Tunis and its surroundings

Tunis is a modern capital city with elegant hotels, shops and entertainment venues of all kinds in the middle lies the medina (old town), one of the best preserved medieval cities in the Islamic world. The main entrance at the Porte de France and the British Embassy leads directly to Rue Djamaa Ez-Zitouna, the main street of the souks (markets). Other souks, which have sometimes specialize in certain products branch, off the main road. Djamaa Ez-Zitouna, the great mosque, is a good guide.

The Bardo Museum is housed in the former palace of the Bey and is home to Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine and Arab heritage. The National Museum has prehistoric, Punic, Roman and Byzantine exhibits and stands on the ruins of St. Anthony’s bath, which can be visited as well.

In Belvdre wooded park overlooking the city, there is a Muslim and a zoo pavilion. In the suburb of La Soukra find a golf course and riding stables.

Resorts

In the north-east of Tunis, La Goulette, the port and seaside resort, where you can sit on hot summer nights outside the restaurants and cafes and enjoy seafood specialties and other Tunisian food in the fresh air. Further along the coast there are the ruins of Carthage to visit, a city that was once as famous as Rome (see Historic Sites); Sidi Bou Said, La Marsa and Gammarth are also worth seeing. All cities can be reached by train from Tunis. Sidi Bou Said is a bougainvillea, carnation and geranium-covered headland with many Andalusian-style villas built with bright blue doors and shutters. La Marsa, Gammarth Raouad lie in a green landscape with sandy beaches and offer excellent hotels, international restaurants and nightlife.

In the southern outskirts lies Hammam-Lif, a small holiday resort at the beach, from the Djebel Bou Kornine (a mountain with two peaks) is overlooked.

The North

This part of the country known as Green Tunisia is a beautiful area with hills, mountains and fertile plains. The weather is slightly cooler in summer than in the south. The hotels along the coast are excellent. Bizerte was once the Roman city of Hippo Dyarrytus. The old fishing port, the Kasbah (Old Arab Quarter) and the Andalusian quarter have been preserved. Wide avenues running through the city, modern hotel with beautiful gardens and the magnificent conference hall are located on the Corniche above the dunes. The landscape of Cap Bizerte, Cap Blanc, the Lake Bizerte and the Ichkeul Lake is perfect for strolls. The Ichkeul Lake is the habitat of many species of birds and the Jebel Ichkeul wooded home to buffalo.

Utica, 32 miles from Bizerte and Tunis, an ancient Phoenician settlement (see Historic Sites) is. Raf Raf in the vicinity is a charming village on a hilltop.

Tabarka, a port and resort town about 140 miles west of Bizerte, can be reached via a winding road that leads through Teskraia and Jebel Aboid. The peaceful town of Tabarka has a Genoese fortress, the inhabitants to fish (hake and red mullet) and dive to the coral. The coral reefs invite you to explore one with the goggles. Including a large suburb located 10 000-bed complex and a marina. Near the hill village and resort of Ain ​​Draham can be seen throughout the year deer, jackals and lynxes. Further south, past Bulla Regia (see Historic Sites), one encounters the high-elevation El Kef with thermal springs.

Cap Bon

Hammamet, 65 km from Tunis, is situated on the southern tip of Cap Bon in Tunisia and is most popular and best-developed holiday. The hotels have been built in various Moorish architectural styles. Surrounded by the sea, the Medina (old city) has city walls and is guarded by a golden-brown Kasbah, one of the towers has a splendid view. The Turkish bath (hammam), as well as the Casbah and the mosque from the 15th Century. Foreign visitors are allowed to use the bathroom.


A wide, sandy beach runs from the Medina to the recreation area. Directly behind them are the shops, restaurants, night clubs, bars and cafes. The entertainment of the resort hotels includes discos and folklore evenings.

The International Cultural Centre is one of the most beautiful gardens in Tunisia. She is the venue for open air concerts, for plays of international standing and folklore performances.

Nabeul is a modern city about 10 km east of Hammamet. It stands on ruins from the Punic and Roman times and has a centuries old tradition of producing fine ceramic and clay pots, perfume, lace and leather goods maintained. Every Friday is market day. The hotels and holiday homes that are built in traditional style are located near the beautiful beach and the shops and leisure facilities. For more information see Accommodation.

Cap Bon has a year-round mild maritime climate, and an easily accessible coastal landscape is very varied. Cap Bon is a peninsula between the Gulf of Tunis and the Gulf of Hammamet and a large wine growing area, which includes figs, olives, oranges, lemons and corn are grown. The former palace of the Bey of Tunis in Korbous has been converted into a spa, be treated in the arthritis and skin diseases with therapeutically effective mineral waters. From the nearby fishing village of Sidi Daoud allows you to reach the islets and Zembra Zembretta.

