Constantine is called the City of Bridges for a simple reason: without them, the city would be an island. The old town stands on a rock surrounded by the deep Rhumel gorge, and for centuries the only way in and out was across the void. Here is a walker's guide to the bridges you should not miss.
Sidi M'Cid: the icon
Opened in 1912, the Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge links the old town to the hospital and the Monument aux Morts. It hangs about 175 metres above the river and was, for a time, among the highest bridges in the world. Walking across it, with the wind and the drop below your feet, is the experience most visitors remember.
Sidi Rached: the stone giant
Inaugurated the same year, the Sidi Rached viaduct is a long stone bridge carried on a row of arches, with one great central span over the gorge. It connects the old town to the railway station area and remains one of the largest stone bridges of its kind.
Mellah Slimane: the footbridge
This narrow pedestrian bridge, built in the 1920s, crosses the gorge between the old town and the station side. It is short, light and a little vertiginous: perfect for photos looking straight down into the canyon.
Bab El Kantara: the oldest crossing
"Kantara" means bridge in Arabic, and this is the oldest crossing site in the city. A bridge has stood here since Roman times; it was rebuilt several times over the centuries, and the current structure dates from the nineteenth century.
Salah Bey: the modern viaduct
Opened in 2014 and named after the famous eighteenth-century bey, this cable-stayed bridge carries traffic high over the valley and shows how the City of Bridges keeps adding to its story.
The best view of a bridge is not from on top of it, but from the path below.
How to see them all
- On foot: Sidi M'Cid, Mellah Slimane and Sidi Rached can all be walked in a morning.
- From the Monument aux Morts: the best panorama over the gorge and Sidi M'Cid.
- From the cable car: the ride over the Rhumel shows the bridges together, especially at sunset.
Our private walking tour crosses the most beautiful bridges with stories at every step, and ends with the cable car. See the tour or message us on WhatsApp.
