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Constantine is the capital of the Wilaya of Constantine in Algeria. It is the metropolis of north-east Algeria and has a population of over 740,000 (1,000,000 in the conurbation). Constantine was known as Cirta, and is also nicknamed the ‘city of the hanging bridges’ or the ‘city of the eagles’. 

It is one of the oldest cities in the world (at least 25 centuries). A former fortified imperial city, it enjoys a strategic position, with its rock and walls and such difficult access that no fortress in the world can compare with it. Cirta was an important Phoenician city before becoming the capital of Numidia during the reign of Massinissa, an ally of Rome, and was destroyed in 311 by Maxentius and Domitius Alexander. Constantine, one of the oldest cities in the world, is best known for the refined lifestyle of its inhabitants. 

It is also an important city in Mediterranean history, a symbol of Arab-Andalusian culture. Through its history, it became the arbiter of elegance in ‘Al-Andalus, through fashionable dress and the refined art of white Constantinian cooking.

The city of malouf, the famous Arab-Andalusian music, and of the ulama (Islamic scholars), it is the capital of the east of the country and the third largest city in Algeria. Constantine is a city of bridges, built on a rock over 600 metres high, surrounded by deep ravines and crossed by the Rhumel river, all of which have given the city its power as a citadel. The bridges are more like steles in memory of the ‘convicts’ of the Kasbah, who were the craftsmen and labourers. Their memory will long be hummed with the tragic refrain of ‘Ya El Menfi’ (exile)... to Cayenne, Madagascar or New Caledonia. Constantine was built around 3000 BC, and the Numidians were its actual inhabitants. Massinissa was King of Numidia and made Cirta (Constantine at the time) the capital of his kingdom. Cirta quickly experienced extraordinary economic growth. This boom was helped by the city's geographical position.

The city was taken by the Romans and given the name Constantine in honour of the Roman emperor Constantine. The arrival of Muslim civilisation gave the city another dimension, namely a cultural, scientific and religious one. The city was conquered by the French in 1837, after two sieges (the first in 1836 ended in defeat for the French army). Constantine went through another phase in its tumultuous history.

Constantine retains traces of all the civilisations it has known:

From the Numidian civilisation, visitors will find the tomb of Massinissa at Le Khroub, 16 km from the city centre, or the ruins of a military fort at Tidis, thirty kilometres from the city.

From Roman civilisation, the statue of Constantine in front of the railway station in the city centre (at Bab El Kantara), or the viaduct on the edge of town on the way to the city's international airport (Mohamed Boudiaf).

• From the Arab-Muslim civilisation, the old town, an architectural gem in itself.

• From Turkish civilisation, the Bey's palace.

• From French civilisation, the European city.

Constantine is in love with this cultural and civilisational mix. It brings together all its cultural heritage in a museum, which you can visit, located on the Coudiat plateau.

Constantine, known as the City of Suspension Bridges, is a stunning blend of ancient heritage and vibrant culture. Once the powerful city of Cirta, it carries the legacy of Numidian kings, Roman emperors, and centuries of Arab and Ottoman influence. From the majestic Emir Abdelkader Mosque to the elegant Palace of Ahmed Bey and the Roman ruins nearby, every corner tells a timeless story.

The city comes alive with the melodies of Malouf music and the irresistible flavors of authentic dishes and sweets. A guided tour across its breathtaking suspension bridges offers stunning views and a true sense of its grandeur. Join us in this iconic city—an unforgettable experience awaits all conference attendees.