JEDDAH: The French ambassador to Saudi Arabia paid a visit to Jeddah’s Al-Balad district, calling it a civilizational treasure.
Ludovic Pouille said the district represented the city’s long-standing legacy and that it was an important front for culture.
Al-Balad is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes monuments and other historical buildings and is considered a staple of Hijazi architecture.
Pouille, who was accompanied by the French consul general in Jeddah, Mostafa Mihraje, was briefed on the museum, artifacts and projects in the area.
He viewed a collection of rare pictures about the Jeddah region and praised the efforts being made to preserve its heritage.
The ambassador said the initiatives being implemented would contribute to informing and reminding visitors about the city’s past.
Mansour Saleh Al-Zamil, who owns an establishment in Jeddah, which focuses on preserving the old town’s history, expressed his pride in the “Jeddah and Our Days of Bliss” project.
HIGHLIGHTS
• French Ambassador Ludovic Pouille was briefed on the museum, artifacts and projects in the area.
• He viewed a collection of rare pictures about the Jeddah region.
• Al-Balad is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The project seeks to preserve the social, literary, artistic and urban heritage of Jeddah by focusing on its most important features.
It also showcases artworks that embody the journey of Saudi monarchs who have ruled the country, from King Abdul Aziz to King Salman.
Al-Zamil welcomed the ambassador and consul general’s visit because he said it represented great support for the project, especially since Paris was the headquarters for UNESCO and France was a country that was especially interested in culture and heritage.
“‘Jeddah and Our Days of Bliss’ succeeded in accomplishing a number of wonderful tasks that contribute to the preservation of Jeddah’s heritage and maintain its status as one of the most important cities with a rare heritage in the region,” he said.
One goal is to maintain the form of a simple Jeddah neighborhood through a network of alleys, cafes, small shops, and storytellers.
An important aspect of historic Jeddah’s development is a library that has maps, collectibles, books, photos and rare paintings.
It has also hosted events and is one of the first projects aimed at breathing life into the city’s alleyways and courtyards.
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