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  Algeria / Cities and Towns /
Cherchell
Arabic: sharshal
Port and town in Algeria with 60,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the Tipasa Province.
Cherchell was in ancient times known as Iol, then Caesarea, being a large and important seaport. The modern town is considerably smaller in extent than the ancient city. At its height, Caesarea may have had 100,000 inhabitants, and it was a centre of Hellenistic culture.
The main activities of modern Cherchell is fishing and local agriculture.
The town is well-connected to other urban centres by road. Tipasa is 25 km east, Algiers 95 km east and Tenes 110 km west.
Cherchell is a charming and fairly small town, which is still highly dominated by its extensive ancient ruins.
History
4th century BCE: Founded by Carthage, as a trading post, named Iol.
25: Conquered by the Romans, renaming it Caesarea and making it capital of Mauretania.
472 CE: Conquered and destroyed by the Vandals.
1840: Conquered by France.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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