Houmt souk Tunisia. Djerba is an island of date palms and pink flamingos. Resort areas of the island

The island of Djerba cannot boast of a large number of large-scale architectural and historical objects. Those located in the resort can be explored during a sightseeing tour of the island, or if you do it yourself, it will take 1-2 days to get to know interesting places.

Houmt Souk is the capital of Djerba, and there are quite a lot of sights and interesting places to visit here. The city itself, although it is a tourist destination, has retained its originality and national flavor, which you can feel while walking among the low white and blue houses along the winding narrow streets.

In the city center there is an extensive market of authentic souvenirs and jewelry, where, after a hot bargain with shopkeepers, tourists buy unusual and memorable things.

Near the capital of the island on the coast is the fort of Bordzhel-Kebir, built in 1284 to protect against Spanish and Norman invaders. You can visit it every day, except Friday, from 9.00 to 18.00, the ticket price is 4 dinars.

On the beach, opposite the fort, there is an obelisk erected in memory of the destroyed tower of Borj el-Rus. Access to it is 24/7 and free.

An interesting place to visit is the local history museum, which is located in the mausoleum of Sidi Zitouni on the outskirts of the city. Among the exhibits are traditional clothes, handicrafts, wonderful examples of jewelry made of silver and precious stones.

You can relax after exploring the city in numerous cafes and restaurants, drink delicious mint tea with pine nuts, and enjoy oriental sweets.

Seven kilometers southwest of Houmt Souk is a small village - the Jewish settlement of Er Riadh. There is the oldest Jewish shrine and a place of pilgrimage - the El Ghriba synagogue. It is the oldest in Africa - built in the VI century BC, the last reconstruction was made in 1920.
The construction of the synagogue is shrouded in secrets and legends. One of the legends says that two and a half thousand years ago there was a big fire in this place, in which a young girl Griba died. Despite the raging flames, the body of the deceased remained untouched, the locals recognized her as a saint, and a synagogue was built in her honor.
Another version says that El Ghriba appeared on the site of a paradise stone that fell from heaven. And as soon as the last Jew disappears from the island, the key to the shrine will return to heaven.

Every year, Jews of all countries make a mass pilgrimage here, because one of the main artifacts of the Jewish faith, the Torah scroll, is kept in the synagogue. True, you cannot see it - it is hidden from the eyes of visitors in a silver casket. Also in El-Ghriba are the relics of Shimon Bar Yashai - one of the authors of the Torah.
Built in the Moorish style, El Ghriba impresses with its architectural sophistication and the richness of its interior decoration. Travelers are greeted by forged gates decorated with rivets, behind which stands a white-stone building with blue architraves and bars. Inside the synagogue there are walls covered with patterned tiles, arches, bright colored stained-glass windows, and columns. Pilgrims can stay in guest rooms on its territory, the employees of the synagogue live in the same building.

It should be remembered that you cannot enter El Ghriba in open clothes and with an uncovered head. At the entrance you can take a scarf or a kippah, shoes should be removed here. It is also strictly forbidden to take pictures of praying people.
Tourists can visit the shrine every day except Saturday. Entrance is free, but it is recommended to buy at least one postcard near the exit, and these funds will go to the needs of El Ghriba.

On the eastern part of the island, not far from the city of Midoun, there is a unique educational and entertainment complex "Djerba Explore". On its territory of 12 hectares, you can spend the whole day, and it will be interesting for both children and adults.

The complex consists of five parts:
themed traditional Tunisian village with cafes and restaurants of national cuisine and an open-air Arabic souvenir market;
crocodile farm;
museum;
village "Heritage";
residential complex, which includes a five-star hotel, residence and apart-hotel.
The crocodile farm is the largest on the Mediterranean coast, with over 400 crocodiles, mostly imported from Madagascar. Around the pool with animals are tables with chairs where visitors can sit and watch the life of reptiles. Every day after 16.00 there is feeding of animals, in which tourists can also participate for an additional fee.
"Lella Hadria" is a museum of Tunisian folk traditions. The 15 exhibition halls feature more than a thousand unique pieces showing 14 centuries of Islamic and Tunisian art.

The most notable ones are:

Original jewelry;

Manuscripts and calligraphy;

Ottoman and Persian coats;
a curtain fragment from the Kaaba stone from Mecca;
Berber pottery;
carpets of the finest workmanship.

The Heritage Village shows the history and architecture of the Tunisian people in everyday life and production. Here you can see the traditional dwelling "menzel" (or "khush"), which contains various household utensils, as well as visit a weaving factory and a pottery workshop. Few people are left indifferent by a camel pumping water from a deep well, besides, it is allowed to take a picture with it (for an additional fee).
Djerba Explore is open all year round, during the season from 9.00 to 20.00, and in winter from 9.00 to 18.00. A single ticket to visit the farm, village and museum will cost 15 dinars, for children under 12 years old - 8 dinars.

