Things to see and do Gafsa

Composed of two basins, they are the only remnant of Gafsa. A few years ago, the inhabitants of Gafsa were happy to bathe there. Above the pool, a large ostensibly contemporary fresco represents Neptune. The redevelopment of the site was carried out in 1993.

Dating from the 15th century and built on Byzantine ruins, the Kasbah of Gafsa is located behind the courthouse. It was restored after having been particularly damaged during the Second World War by the explosion of a German ammunition depot. A very pleasant garden, fed by thermal springs, brings calm and serenity. This place contrasts strongly with the tumult of the city. It is a pleasant place for a walk that we recommend during your stay in the city of Gasfa.

Built by the Aghlabids and enlarged by the Hafsids, the Great Mosque of Gafsa is the third largest mosque in Tunisia. It would have seen the day between the year 800 and the year 909. As often in Tunisia, non-Muslims are only allowed to visit the courtyard. Its architecture is identical to that of Kairouan and the Zitouna mosque in Tunis. The court is surrounded by columns with capitals borrowed from other ancient monuments. Only the minaret is recent (and dates from the twentieth century), since the old minaret was in ruins.

Bypassing the Roman site and skirting the fortress, one reaches, by a little frequented entrance, the quiet palm grove with narrow roads. Extending in a rectangle of about 4 km by 3 km, it surprises by its high density and the height of its palm trees. One finds there a multitude of trees or fruit plants and sometimes even an inhabited house. In some places, the forest which clears up lets appear splendid landscapes with the red ochre of the mountains in background of this green ocean, under a deep blue sky.

A small museum on the history of Gafsa, quite interesting for history lovers. The collections are divided into two groups: the first is made up of tools (in flint and carved stone or bone) from the prehistoric period, which are linked to the Capsian culture, while the second brings together various pieces (statues, ceramics, mosaics, etc.) from the Roman, Byzantine and Vandal periods. Two mosaics in particular, that of Venus fishing and that of the athletic games and pugilism, are particularly beautiful!

Gafsa can be proud to host in its land the largest snail farm in Tunisia. It is an artificial mound of about ten meters high, from an accumulation of ash, tools, human and animal bones, and especially snail shells, dating back to 7000 years BC. These piles are traces of human presence, when our ancestors lived in camps. They are found mainly in the south of the country, another one is found in a shelter under the rock located in the region of Oum El Araies.