The historic towns in Algeria, in their multiplicity of situations and issues, illustrate the various aspects and challenges of a process of economic and socio-cultural transformation which is increasingly reflected in fragmented, incoherent urbanization, which now revolves around from multiple centers. But, in a context of globalization, they can represent with identity values a potential to be mobilized and valued, to open up new prospects for development. The challenges and issues proposed by these cities therefore call for reflection on the interdependence between development and cultural policies, articulated around the identity value of heritage; the potential of activities related to the safeguarding and enhancement of heritage; the challenge of combining the requirements of the conservation of tangible and intangible heritage with the requirements of modernization