In Toudja, water can be explored both in a museum and in the landscape. Axxam n Waman, the House of Water, tells the story of the uses of a resource that has shaped local life: supplying residents, irrigating land, powering mills and conveying water to ancient Saldae, now Béjaïa.
A home for knowledge about water
The project is led by the learned society GEHIMAB, working with local authorities and partners under the NGO II programme. Launched in 2008, it led to the museum’s inauguration on 20 March 2010. The House of Water occupies the former Souk El Fellah in the centre of Toudja, rather than a monument set apart from the village.
Its facilities combine a permanent exhibition on water in Toudja, a screening area and a specialist documentation centre. The aim is to explain techniques and practices that often go unnoticed: sharing water, channelling it and harnessing its power. The museum is therefore not limited to the archaeology of an aqueduct; it also makes room for knowledge and skills passed down by local people.
From the museum to the water trail
The spring, waterfall, cascades and water-retaining structures, together with the mill further downhill, form the heritage complex described by the museum. A visit can be extended to take in the remains of the Saldae aqueduct at Ifrane, notably Tihnaïne Bridge and the Lahbel Tunnel. This allows visitors to move from explanations in the galleries to the structures in the surrounding area.
There is a particularly strong educational emphasis on understanding the links between water and life, domestic and agricultural uses, and water power. For a school group or an outing combining the museum with outdoor sites, it is best to contact the team to clarify which areas are accessible and what guidance is available.
Address and contact details
- City or locality
- Toudja
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Institution’s website
- Visit the website
The published email address belongs to the Toudja / GEHIMAB project; it does not confirm the existence of a booking service or a direct museum reception service. The university laboratory’s telephone numbers are not reproduced as museum numbers.
The precise visitor address remains to be confirmed.
No verified direct telephone number was found in the sources consulted.
Plan your visit
The links and sources can help you with your research, but do not constitute a verified visitor information or booking service. Have the entrance location and visiting arrangements confirmed locally before travelling.