THE KSAR OF EL MANEA

Located at : 270 Km southern Ghardaia, the old Ksar is located in the eastern part of the El- Menéa city within the "Lemmedhi" district distant about a kilometre from downtown.

The old Ksar is built on a pyramid-shaped hill rising to about 75 m from the Oued M'guiden river’s bed; the Ksar dominates the palm grove and the accesses to surrounding areas of El Menéa.

The El-Menéa’s old Ksar was founded in the early tenth century by the Zenetes from the regions of Timimoun and Gourara; many peoples have inhabited the old Ksar. Its first inhabitants were the Zenete. The Ksar has lived under the authority of a Zenete queen "M'Barka BENT EL Khass".

The Zenete era was characterized by great achievements of palm trees planting which led to great prosperity in the region, the Ibadite merchants of the "At Khefianes" tribe also inhabited the Ksar, but starting from the sixteenth century until its capture by the French army, the Ksar has been occupied by "Chaamba Lemmadhi".

The Ksar is built on a dominating isolated hill and appears as an island of overwhelming sand dunes; its conception is essentially defensive and expresses the genius of its builders.

The old Ksar is the only historical witness in the region of El-Menéa and represents, thus, the only historical and architectural heritage; it has a confirmed historical, archaeological and architectural value.

It was classed national heritage in 1995