Relizane

Topography

The topography within 2 miles of Relizane is only modest variations in elevation, with a maximum elevation change of 210 feet and an average elevation above sea level of 230 feet. Within 16 kilometers, slight variations in altitude only (533 meters). Within 80 kilometers, very significant variations in altitude (1,268 meters).

The region within a 3 kilometer radius of Relizane is covered by cultivated land (47%), artificial surfaces (31%) and sparse vegetation (11%), within a 16 kilometer radius by cultivated land (53 %) and sparse vegetation (31%) and within a radius of 80 kilometers by cultivated land (47%) and sparse vegetation (17%).^[6]

Location

		Belaassel	Oued el Djemaa
	Matmar	N	Zemmora
		W       E
		S
	Ben Daoued	Sidi Mhamed Ben Ouda	Dar Ben Abdellah

Climate

In Relizane, the summers are short, sweltering, arid, and mostly clear and the winters are long, cool, windy, and partly cloudy. During the year, the temperature generally ranges from 7°C to 38°C and is rarely below 3°C or above 42°C.^[6]

Antiquity

Medieval Islamic period

French colonization

In the nineteenth century, agriculture was very often threatened by frequent droughts. It was not in 1852 that French troops occupied Relizane, a colonial settlement centre was created by imperial decree on 27 February 1857 that wasd was elevated to the rank of a full-service commune on 5 February 1871.

In 1844, the French engineers repaired the old dam; the old hydraulic works were partially restored in the 18th century). In 1853, the first Europeans settled in the plain and cultivated small areas of wheat and barley plus a few areas of tobacco that were quickly abandoned since malaria killed so many people although the creation of Relizane was not decided until January 1857. Since then, certain houses built after the Algiers-Oran railway have given it a new face. In the meantime, the European population was increasing.

The French come from the country's south (Gard) and the Spaniards from Valencia, Alicante, Murcia and Almería. About 20 farms cultivated cotton. The city then experienced a prodigious development, but disease, drought and insufficient harvests slowed down any progress. Also the natural disaster that preceded the imperial voyage was the main reason for the incident on 6 May 1865. In the south of Oran the revolt of the Ouled Sidi Cheikh broke out because of the discontent of the population since 1860. The disillusion and the unkept promises by the French were at the origin of one of the biggest insurrections, which lasted until 1896.

A labor camp is used to imprison Spanish Republican refugees at the end of the Spanish Civil War (La Retirada).

The population of Relizane took part in the national liberation struggle and made the city part of the contemporary history of Algeria against French colonization.

Refugees from the Spanish Civil War (1939)

The Spanish Civil War had numerous political and social consequences. In 1939, many Spanish Republicans fled to North Africa on the British ship Stanbrook, captained by Archibald Dickson,^[12] who decided to rescue Republican families trapped in the port of Alicante by the Nationalists. They arrived in the city of Oran on March 18. The French authorities built several camps for the refugees, and the Relizane camp was among the most comfortable for them in Algeria.^[13]

Road transport

Rail transport

• Lines no longer in service:

  

1. The line connecting La Macta to Trumelet, created in 1888 via the Mechraa Safa and Oued El Abtal project, thus becoming one of the most important branches of the Algiers-Oran line.
2. The line connecting Mostaganem and Trumelet via Relizane and Zemmora. It was opened in June 1927. Service to the Oued El Abtal station was interrupted due to flooding of the Oued Mina.

• Line in service:

This is one of the best-known active lines connecting Algiers to Oran, as it entered service on June 15, 1870 and transports passengers and goods, notably grain.^[15]

After independence, the line linking Algiers and Oran remained in service, pending the rehabilitation of the Tiaret-Relizane line from Tissemsilt.^[16]

Air transport

In the 1930,^[17] the French established an airport where a local flying club operated. It was expanded by American forces during World War II. It was subsequently used for parachuting, aerobatics, and gliding training until Algeria's independence. Today, it is a small airport^[18] where helicopters land.

Events and festivals

The city hosts numerous cultural events in various fields, most notably :

• Sidi M'hamed Benaouda Documentary Film Festival: The Sidi M'hamed Ben Aouda International Documentary Film Festival, founded in 2019 by the Al Zaitouna Cultural Association and supported by the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts, takes place annually in Relizane. This prestigious event aims to promote documentary cinema by showcasing films addressing global issues such as the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to fostering dialogue among filmmakers from around the world, the festival also celebrates Algerian cultural heritage and its diversity.^[20]

• Mina Theatre Days: The local drama association Gouala, supported by the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts, regularly organizes this event, which comprises 12 sessions and is aimed at amateur theatre groups from various regions of the country.^{[citation needed]}

• Exhibition of City Figures: The municipal office, Djanatu Al-Arif, organizes an annual exhibition of city figures to commemorate their memory and present them to future generations on the occasion of living in peace.^{[citation needed]}

• Heritage Month: Cultural services and cultural associations organize the Tangible and Intangible Heritage Month event, which lasts a full month and includes lectures, scientific seminars, and tourist trips to showcase it to the public.^[21]

• Local Cultural Festival of Arts and Popular Cultures^{[citation needed]}

National and local holidays

Families celebrate religious, national, and historical holidays with special attention. "The most celebrated holidays are Eid al-Fitr, or the women who provide various forms of assistance throughout Ramadan in order to receive invitations during the Eid days, in addition to buying clothes for the children."^[22]The second Eid is Eid al-Adha, the day of sacrifice and solidarity with the poor, and the preparation of many traditional dishes, such as Bouzlouf, Douara, and Chwaya. Ashura is the last two consecutive days of seeking forgiveness from God.^[23]

The Yennayer celebration, held on January 11 and 12 each year, is an occasion to prepare traditional dishes like Cherchem Sfendj, to buy fruit, and to collect the dates collected on the eve of Eid. They anticipate a year full of goodness and blessings.^[24]

Cinéma

• Fire ! ^[25]
• Thirst of Men
• Documentary film by M'hamed Issiakhem
• Hassan Niya

Painting

• 

  Among the most famous paintings depicting the town of Relizane is that of the artist Henri-Alfred Darjou, in which he portrays Napoleon III's visit to the town when he granted a pardon to the Flittas tribe on May 21, 1865. The painting, created in 1868, is on display at the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon.

Literature

Numerous novels have been published about the city of Relizane, recounting the daily lives of the novel's protagonists. Among the most prominent local novelists is Mohammed Meflah.^[26]

Olivia Alkaim has published a novel entitled "The Tailor of Relizane ", which tells of her grandfather's links with the Algerian nationalist movement, the French military authorities in the town and his regrets concerning the town of Relizane during his exile in France.^[27]