A study on the method of restoring and rehabilitating the “Bab Al-Bahr Tower” in the Islamic city of Ténès

Abstract

Ténès was a crossroads for trade caravans and Mediterranean ports, where its harbor witnessed intense commercial activity thanks to its strategic location and abundant products. The port played a crucial role in the city’s economic development, which was reflected in its urban growth. As a result, the remains of civilians ancient architecture—religious, civil, and military—stand today as some of the most significant examples in the central Maghreb. Although some of these landmarks have disappeared, others still preserve part of their authenticity..

Along them, the Bab el-Bhar Tower, despite its deteriorated condition, remains one of the most important surviving historical monuments of Islamic Ténès, bearing witness to its long history through its original architecture. It was a key element of the city’s defensive system, along with its other towers, gates, and the surrounding wall, much of which has since vanished.