Sidi Bel Abbes

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Sidi Bel Abbes (Arabic: سيدي بلعباس) is a capital (1998 pop. 180,260) of the Sidi Bel Abbes wilaya, Algeria. It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. Farm and electronics equipment are manufactured. There are good bus and rail connections and an airport. Tourists can find hotels and places to eat.

The city, on the Mékerra River, developed around a French camp built in 1843. From 1931 until 1961, the city was the "holy city" or spiritual home of the French Foreign Legion, the location of its basic training camp, and the headquarters of its 1st Foreign Regiment . Until 1962, Sidi-bel-Abbès was headquarters of the French Foreign Legion.

[edit] Famous Natives of Sidi Bel Abbes

René Raphaël Viviani (November 8, 1863 – September 7, 1925) was a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for the first year of World War I.
Gaston Maurice Julia (February 3, 1893 – March 19, 1978) Mathematician famous for "Julia Set" in Chaos Mathematics.
Marcel Cerdan (1916–49): French boxer
Mohammed Bedjaoui: (21 September 1929) Foreign minister. Ex Minister of Justice (1964-70), Ambassador to France (1970-79) and Algerian permanent representative to the UN (1979-82). He was a judge on the International Court of Justice at The Hague (1982-2001)