Hammam Essalhine: A Roman Bathhouse Still in Use After 2,000 Years in Khenchela, Algeria

Yesterday Today

A two thousand year old public bathhouse from the Roman period is still used by locals in the town of Khenchela, Algeria. Most of the bathhouse has been preserved, but the ancientness of the place is still apparent in the architecture.

Algeria has hundreds of hot springs or fountains that back to thousands of years. The most famous one is Hammam Essalihine (the bath of the righteous or thermal baths of Flavius) which is a tourist and therapeutic site that is situated in the middle of an enchanting mountainous and forested region (Aures Mountains); precisely in “El Hamma” district, 7 km from Khenchela, an Algerian province.

The bathhouse in Khenchela was repaired and renovated after it was reportedly damaged in an earthquake during the 14th century. Ottoman workers repaired the bathhouse using bricks after the earthquake, and even more recent additions include doors for the changing rooms to add privacy.

View original post 204 more words