Hotel El Djazair, Algiers

The Hotel El-Djazair, formerly Hotel Saint George, is a significant historical landmark in Algiers. Situated on a site steeped in history, the hotel has played various roles over the centuries, from an Ottoman-era mansion to a military headquarters during World War II.

Originally built in 1514 as a mansion for the Dey, the local ruler under Ottoman Algeria, the site transitioned into a girls' boarding school in 1840 following the French invasion of Algiers in 1830. In 1889, the building was transformed into a hotel, quickly becoming a favorite among British visitors. Over the years, it hosted notable figures, including Edward VII, Alexandra of Denmark, Edith Piaf, and Winston Churchill.

During World War II, the hotel rose to prominence when the American military commandeered it on November 10, 1942. That same day, Admiral François Darlan signed a ceasefire agreement in its Ambassadors’ Lounge (Salon des Ambassadeurs), facilitating Allied operations in North Africa. Dwight D. Eisenhower established his headquarters in room 141, now preserved, where plans for the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) were finalized.

Despite enduring German bombings during the war, the hotel reopened in 1948 after extensive repairs. It underwent significant renovations between 1974 and 1982, adding two new wings designed by architect Fernand Pouillon. Upon its reopening on August 23, 1982, it was renamed Hôtel El Djazair, reflecting the Arabic name for the city of Algiers and the country of Algeria.

Today, the state-owned El-Djazair hotel group also operates properties in Timimoun, Bechar, and Bou Saada, but the flagship Hotel El-Djazair remains a testament to Algiers' layered history and enduring elegance.