(Arabic: وهران, pronounced Wahran) is a city in northwestern Algeria, situated on the Mediterranean coast. During French rule in Algeria Oran was a prefecture in the Oran département. It now is the capital of the much smaller Oran Province (wilaya). The city has a population of ca. 1 million and the urban area has a population of ca. 2 million. Oran is a major port and a commercial and industrial center in Western Algeria.
Oran was founded in 903 by Moorish Andalusian traders, but was captured by the Spanish under Cardinal Cisneros in 1509. Spanish sovereignty lasted until 1708, when the city was conquered by the Ottomans. Spain returned in 1732 taking the city over again. However, its value as trade post had decreased greatly, so King Charles IV sold the city to the Turkish. Ottoman rule lasted until 1831, when it fell to the French. During the French rule over Algeria, Oran was the capital of a département of the same name (number 92).
During World War II, Oran was held by Vichy France until it was captured by the Allies in late 1942, during Operation Torch.
In July 1940, the British Royal Navy shelled French warships in the port after they refused to respond to a British ultimatum designed to ensure they would not fall into German hands. The action sealed the hatred of Vichy France for Britain but convinced the world, especially the United States, of the British will to fight on alone against Nazi Germany and its allies.
Before the Algerian War of Independence, Oran had one of the highest proportions of Europeans of any city in North Africa. However, by the end of the war, most of the Europeans and Jews living in Oran had fled to France. The July 5, 1962 massacre of European civilians, four days after the Independence vote, triggered the exodus to France. In less than three months Oran lost about half its population.
In the 1960's, the city became an important business and education centre.
Vive oran
Derbawia 2 months ago
lovely Algeria
1987Algeriano 5 months ago
Hayatımı kararttın wahran
tuanaaydin 2 years ago
hi, my name is Amine, Oran is a city in northwestern Algeria, situated on the Mediterranean coast. if you went to go there it's simple if you're not algerienne you must have a visa to algeria. i'm from Oran but i live in france since 2 yeras, good luck
aminebelamria 3 years ago
anyone who can tell me how to go there can be my friend! pls let me know any info.
linardp3 3 years ago
LOL I was asking this while the video is running and in the end I saw my answer! I thought it was Cheb Khaled - only appropriate for Oran, the birth place of Rai!
xx
Bulgaria1975 3 years ago
Beautiful city, thank you! i was wondering if i should go there but now I know - I will!
What is the song and who is singing it?
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Bulgaria1975 3 years ago
wahrane la plus belle vie du monde nabrik y wahrane w nmoute alik didie bady
zaftta 3 years ago
Ouahrân (Wahran) ; le nom de Wahran a été donné par Sidi Maakoud Al Mahaji et Sidi El Khrouti Al Mahaji, anciens chasseurs de lions à Oran. Il existe notamment, en référence à l'origine du nom, deux grandes statues en bronze représentant deux grands lions mâles devant la mairie actuelle d'Oran.
sigli 3 years ago
La légende dit qua lépoque, il y avait encore des lions dans la région, les deux derniers lions chassés se trouvaient sur la montagne prés dOran et qui dailleurs sappelle la montagne des lions.
sigli 3 years ago