In the heart of Algiers, the Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography stands as a former Moorish villa. Opened as a museum in 1927, the building was originally a palace built in the late 18th century by a wealthy exiled Tunisian named Hadj Mustapha ben Omar.
While some accounts suggest the palace belonged to a Prince Omar before the French conquest, other records offer different perspectives. A drawing signed by Captain Longuemare specifies the residence as belonging to the wealthy Mustapha ben Omar. The site was formerly located in the countryside and is now encompassed in the modern city.
Significant changes occurred in the late 19th century when a Frenchman named Joret built an extension in 1879. In 1926, the Bardo Palace was ceded to the Domains by Mrs. Frémont, who was the sister and heiress of Pierre Joret. Today, the museum remains a significant national site in Algeria.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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