Makam Echahid

Lonely Planet review

One of the most recognisable landmarks in the city, the Makam Echahid celebrates the sacrifice of the unknown martyr who fell for his country, or, in the words of a recent Algerian blogger, 'it is the symbol of the unknown soldier, of the all the Algerian soldiers who died defending their country during the revolution against French colonisation, of the heroes of Algeria'.

The monument, constructed by the Canadians in the early 1980s, is made up of three massive concrete palm fronds that come together and soar 92m into the sky; they represent the coming together of agriculture, culture and industry to make independent Algeria great. The nearby Bois des Arcades offers shade and some great views.