque: An Ancient Algerian Mosque Transformed by Colonisation
Contrary to a commonly held belief, Ketchaoua Mosque was neither founded nor created by the Ottomans. Its existence dates back to a period before the Ottomans settled in Algiers at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Several sources place an early sanctuary on this site as early as the fifteenth century, while a habous deed from 1612 is the first known written record of its existence. The reconstruction carried out under Hassan Pasha in 1794 was therefore an important stage in its history, but not its foundation.
The monument’s present appearance does not date from that period either. After the French conquest, the old mosque was requisitioned and converted into a Catholic place of worship. It was then largely demolished to make way for Saint Philip’s Cathedral. The structure, layout, and façade visible today mainly result from this colonial reconstruction carried out during the nineteenth century.
Returned to Muslim worship after independence, Ketchaoua became a profoundly composite monument. It combines the memory of an Algerian sanctuary dating from before the Ottoman period, traces of its transformations under the Regency of Algiers, and an architecture largely inherited from the colonial period. Its history reflects the various historical, religious, and political layers that shaped the Lower Casbah.
Architecture
The architecture of Ketchaoua directly tells the story of the monument’s transformations. Its grand staircase leads to a portico supported by marble columns, positioned between two octagonal towers. The overall composition of the façade resembles a church with two bell towers, while the arches, geometric motifs, and tower crowns draw on the decorative vocabulary of North Africa and the Islamic world.
Inside, the central nave, side aisles, and longitudinal layout clearly reveal the building’s former use as a cathedral. Nevertheless, the vaults, dome, columns, and decorations give the building its unique character.
Ketchaoua should therefore not be presented as an eighteenth-century mosque that has remained intact. It is a monument formed by several historical layers: an ancient Algerian sanctuary, a colonial cathedral, and a mosque remodelled after independence.
A Symbol of Algerian History
Visiting Advice
Ketchaoua Mosque holds a special place in the memory of Algiers. It bears witness to the religious history of the Lower Casbah, the colonial policy of appropriating places of worship, and the resistance of the city’s inhabitants.
Its return to Muslim worship in 1962 gave it a national significance that goes beyond its religious function. Today, the monument symbolises the continuity of Algerian memory despite destruction, changes in use, and transformations imposed on its architecture.
Ketchaoua Mosque is also located within the area of the Casbah of Algiers, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.