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Oran
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:''This article is about the city in Algeria. For other uses see
Oran (disambiguation).''
Image:Oran2.JPG thumb|300px|View of Oran
'''Oran''' (population 700,000) (
Arabic language Arabic:{{ar|وهران}}, ''Wahran'') is a city in northwest
Algeria, situated on the
Mediterranean Sea coast. During
French rule in Algeria Oran was the prefecture of the
Oran (département) Oran département. It now is the capital of a
Oran Province (''
wilaya'').
History
Oran was founded in the
10th century by
Moors Moorish Andalusian traders, but was captured by the
Spain Spanish under
Cardinal Cisneros in
1509. Spanish sovereignty lasted until
1708, when the city was conquered by the
Ottoman Empire 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 of Spain Charles IV sold the city to the Turkish. Ottoman rule lasted until
1831, when it fell to the
France French.
During the
French colonial empire French colonial 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 Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir 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
United Kingdom 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 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.
Oran today
Today, Oran is a major port and a commercial centre, and has a university. The old quarter of Oran has a
casbah and an 18th-century
mosque.
Culture
The folk music
Raï had its beginnings in Oran.
Fiction
Albert Camus'
1947 novel ''
The Plague'' takes place in a fictional Oran.
Jeremy Schwendiman'
2006 ''
The Oranic Regime'' describes the rise of the Oran way of life and its encroachment on the societies of peaceful democratic governments.
External links
-
Visit Oran www.visitoran.com - At the moment, Oran's most useful and popular website.
-
Sheraton Hotel Information and pictures for the Sheraton Hotel & Towers Oran.
{{commons|Category:Oran|Oran}}
Category:Cities in Algeria
Category:Coastal cities
ar:وهران
ca:OrÃ
de:Oran
es:Orán
fr:Oran
it:Oran
he:×?ור×?ן
nl:Oran
no:Oran
pl:Oran
pt:Oran
ro:Oran
fi:Oran
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