Tourist Zones

First holy city of Tunisia, Kairouan has monuments throughout its history. The first city built by the conquerors of Islam in 670, it was chosen as the capital during the Aghlabid dynasty (in the 9th century). They endowed it with mosques, monuments and urban installations.

The starting point of the visit is at the Kairouan tourist office, which issues you an access ticket to all the monuments of the city. At the foot of the tourist office stretch the Aghlabite Basins. Built by Ibrahim Ibn Al Aghlab in the 9th century, they were used to supply the city with water. These 55 m3 basins collected water from the mountains located about 40 km away. At the time, the city had 14 reservoirs like this one because it had to supply its population of 250,000 inhabitants!

Drive to the Mausolée du Barbier (2 km further on Avenue Ibn Aghlab). Abusively called a mausoleum, it is in fact a zaouïa (a brotherhood and a religious education center). It contains the tomb of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Sidi Sahab, which means "carrier of three hairs". Indeed, he always wore hairs from the Prophet's beard on him. This is why the place is nicknamed the Mausoleum of the Barber.

This building was erected between 1681 and 1685 under the direction of Mohammed Bey. The courtyard, the rooms, the mausoleum and the medersa are covered with superb medieval ceramics and stucco. There is a clear Andalusian influence in the decoration. Some even think that an attempt has been made to reproduce the style of the Alhambra in Granada.

Turn around and then go to the most prestigious religious monument in Tunisia: The Great Mosque. It is a remarkable example of Muslim architecture. Founded in the 7th century by Sidi Uqba, its current form dates from the 9th century. Its construction inspired that of many other mosques of this period.

You enter the Mosque through a gigantic courtyard paved with white and yellow marble. The courtyard is framed by galleries of columns from Tunisian archaeological sites. Built on an inclined plane model, it collected rainwater. The 3-storey minaret is 35 m high.

Heavy Lebanese cedar doors mark the entrance to the mosque's jewel: the prayer hall. This sumptuous room, which unfortunately cannot be entered, has 17 naves topped with 6 domes. It rests on hundreds of columns of blue granite, white and pink marble. Columns with Roman and Byzantine capitals were taken from the sites of Carthage and Sousse.

The mihrab, the niche that indicates the direction of Mecca, is covered with pretty earthenware tiles with metallic reflections (9th century). The minbar, a work from the 9th century made up of 300 sculpted wooden panels, is the oldest pulpit to be preached in the Muslim world.

Visit of the medina

The medina is easily visited on foot. The main monument to see is the Three Doors Mosque (9th century) which is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its facade dates back to the beginning of the 9th century.

If you were planning to bring home a Tunisian carpet, now is the time! Kairouan was crowned with the coveted title of "queen of the carpet". Go perfect your bargaining technique at the Carpet Souk.

For folklore, you can come and see the Bir Barouta well which would be connected to the Mecca well. The water is drawn by a dromedary which is happy to pose for passing photographers!

If you still hold out, finish your visit with the zaouïa of Sidi Amor Abbada which is surmounted by 5 domes and which houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions.

  * Avoid Mondays at the risk of ending up with groups from neighboring towns who have come on day trips.

  * Do not follow the men who call themselves a guide and who offer to take you to the mosque. It's a safe bet that you will find yourself in the stall of      a souk, the  pseudo guide receiving a commission from the merchant with whom he is in the ankle!

        The Great Mosque

 * Open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in summer and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in winter.