Oran is a city in northwest Algeria, situated on the Mediterranean Sea coast.
Oran was founded in the 10th century 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 very much and the king Charles IV sold the city to the Turkish. Ottoman rule lasted until 1831, when it fell to the French. Before the Algerian War of Independence, Oran had one of the highest proportion of European population than any other town in North Africa. Therefore, after the end of the war and the resulting exodus of Europeans and Jews to France, Oran lost about half its population.
Today, Oran is a major port and a commercial centre, and has a university.

	Country:	Algeria
	Location:	Northwest
	Country Code:	+213
	Population:	700,000
	Language:	Arabic
	Currency:	Algerian Dinar (DZD)
	Time Zone:	GMT+1
	Train Station:	Oran Station
	Tourism:	Oran Tourism

By Train Orans train station serves large cities along with all minor towns en route. Direct connections for Algiers, Mohammadia, and Tlemcen.

By Bus Buses serves all imaginable destinations in Algeria. There are two bus stations in Oran.

By Ferry Oran ferry port operates a service to Alicante with Trasmediterranea. There is 1 crossing a day, sailing duration is from 9 hours.

• The Great Mosque
• The Demaegth Museum
• Jinaa Al-Ahlam
• The Marabout Sidi Mohammed El Haouri
• The Cathedral de Sacré Coeur

The Great Mosque was built in 1796 as a celebration of the liberation from the Spanish. The Demaegth Museum is well endowed with exhibitions covering thousands of years of Oran's history. Jinaa Al-Ahlam (Heaven of Dreams) is Oran's main Amusement Park situated next door to the '19 Juin' football stadium. The Marabout Sidi Mohammed El Haouri from 1793 is well worth a visit, representing Andalusian architecture. The Cathedral de Sacré Coeur has now been turned into a public library, and can be entered and explored for free.