Beni Abbès Museum, Beni Abbès, Museums, Algeria
Located in the oasis town of Beni Abbès, the capital city of the Saoura area of Algeria, the Beni Abbès Museum houses an impressive display of desert fauna, fossils and traditional arts and crafts, such as carpets, wall hangings, ceramic items, woodcarvings and jewelry. The museum, which is supported by the Saharan Research Center, displays an extensive range of different types of dates – one of the mainstay crops of oasis towns and villages in Algeria.
Ancient local legend claims that the spring which waters this lush oasis came about as a miracle. It is said that a traveler pushed his walking-stick into the ground, declaring that if he should die in this place, water would come out of the ground. He apparently died the following night, possibly due to lack of water, and the spring began to flow, continuing to do so to this day.
The town of Beni Abbès is a popular tourist destination and the Beni Abbès Museum provides fascinating insight into the history and culture of the town and its people. Certainly, it is well worth a visit when exploring this charming Algerian town and its surroundings.