El Haouraria lies in the forested region on the edge of the cape. Every year, migratory birds fly over the village, and is held here every spring, a festival of falconers. Very close to the cliffs rise up to 400 m high on. Kerkouane has a large archaeological site from the Punic period. Kelibia is a fishing town with a castle ruin.

Inland from Cap Bon are Zaghouan and Thuburba Majus .

The East Coast

This central coast offers a landscape of hills and gardens and groves of olive, pomegranate and almond trees. The hills in the white sand beaches, rocky cliffs and underwater rocks. In the villages of the rocky landscape of olive and fruit are grown. Collections in small museums are to be seen with centuries-old gold jewelry. Many artisans in the cities of today still practice the art of goldsmithing. This area is also known for traditional woven fabrics. Especially noteworthy are the cotton fabrics of Ksar Hellal and woolen embroidery of Mahdia and El Jem . In Hergla filters are made ​​from alfalfa that are used throughout the country for the olive presses. Many of the towns and villages stand on ruins of Roman and Punic settlements. The museum of Sousse and El Jem accommodate collections of unusual mosaics, which show the extraordinary wealth of this region during the Roman rule. This wealth was one of the reasons that led the Arabs to build the largest cities here Kairouan, an important religious center, and Mahdia, now a popular tourist destination.

Sousse, Tunisia’s third largest city, is a major port city and is situated in a favorable position on the East Coast. The sandy beaches extend to 7 km from Port El Kantaoui in the north and are ideal for horse and camel rides. Most hotels are outside of this modern city, its cafes, bars, nightclubs and restaurants offer excellent alternatives to those offered by the hotels entertainment and folklore evenings. Impressive ancient ramparts surrounding the old town. The Ribat from the 8th Century belongs to a chain of fortified monasteries that were built to North Africa to defend against attacks by the Christians. From the watchtowers has to have seen a good view over the medina and the garden terrace of the museum’s fascinating animated mosaics you have to.

Port el Kantaoui is a garden town with a marina and a championship golf course. Many hotels have large lawns that lead down to the sandy beaches. There are excellent opportunities for deep sea fishing.

Monastir, 24 km further south, is a small resort and is known for its mosque from the 10th Century. Monastir is a mix of old and modern. During high season there are many festivals and horse racing. You can also visit a museum of Islamic art.

21 km further south lies the market town Moknine. A portion of the population is Jewish, and their traditional decoration is one of the most fascinating exhibits in the small folk museum.

Mahdia is located 25 km further south along the coast, is a fishing town and holiday resort. The ubiquitous Obaid Allah, known as the Mahdi, built in the 10th Mahdia Century, the stronghold and capital of the dynasty on Fatimites.

The islands of Djerba and Kerkennah

The island of Djerba has a size of 514 square kilometers and has a 6 km causeway to the mainland. A ferry runs regularly, and there is an airport. Houmt Souk is a market town for the surrounding farms and villages. There are about 40 hotels on the beach. Several villages in Djerba specialize in a particular product is manufactured in Guellala such as ceramic, and you head into Adjim natural sponges.

Kerkennah two inhabited islands, Chergui and Gharbi, are accessible from the car ferry from Sfax beautiful. There is a holiday village and several hotels. The only existing industry is fishing. Kerkennah is known for its colorful and traditional weddings.

Central Tunisia

The oases and Chott (huge dried salt lakes) give rise to a strange and eerie atmosphere. The Chott are encrusted with white in summer (this time of year the roads are passable at best) and give the impression of infinite length. Mirages in the form of palm trees can sometimes be seen in the afternoon. In the oases of date palms grow numerous.

Easily accessible, Gabs is an oasis located in the south by the sea, you can ride a horse through the streets of Calchere oasis. Gabs also has a port and is ideal starting point for excursions through the inland oases of the Chott Gafsa, Tozeur and Douz Nefta or further south to the Sahara and the Matmata Mountains (see the South). Gafsa, about 160 km inland, is a city with pink walls, a hot spring (30C) is spread over three Roman cisterns. The zoo is situated on the outskirts.

Tozeur is perhaps the most lush oasis in the country. 200 springs irrigate thousands of the best date palms. You can ride on a donkey or a camel through the oasis. The buildings were built of unbaked bricks in a geometric pattern. Tozeur has an international airport and is often offered as well Nefta, combined with a coastal village in a package tour destination.

Nefta: The city consists of sand-colored houses and is situated on a hill above the oasis. Despite a luxurious 4-star hotel you will feel like in a remote border town. North of Tozeur and Nefta are surrounded by beautiful villages Lehmwällen Chebika, Tamerza and Mides.

In the southeast, behind Kebili, Douz is located on the Grand Erg Oriental, the great sand sea of the eastern Sahara. Thursdays will be held the camel market, which, like the Marhoul ceremony, delivers a very nice photos of the Sahara Festival is held every year in January in the near Douz, we celebrate the beginning of the seasonal Abwanderns the nomads in the desert with rituals such as Camel wrestling tournaments and poet, folk dances and musical performances.

