In old Médéa, the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions occupies the residence known as the Emir Abdelkader House. The building itself offers an introduction to the history of Titteri: a former residence of the beys during the Ottoman period, it now houses collections of Algerian art and crafts.
From the beys’ residence to the Emir’s house
The house was notably the residence of Mustapha Boumezrag, the last bey of Titteri. In 1835, Emir Abdelkader used it as his political headquarters during his resistance in the region. The museum thus connects the history of a town house with two important periods in Médéa’s past.
Listed as a historic monument in 1993, the house was restored in 2007. A regional museum was established by decree in 2010, and the institution was granted national public museum status in 2011. These stages of restoration and administrative establishment are best distinguished, rather than assigned a single opening date.
The courtyard and popular arts
The building is arranged around a courtyard surrounded by galleries. The heritage map describes an Arab-Moorish-style building of approximately 880 m², displaying collections of art and crafts. The domestic setting gives a particular coherence to this encounter with traditional material culture: visitors discover objects in a former home, rather than in a room unrelated to the world they came from.
The museum also develops educational activities. Its management has described workshops for pupils, changing exhibitions and a ‘museum suitcase’ for schools. When planning a group visit, it is best to ask about the theme of the current exhibition and the guided or educational activities available; the collections are intended to evolve, and their presentation is not necessarily fixed.
Address and contact details
- City or locality
- Medea
- Documented location
- Old Médéa (Rue Rabelais)
- Telephone
- +213.25.587746
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The precise visitor address remains to be confirmed.
Plan your visit
Ask for confirmation of the visitor reception location, opening hours, admission charges and accessible areas before travelling. For a group visit, research enquiry or specific need, check with your contact which department can help with your request.