Sidi Bel Abbès (Arabic: سيدي بلعباس), also called Bel Abbès, is the capital (2005 pop. 200,000)^[1] of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya (2005 pop. 590,000), Algeria. It is named after Sidi bel Abbass, a Muslim marabout or noble man who is buried there.^[1] The city is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It was formerly surrounded by a wall with four gates, and today is home to a university. Sidi Bel Abbès is 75 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2007)

Quick Facts سيدي بلعباس, Country ...

Sidi Bel Abbès سيدي بلعباس
City
A street in Sidi Bel Abbès
Location of Sidi Bel Abbès in the Sidi Bel Abbès Province
Sidi Bel Abbès Location of Sidi Bel Abbès in Algeria Show map of Algeria Sidi Bel Abbès Sidi Bel Abbès (Africa) Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 35°11′38″N 0°38′29″W
Country	Algeria
Province	Sidi Bel Abbès Province
District	Sidi Bel Abbès District
APC	Miloud Magherbi (2021-2026)
Government
• Type	Municipality
Area
• Total	30 sq mi (70 km2)
Elevation	1,540 ft (470 m)
Population  (2008)
• Total	212,935
• Density	7,900/sq mi (3,000/km2)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
Postal code	22000
Area code	048
ISO 3166 code	CP

Close

The present city, on the Wadi Sig River, developed around a French camp built in 1843. In 1849 a planned agricultural town was established around the existing military post. From the 1830s until 1962 the city was closely associated with the French Foreign Legion, being the location of its basic training camp, and the headquarters of its 1st Foreign Regiment. In the late 1890s the town, described as being of Spanish appearance, had a civilian population of about 30,000.^[2] The main buildings were in the French military district of the Quartier Vienot.The training centre of the modern Algerian National Gendarmerie is located in Sidi Bel Abbès.

In the 1930s much of the old city walls were demolished. Wide boulevards and squares replaced the traditional quarters, causing the town to lose much of its former character.

The city sits astride both banks of the Sig River, and lake Sidi Mohamed Benali. The lake provides a major water reserve for the area.

The economy centers on agriculture, particularly the production of cereals such as wheat and barley and the grape industry. A farm machine manufacturing complex is located there.^[1] There is an industrial zone which plays a major role in the city's economy.

• René Raphaël Viviani (November 8, 1863 – September 7, 1925), a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for the first year of World War I
• Marco Torrès (January 22, 1888 - January 15, 1963), Olympic gymnast, two-time World All-Around Champion
• Gaston Maurice Julia (February 3, 1893 – March 19, 1978), mathematician famous for the Julia set in chaos theory
• Marcel Cerdan (1916–49), French boxer, known as Le Bombardier Marocain ("The Moroccan Bomber")
• Mohammed Bedjaoui (born 21 September 1929), foreign minister, former Minister of Justice (1964–70), Ambassador to France (1970–79) and Algerian permanent representative to the UN (1979–82). He was a judge on the International Court of Justice at The Hague (1982–2001).
• Jean Boyer (1948–2004), French organist
• Brigitte Giraud (born 1960), French writer
• Kad Merad (1964), actor in the 2008 French comedy film Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis
• Éric Delétang (born 1966), former French professional footballer