Bou-Ismaïl (بو اسماعيل ), is situated on the western coastline of Algeria, at 45 Km west of Algiers and 25 km east of the county town of Tipaza. The municipality of Bou-Ismail is bordered by the towns of Fouka at the East, Koléa and Chaiba at the south and the small town-ports of Khemisti and Bouharoun at the west. During the French colonial era, Bou-Ismail was known as “Castiglione”.
Daira (sous-préfecture- sub-county), Bou-Ismail is the most important and dynamic town of the touristy county (Wilaya) of Tipasa. Before independence in July 1962, the population of Bou_Ismail amounted to 6000 inhabitants but today is ten fold bigger.
Bou-Ismail is a picturesque, vibrant and prosperous town with abundant resources and various activities such tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Hanging on the north side of the Sahel plateau that overlooks the Mitidja’s valley and the Chréa mount of the Atlas Mountains chain, Bou-Ismail rests on a massive travertine rock with abrupt contours that broaden to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The heights of the town dominate the sea with a magnificent and splendid view of Douaouda-Zeralda bay at the east and a fabulous panoramic view of mount Chénoua and Tipaza bay at the west. The streets of the old colonial quarter of the town are planted with maple and bigaradiers trees.
Bou-ismail is divided in two distinct neighbourhoods, situated north and south of the national road. The town is well-known for its magnificent sea front boulevard, renovated recently to include a marina. The town also houses the internationally renowned maritime institute (ISM) that has accommodated many generations of Algerian and overseas students of the merchant navies, mainly from friendly African countries. Its old aquarium is converted into laboratories of an aquaculture research centre.
The vivifying air and the kindness and hospitality of its inhabitants, typically Mediterranean, make Bou-Ismail a well sought after and hunted town; coveted mainly by Algiers and Blida dwellers in search for new habitations.
The seahorse, symbol and emblem of the town, is visible at the main entrance.
View from the sea Aerial View of the Maritime Institut (ISM)
Full Photo Album of Bou-Ismail - Click here.......
News from Bou-Ismail ........ Click here
Geographically, Bou-Ismaïl is situated at 36.64° N and 2.68° E.
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Bou-Ismail ------- General view from the plateau |
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BOU-ISMAIL ------- View from the sky |
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Welcome to CASTI FORUM or CAST BLOG affiliated to the website of Bou-Ismail town. Let us share your views, your opinions and your heart blows. Talk about everything and nothing, on the lighter and on more serious things about our beautiful town. Register here to Casti Forum, and introduce yourself!
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General survey on the current situation of the town of Bou-Ismail |
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What is your opinion about the management of the town of BOU-ISMAIL ? |
What do you think about the state of the roads of the town of BOU-ISMAIL ? |
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We inform our visitors and participants to this survey that your vote is recorded by topic and counted only once from a single Internet connection (specific to your Internet IP identification). Therefore repeated votes, even in time, are not validated once your participation has already been registered, so there is no need to renew your vote because the system is infallible. |
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However, we reassure you that this poll is managed and hosted with an independent provider, neutral and separate. The www.bouismail.org team can’t influence or manipulate in any way the results of this impartial, fair and well founded poll. |
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Also participate to the survey on the situation of schools and colleges of Bou-Ismail. |
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A view of mount Chenoua from Bou-Ismail |
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New
unpublished photos of the town of |
Old unpublished photos (1880 – 2007) of the town of Bou-Ismail are online |
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Click here for the weather forecast for the region of Bou-Ismail
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World Newspapers |
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Algerian Media |
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National and International Press - News related to the town of Bou-Ismail |
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In order to publish this site in the national language (Arabic) and in other foreign languages (Spanish, Italian), we urgently appeal for volunteers to help us translate the content. If you are interested, contact us by e-mail to this address: webmaster@bouismail.org |
News - Latest
News from Bou-Ismail ........ Click here .......
Flooding in Bou-Ismail " Boulevard See Front" - 3 November 2008
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The www.bouismail.org team sincerely apologizes if one of our glorious martyrs "Chouhada" is not on the list we have published as it is incomplete. Nevertheless, we have approached the Bou-Ismail Kasma of Mujahedin to provide an authenticated official list of our martyrs; inappropriately no reply or consideration has been given to our request. However, we appeal to our fellow Bou-Ismailois, particularly widows, children
and parents of our glorious martyrs "Chouhada" to send us by e-mail
(webmaster@bouismail.org), photos, biographies and other historical documents recounting
the revolutionary life and path of one of their own. Thank you in advance. |
YOUR IDEAS FOR FUTURE TOPICS ARE WELCOMED - Click here ....
