Tozeur: An Easy Self-Guided Walking Tour of the City, Tozeur, Tunisia

With its strong Berber influence and isolated desert location in the south-west of the country, Tozeur is a unique and interesting destination in Tunisia. Many visitors are drawn to Tozeur as a base to explore nearby natural wonders such as Chebika, Mides, Ong Jemal and Chott el Djerid. However the city centre is also worth exploring, filled with intricate brickwork buildings a history dating back to Roman times. Check out my short self-guided walking tour of some of the highlights!

Start at the Mausoleum of Abou el Kacem Chebbi, located just beyond the small ceremonial city gate when walking from the main Ave Abdul Kacem Chebbi

Abou el Kacem Chebbi was a poet who lived in the early 1900s. A native of Tozeur, Chebbi is best known for contributing verses which later became part of the Tunisian national anthem. He died in 1934 at age 25 and is a revered figure in Tozeur. His mausoleum is open for visitors and is a popular place for fans of Tunisian arts and literature to pay their respects.

The small and quiet neighbourhood of Bled el Hadhar was once the site of the Roman settlement of Tusuros, and later became the center of the medieval city of Tozeur. An important city in the Roman province of Ifriqiya (north Africa), this area was home to Berbers, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs over the years. Christianity was still practiced here until the 11th century and the Al-Qasr mosque is built on the remains of a Roman-era church. This mosque later became an important regional Islamic center. The medieval city was sacked and destroyed by the Ottomans in the early 1600s, and was later rebuilt in the current location of the modern center of Tozeur. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).