City in northeastern Algeria with 270,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), at an elevation of 1,038 metres, along the Wadi Tilatou north of the Aurès Mountains and south of the Batna Mountains.

It is the capital of Batna province with 1.1 million inhabitants (2005 estimate) and an area of 12,192 km².
Batna serves as the market center for the surrounding agricultural region. In addition to agricultural products, forest products play an important part in the city's economy. Batna earlier experienced tourism due to its proximity to two ruined Roman cities.
Batna is connected to other urban centres by road and rail. The main highway leads to Annaba on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Batna's centre is still the same as the one planned by the French, and is dominated by rectangular streets and some tree-lined avenues. The walled military quarter lies to the east, and Algerian-planned quarters surround these. Nearby are the Roman ruins of Timgad and Lambaesis.
Batna has a university