Compatriots from overseas!!!!! Check your time zone before calling Algeria.
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Webmaster's Editorial Whether Bou-Ismail (original and current name) to some or Castiglione (colonial name) to others, it does not matter because everyone has called it in its own way, but this agglomeration is not only this picturesque and strategic town, considering the wealth it contains (very badly used), but also a welcoming and hospitable region, where one time the quality of life of its inhabitant was excellent. After all, vestiges of recent past such as the ghost of the aquarium from the colonial era is still standing but neglected or the magnificent boulevard (seaside promenade), for lack of attention or interest doesn’t get the consideration it deserves and which, by the passing of time is now an inanimate, lifeless and perilous site, without soul, degraded and sullied despite its recent reconstruction. Bou-Ismail, former small resort in enchanting natural setting, has always been regarded as a haven of peace, serenity and tranquillity. Its region is very rich, that wealth is explained by the geostrategic situation, whose origins date back to the history of Numidia, the Roman, the Arabs, the Turkish occupation, as well as the French colonisation that has lasted over 130 years. Its advantageous setting by the sea, its proximity to Algiers, the fertility of its land and the temperament of its original inhabitant, welcoming and hospitable, mean that the town of Bou-Ismail was in a recent past an oasis of peace and modernity, but today it is agonising. Parish council (Commune Mixte) during the colonial period, Bou-Ismail became Daïra (Sub-District) during the nineteen. Currently, it is clear to everyone that much remains to be done and, alas, it is clear that it remains today in a state of underdevelopment, neither more nor less. This is a fact that we can verify, because nothing has been done or done to halt the deterioration and disrepair of the urban fabric of the town or to improve the lives of its inhabitants. Nevertheless, Bou-Ismail has the advantage of being a town in an agricultural and touristy oriented region, although it has become by the force of time deprived of financial, material and human resources. This decline is due mainly to its total abandonment by the local and regional authorities being those of the district (Wilaya) of Blida, when (Bou-Ismail) depended on before the administrative division of 1984, which attached it to the district (Wilaya) of Tipasa. Since, same state of affairs, nothing has changed: Bou-Ismail fell on the urban, cultural and social neglect and decay. One might ask, what has been done for this once prosperous town since 1962, when it was attached first to the district (Wilaya) of Algiers then to Blida? In fact, what has altered since the 1984 administrative restructuration when Bou-Ismail was integrated in Tipasa’s district (Wilaya)? All major regional social-economic projects have been diverted, when we know that Bou-Ismail is a the biggest town of Tipasa’s district and does not even have a hospital, a SAMU (Emergency Service), a tribunal, a proper market, an adequate stadium, a theatre, a safe and clean beach, a decent cinema, a theatre, a small recreational park for children, a parking area or toilets in the town centre; Bou-Ismail does not deserve this precarious situation today. Where are the ambitious projects that were promised prior to elections? What happened to the old colonial square (Plaza)? Why was it demolished and replaced by a monstrosity that has no public utility? Destroyed by men who were supposed to keep the image of the town! By the passage of time, the eyesore that replace it, supposedly an open-air theatre, has become a rubbish dump site, plagued by debauchery and depravity coupled to an outbreak of insecurity caused by a plethora of marginalised thugs, muggers and drugs addicts who dwell inside it. Council elections come and go, presidents
of APC (mayors) are elected and men change at the leadership of the council
without changing the course of time, because Bou-Ismail is not progressing by
an iota in the economic, social, cultural and sports areas. Nonetheless,
Bou-Ismail has its engineers in all areas, its economists, its architects, its
doctors, its businessmen, its artists and its sportsmen who want to be
consulted, associated or involved in useful projects that carry hope and well
being for the community. What should be done to find the effective cure
necessary for the revival of economic, social, cultural and sports activities,
which are slow to take off. Since 1962, an unfavourable wind never stopped
blowing on this coastal town that was once the pearl and jewel of the west coast
of Algiers.
This inauspicious wind does not seem to subside as to envisage a peaceful and
prosperous future for this region and its inhabitants. We all know that historically
Bou-Ismail paid a high price and heavy casualties during the war of liberation
throughout the dark years of the conflict when the OAS terrorist organisation
affiliated to the colonist extreme right was rampant in the town where its
leadership has set up its rear base and command centre, see our history page.
