Illustration of the maritime museum
2007 Founded

A sanctuary for Algeria’s maritime memory

Located in the historic Khair-Eddine vaults within the Admiralty of Algiers, the National Maritime Museum of Algiers is a public institution dedicated to the study, preservation, and promotion of Algerian maritime heritage in all its richness and diversity.


Through its exceptional collections, the museum retraces centuries of naval history, maritime trade, and life at sea — with a particular focus on the Regency of Algiers, a testament to a maritime power that once radiated across the Mediterranean.

Preservation

Safeguarding the nation’s naval and maritime heritage for future generations.

Transmission

Educating the public, researchers, and youth about Algerian maritime identity.

Research

Supporting scientific research in underwater archaeology and naval history.

Outreach

Promoting Algerian maritime heritage on the national and international stage.

A site steeped in maritime history

From the first Berber fleets to the great Ottoman armadas, the Khair-Eddine vaults have seen it all.

16th Century

The Birth of the Admiralty

Aroudj and Khair-Eddine Barbarossa laid the foundations of Algiers’ maritime power. The Admiralty vaults were built to house the Regency fleet — a remarkable military architecture combining strength and naval functionality.

16th – 17th Century

The Golden Age of the Regency of Algiers

Algiers rose as one of the great maritime powers of the Mediterranean. The Ottoman-Algerian fleet — made of galleys, chebecs, and galiots — controlled trade routes and conducted naval operations from Gibraltar to the Aegean Sea.

17th – 18th Century

Treaties, Battles, and Maritime Diplomacy

The Regency forged commercial and diplomatic treaties with major European powers. The museum archives preserve valuable manuscripts that reveal a sophisticated maritime diplomacy and an advanced law of the sea.

19th – 20th Century

Transformation and Memory

The Admiralty site endured the upheavals of modern history. Decades later, the Algerian Republic restored its original purpose: a witness and guardian of a centuries-old maritime civilization.

2007 – Today

Birth of the National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum of Algiers opened within the restored Khair-Eddine vaults. It became the first national museum fully dedicated to maritime heritage in Algeria, a cultural lighthouse open to the Mediterranean and the future.

The Khair-Eddine Vaults

At the heart of the Admiralty of Algiers, the historic vaults named after the legendary admiral are an exceptional architectural monument. Built to withstand the rigors of the sea and the hazards of war, these millennial structures now house a collection that resonates with the soul of the place. Visiting these spaces is crossing time and hearing the echo of the great fleets that once made Algiers a Mediterranean power.

An exceptional maritime heritage

From legendary ship models to navigation instruments, discover five centuries of Algerian maritime heritage.

Historic Ship Models

Chebecs, galleys, galiots, and frigates — meticulously reconstructed scale models of iconic ships from the Algerian fleet.

Navigation Instruments

Astrolabes, compasses, sextants, and sea charts from the 16th to the 19th century.

Anchors & Underwater Discoveries

Anchors, cargo remains, and objects recovered from Algerian seabeds.

Manuscripts & Rare Documents

Diplomatic treaties, nautical maps, and chronicles of major naval battles.

Shipbuilding Tools

Caulking tools, naval carpentry instruments, and equipment from the arsenals of Algiers.

Maritime Arms & Cannons

Bronze cannons, naval arquebuses, and armaments of the Regency galleys of Algiers.

The museum’s signature treasures

Among thousands of artifacts, some alone embody the maritime grandeur of Algeria.

Exceptional Model

The Regency Chebec

A lateen-rigged and oared vessel typical of the Algerian Mediterranean fleet, the chebec was favored for its speed and maneuverability.

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Rare Instrument

17th‑Century Nautical Astrolabe

A brass astronomical navigation instrument used by Algerian sailors to determine latitude at sea, one of the most remarkable items in the instrument collection.

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Historic Armament

Bronze Galley Cannon

A bronze naval artillery piece bearing Arabic and Ottoman inscriptions, a tangible testimony to 17th‑century Algerian naval sophistication.

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Exceptional Document

18th‑Century Maritime Treaty

A rare diplomatic manuscript sealing a navigation agreement between the Regency of Algiers and a European power — a unique window into maritime diplomacy of the era.

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Underwater Discovery

Monumental Ottoman Anchor

A large forged‑iron anchor recovered from the Algiers bay seabed, revealing the craftsmanship of historical naval forges and arsenals.

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Art & Memory

Naval Paintings and Sculptures

Paintings of naval battles, portraits of admirals, and views of the Port of Algiers — an incomparable pictorial record of Algerian maritime life.

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An experience for all

The National Maritime Museum of Algiers warmly welcomes the curious, families, students, and researchers from around the world.

Families & General Public

Immersive and accessible routes to explore Algerian maritime history as a family, at any age.

Pupils & Students

Educational workshops, guided school tours, and documentary resources aligned with national curricula.

Tourists & Visitors

An essential cultural stop in Algiers to understand the maritime depth of Algerian civilization.

Researchers & Academics

Access to archives, documentary funds, and scientific collections for specialized research projects.

The Museum across Algeria

The national network of the Maritime Museum extends across the country’s main coastal cities.

Algiers

Headquarters

Admiralty of Algiers

National Museum

Oran

Regional Branch

Mediterranean Coast

Branch

Annaba

Regional Branch

Eastern Algerian Coast

Branch

Bejaia

Regional Branch

Gulf of Bejaia

Branch

The museum posts

All posts

المنطقة العازلة للموقع الأثري بيتبازة

انطلاق الأعمال الميدانية من اجل تحديد المنطقة العازلة للموقع الأثري بيتبازة حيث تم تنظيم عمليات غوص تحت بحري بتاريخ 9 فيفري 2025م.

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تنظيم مداخلة تحت عنوان les amphores entre fonction commerciale et réceptacles funéraires

من تقديم الدكتور: حكيم ايديران بتاريخ 14 جانفي 2025.

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تنظيم يوم دراسي حول جزيرة سطفلة تحت عنوان ” اثر تحرير جزيرة سطفلة (البنيون) في قيام البحرية الجزائرية في الفترة العثمانية”

تنظيم يوم دراسي حول جزيرة سطفلة تحت عنوان ” اثر تحرير جزيرة سطفلة (البنيون) في قيام البحرية الجزائرية في الفترة العثمانية” وذلك بتاريخ 10 ديسمبر 2024.

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