Monument des Martyrs
Encyclopedia
The Martyrs Memorial is an iconic concrete monument commemorating the Algerian war for independence. The monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves which shelter the "Eternal Flame" beneath. At the edge of each palm leaf stands a statue of a soldier, each representing a stage of Algeria's struggle. Project has been funded by Polish sculptor Marian Konieczny
Marian Konieczny
Marian Konieczny is a Polish sculptor.A 1954 graduate of the Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie in Kraków, Konieczny was a student of Xawery Dunikowski. He was a professor and rector of the Academy from 1972 to 1981. Konieczny is the sculptor of many notable monuments, such as the Warsaw Nike ,...

.

Localisation

The martyr's memorial is located on the heights of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...

, in the municipality of El Madania
El Madania
El Madania is a municipality in Algiers Province, Algeria. It is administratively part of Sidi M'Hamed district. Its municipal code is 1603 and postal code is 16075 and it has a population of 51,404 as of the 1998 census, which gives it 15 seats in the PMA.-References:...

, west of the Bois des arcades, east of the city Diar el Mahçoul and north of the plaza shopping center Riadh El Feth. It overlooks the neighborhood of Hamma (common Belouizdad) and the experimental garden in the north.
The monument has been erected on the site of an ancient military fort.

Description

Consisting of three stylized fins that join mid-height, concrete monument built by the Canadian company Lavalin
Lavalin
Lavalin was a Canadian civil engineering firm located in Montreal, Quebec. After a major expansion program in the 1980s that led to financial difficulties, in 1991 Lavalin merged with its long-time competitor to become today's SNC-Lavalin, forming one of the ten largest engineering firms in the...

, based on a model produced in the Beaux-Arts in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...

 under the leadership of Bashir Yelles, it gets to a height of 92 metres (301.8 ft). Above the three supporting fins at 47 feet (14.3 m) from the ground, is an Islamic style turret with a diameter of 10 metres (32.8 ft) and a height of 25 feet (7.6 m), topped by a dome of 6 metres (19.7 ft). It rests on an esplanade that burns an "eternal flame" and includes a crypt, an amphitheater and the Museum of Mujahid (underground).

Construction

The project to build a memorial in memory of the dead from the War of Independence is the brainchild of President Houari Boumedienne. Its implementation will, however, be completed under the presidency of his successor Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...

.

The company Lavalin
Lavalin
Lavalin was a Canadian civil engineering firm located in Montreal, Quebec. After a major expansion program in the 1980s that led to financial difficulties, in 1991 Lavalin merged with its long-time competitor to become today's SNC-Lavalin, forming one of the ten largest engineering firms in the...

 is responsible of the studies and construction of the monument. Several Algerian artists involved, like the painter Bashir Yelles, the calligrapher Abdelhamid Skander and the Polish sculptor Marian Konieczny
Marian Konieczny
Marian Konieczny is a Polish sculptor.A 1954 graduate of the Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie in Kraków, Konieczny was a student of Xawery Dunikowski. He was a professor and rector of the Academy from 1972 to 1981. Konieczny is the sculptor of many notable monuments, such as the Warsaw Nike ,...

.

The completion of the work was a real technological challenge because of the constraints inherent to the geometry of the assembly, especially the curvature of the fins, the situation of the site at the edge of a steep cliff and high seismicity of the region. Pierre Lamarre, director of engineering and structural design, Claude Naud, expert planning and construction methods, along with Bashir Yelles, imagined a solution that proved itself decisive and innovative.

Nine months (November 15, 1981 to July 5, 1982) were necessary to build this architectural work. The monument was inaugurated by the then President Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...

 in February 1986.

Transport

  • The cable of the memorial can reach the monument from the Experimental Garden of el-Hamma;
  • The cable of El Madania
    El Madania
    El Madania is a municipality in Algiers Province, Algeria. It is administratively part of Sidi M'Hamed district. Its municipal code is 1603 and postal code is 16075 and it has a population of 51,404 as of the 1998 census, which gives it 15 seats in the PMA.-References:...

    can reach the city from the Diar el Mahçoul district;
  • A taxi rank is located in the Esplanade shopping center Riadh El Feth.

Gallery

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