The round mass
A rare form in North Africa.
Dan Sloan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rachid Hamatou — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jamel eddine Messaoudi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits to Reda Kerbush / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dan Sloan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Credits to Reda Kerbush / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Medracen is a huge Numidian royal tomb on an open plain near Batna, the older of Algeria's two great round royal tombs. A round stone mass rises from the grass in a shape that recalls a pyramid, and it is among the most unusual and least crowded monuments in Algeria. Its date is debated: some scholars place it in the fourth century BC, others in the time of King Masinissa, who ruled from 202 to 148 BC. Its only match in round form is the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania near Tipasa. A 2006–2007 ICOMOS report criticised repair work that it said ignored the monument's authenticity. Sixty engaged Doric columns surround the base, under an Egyptian-style cornice, and a stepped cone of cut stone climbs to a flat top. Some blocks have fallen at the foot, and you may see wooden supports and a fence around it. The finest view is from a distance, with the mass alone on the plain and mountains behind. The tomb is 28.9 km in a straight line north-east of Batna and 24.9 km north of Timgad, so the two fit into one day. Public transport is not convenient, so a private car is best. The site is exposed and shadeless, so bring a hat and water. Do not climb the stones, as the monument is fragile, respect the fence if closed, and ask the guard about going closer.
A rare form in North Africa.
Engaged columns around the base.
Mountains behind the monument.
Near Boumia, Batna Province
Yes, they are close, and a private car suits best.
We could not confirm this, so ask the guard on site.