Sometimes you see a desert rose: crystallized minerals are baked by strong sunlight to flower-like shapes.

Note

Each trip into the desert to be planned very carefully, and an appropriate vehicle, sufficient food, sufficient water and an experienced guide are essential . Overnight accommodations and restaurants can be found everywhere in southern Tunisia. Paved roads and sandy trails allow rides to attractions.

The South

An underground hotel in a lunar landscape, cave settlements deep in the mountains and like giant honeycomb-style houses in ancient stone grain silos are just some of the fascinating sights you can visit the south of Gabs, Djerba Zarzis or.

Tunisia, and especially in the south of the country, served many times as a backdrop for Hollywood films. Among others, part of the Star Wars films (Star Wars) were filmed. Local tour operators offer excursions to the famous film locations. Further information is available from the tourist offices.

Matmata Berber villages, and others consist largely of pits dug into the ground: a good protection against summer heat and harsh winter winds. There are even underground oil mills, where camels are used to operate the olive presses. Domes, which range across the earth are signs for marabouts shrines of holy men.

The landscape consists of strongly weathered Matmatas conical mounds, which are crossed by narrow gorges, which grow here and there, olive and fig trees.

. The road runs southeast from Gabs by Mareth to Medenine This market town has a Ksar, a fortified citadel, surrounded by old barns (Ghorfas), some of the silos are 2-3 stories high, and partly occupied. Other Ghorfas were converted into guest houses or small shops where you can buy silver jewelry of the Bedouin. On a tour of Medenine to Foum Tataouine can visit more ksars, including Ksar Djouama (14th century), Beni Kheddache on a mountain top, with a small hotel and Haddada Ghoumrassen in a valley. All have troglodyte. The road should be driven in a jeep.

The most beautiful mountain ksars are Ouled Soltane, south of Tataouine and Chenini in the West. The road to Chenini zigzags through a cinnamon-colored mountains.

The foothills lie south of the Sahara Tataouine, and Borj Bourguiba Remada. Some local travel agencies organize trips to the Land Rover. Individuals should take stringent precautions in the desert you can very easily lose their orientation. It is vital to inform the post of National Guard in Medenine or the nearest town. Route, duration and destination of the trip must be reported to the duty officer, an appropriate vehicle must be equipped with adequate water, food, repair and first aid equipment and tents. It should be taken only an experienced leader, and it is appropriate to obtain accurate weather forecasts, especially for long trips. The best way to connect with other vehicles on the road and leaves at each guard post the itinerary.

Zarzis nearby Djerba is a vacation spot with an oasis on the coast, which consists of approximately 500,000 and 100,000 palm trees, olive trees.

Historic Sites

Tunisia has a large number of well-preserved remains of part of Punic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic communities.

The most famous historic site is near Carthage in Tunis, a city of legendary Queen Dido, who struggled with Rome for supremacy in the Mediterranean.

Symbol of the small whitewashed town of El Jem (40 km inland from Mahdia), the well-preserved Coliseum. The ocher-colored exterior walls are 35 feet high, once there were 30,000 seats.

Kairouan (50 km inland from Sousse) is to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, the fourth most important city of Islam. It was founded in 670 AD by a follower of the Prophet Mohammed, who had many miraculous signs and is at the point at which sprang from one source. It is said that correspond to seven visits to Kairouan a trip to Mecca. The forecourt of the Great Mosque (which may also be attended by infidels) should be capable of holy days, up to 200,000 pilgrims. There are many other mosques and shrines, the Great Mosque is the holiest site. The prayer hall is supported by a multi-colored forest of columns from the Roman, Byzantine and Arab period. The 5 m high, elaborately carved wooden pulpit dates from the 9th Century, as well as the minaret with 128 steps.

Utica is accessible from Tunis and Bizerte, and was already around 1100 BC, a Phoenician colony. That makes it older than Carthage, her rival in later centuries. Through a large archway you can admire the marble floor of a palace garden and the rosemary.

Dougga is located 100 km southwest of Tunis. The 168 AD, built by the Romans theater has 3,500 seats and is still used for performances of classical Greek drama and the Comdie Française. The Capitol will be the greatest in North Africa.

Bulla Regia, south of Tabarka has many interesting sites from Roman, early Christian and Byzantine times. Many of the best mosaics have been brought to the Bardo Museum in Tunis, but the hunting palace has mosaics with wild animals and hunting scenes as well as recognizable traces of the dining room, kitchen and bedroom.

Sbeitla, 160 km inland from Sousse and Sfax is one of the largest archaeological sites in the country. There are numerous ruins of Roman baths and temples, early Christian churches and Byzantine fortifications.