Bou-Ismail is also the birthplace of many revolutionaries who gave their lives
for a free and independent Algeria;
thus we have betrayed their memory as there is no commemorative plaque on which
their names and epitaphs should be included. Why this inexplicable omission? The recklessness and stupidity of past and present councillors, in their destructive work, ransacked everything in their path. It is a dirty and badly managed town, neglected and Habsa (in lethargy); some believe that the town has no more competent and capable men as it has been failed by its own children. Bou-Ismail has become unrecognisable, abandoned to its sad and gloomy fate; it is the fault of its leaders past and present who had accepted the situation of rot and decay. Citizens of Bou-Ismail should not blame only themselves now that they are distraught by their wicked lifestyle. The bidonvilisation (shanty town) of the town that happened after the years of rural exodus after independence and the migration during the dark years of terrorism (civil war), the intractable problems of water supply and the uncontrolled demography that has created a dangerous overcrowding, have made Bou-Ismail the spillway and the reflection of all frustrations of urban decadence and inequalities. For three years, a highly polluted discharge of incessant industrial highly toxic chemical products and concentrated dyes are released by the mouth of sewers directly into the sea; it has severely polluted the shores of the town, ravaged the coastline and wiped out all marine life, fauna and flora. The population is powerless to prevent the progression of this ecological disaster; they have alerted the officials, local, regional and national authorities at all levels and raised public awareness in the media but nothing has been done. One can ask, what can justify this grave resignation and negligence of the authorities at all levels? Please visit our online petition. Sadly, only 63 signatures were collected since the petition was launched more than one year ago, in November 2007. Our appeal has not had the impact and echo we hoped or anticipated for. Despondently, the many Internet visitors to this website have not found it necessary or compelling to adhere to our action. To stop this ghastly massacre and ecological disaster and to preserve and guarantee a healthy environment for future generations, we need a large collaboration of all citizens of all sensibilities and of pressure groups, social, political and economic entities. That is why we must massively oppose and battle fiercely this persistent aggression against our environment. Hand in hand, together, that our action will have an effect. Therefore we implore you to sway and convince your family, friends and acquaintances to sign this petition that you find online by clicking here: http://www.mesopinions.com/SOS---Pollution-de-la-ville-de-Bou-Ismail-petition Incredibly, our youth have lost hope and have no expectations; the town is in state of chaos where everything is done in full view of everyone; disorder, lawlessness and anarchy are prevalent as sidewalks are squatted by stores, informal trade is flourishing, drugs are rampant and serious crimes are rising dramatically, but authorities seem not to care. Citizens complain about the significant rise of urban depravation and violence with its share of burglaries, assaults and thefts of mobile phones and jewellery. Criminals prey especially on vulnerable women and young girls become easy prey. Some of the thugs act under the influence of alcohol and drugs whose consumption continues to grow exponentially, with the knowledge of everyone. Victims have the impression of being delivered deliberately to gangsters without a real willingness of local authorities to eradicate this vile phenomenon. To these common tribulations, social vacuum and urban violence are added. We are seeing an unusual increase in the crime rate as we are witnessing the proliferation of abnormal behaviour deemed immoral such as alcoholism, prostitution, gambling, vagrancy and vandalism. These immoral behaviours are disquieting and alarming, as they are committed by individuals getting younger and younger. Youth gangs looking increasingly aggressive by day or night, assault, rob, mug and harass citizens; this has taken almost uncontrollable proportions. During the evenings, the sea front road beyond the aquarium that links the town to the residential estate “La Paillote” become an open-air site for the consumption of alcohol and drugs. Hundreds of drunken thugs congregate there after dusk where dozen of cars laden with Alcoholic beverages operate as mobile bars selling illicitly even to juvenile youth. The road that was once a natural site and promenade where families used to enjoy the cool sea breeze during the hot summer evenings is littered with tons of broken glass bottles and cans that accumulated after years. The sea front road is a no-go (off-bound) for the residents, especially for women that are constantly harassed by drunken, as it becoming a cutthroat during the evening, a dangerous passageway. We don’t understand anything; as if the
authorities want this situation to persist. It may implode because all the
ingredients for a predictable social explosion and unrest are present. The town
lacks authority to the point that elected officials are running in circles as
the situation worsen and nobody dares to lift a finger. Webmaster - AO
The town centre as it was. Why was it demolished to be replaced by a useless monstrosity? |
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