What else you can visit on the island of Djerba:
the ethnographic museum of Guellala in the village of the same name, famous for its pottery;
the lagoon of Djerba, where you can watch the life of pink flamingos in their natural environment;
the village of Azhim, where the islanders catch sponges and octopuses, and it is also here that the preserved scenery for the Star Wars movie is located.

Djerba Restaurants

Djerba Island prefer lovers of a quiet and quality holiday, so catering establishments are quite consistent with this level. And this does not always mean that dinner at a restaurant in the resort will cost a tidy sum.

La Laguna

The upscale restaurant La Lagune attracts customers with stunning lagoon views and an extensive seafood menu. English-speaking staff welcomes and promptly serves travelers, and a warm atmosphere and pleasant background music help relieve fatigue after a long day. The average bill for two is $50-80.

One of the best restaurants on the island is located in the capital Houmt Souk. It serves fresh seafood dishes, a good wine list. There is a separate room for non-smokers, which allows all visitors to enjoy dinner without exception. In beachwear, entry here is not desirable, because this institution has a dress code. Dinner with seafood and alcohol will cost $60-100 for two.

La couple

Located in the city of Midoun, the La Couple diner will allow you to spend time among the locals for little money. The menu here is not very diverse - pizzas, sandwiches, salads and snacks, alcohol is not offered. However, many islanders and tourists prefer to sit here in the evening with a cup of mint tea, while ordering a hookah, because the relaxed atmosphere of this place cannot but attract visitors. The average bill is $20-40 for two.

Chez Fatroucha

Not far from Midoun is Chez Fatroucha, a creative restaurant. It offers original Mediterranean cuisine, which makes the place very popular among travelers of all nationalities. Lunch or dinner here will cost $70-90 for two people.

Il Papagallo

The best Italian restaurant is located in Houmt Souk. Professional chef Il Papagallo prepares delicious pizzas, ravioli, pastas, spaghetti and salads. Visitors only need to choose toppings and sauces prepared according to traditional recipes. Average bill - $30-50 for two, working hours - from 11.00 to 23.00.

Djerba Hotels

Most of the hotels in Djerba are concentrated off the northeast coast of the island, where the tourist infrastructure is well developed. Most often they are located on the first line from the beach, have their own territory with swimming pools, restaurants and discos, which allows the whole vacation not to go beyond the hotel.

Premium hotels

Hotels of the same network Hasdrubal Prestige Djerba 5 * ($ 300 for two per day) and Hasdrubal Thalassa Djerba 5 * ($ 200 per day) offer first-class relaxation in the luxurious interior of hotel rooms, and hotel restaurants will delight guests with delicious food and an upscale center. A quiet beach pastime can be diversified with thalasso treatments in the SPA centers of hotels.

All the paths of tourists who have visited Tunisia lead to the sunny island of Djerba, where they sunbathe and swim all year round. The ancient history of Djerba is sung by the same ancient myths, and the island became famous thanks to the sea vagrants, the Phoenicians, who stocked purple paint here.
The island belonged to the Carthaginians and Romans, the founders of a stone road that stretched from the city of Zarzis on the continent to the island along a narrow isthmus. Djerba was settled by Berbers, Jews, Turks, Silicians, Spaniards and Normans. Historical monuments of antiquity have been preserved about their stay, including Djerba mosques and ancient residential buildings-menzels.

Attractions of the island of Djerba

In 1560, the terrible tower Borj al-Rus was erected by the pirate Drogut Reis. Five thousand skulls of Christian adherents who entered the battle with pirates went into its construction.
The main city of the island is Houmt Souk, which translates as "shopping district". The streets of the Medina are full of life thanks to the inns. When visiting the old quarters, you can go to the three mosques of Djerba, which were erected in different eras by different peoples inhabiting the island. The Turks built the mosque Eh Sheikh, Jamaa Etruk. The fortress of Borj Gazi Mustafa is also located here. The construction of the Museum, located in the building of the mausoleum of an Islamic saint, dates back to the 17th century. The expositions tell about folk art and traditions, knowledge of the people. In the vicinity of Humit-Suki is the famous Abu Messver mosque.
The ensemble of Djerba mosques is complemented by the famous landmark of the city of Houmt Souk - the mosque of Jamaa al - Gorba. It is called a mosque for foreigners. All three ancient buildings were built with decoration and architecture under the influence of various cult movements.
Tourists are always eager to visit each of the mosques because of the historical value. In the year 717 according to the Christian calendar (according to the Hijri - in 93), Malik ibn Anas ibn Amir, the founder of Malekism, an Islamic movement, was born in Medina. In his honor, the followers named the ancient Jamaa-al-Gorba mosque in Djerba.
A feature of the ancient architectural landscape of Houmt Souk is square manzels with domes instead of a roof. This view is complemented by the Jamaa al-Gorba mosque with its old buildings.

Capital of the island of Djerba

The capital of the island of Djerba, Houmt Souk, with 64,000 inhabitants, is called the "big bazaar" with the small Jamaa al Gorba mosque in Djerba. Followers of Sheikh Malik ibn Anas come here to pay tribute to his memory. There are more people in the narrow streets because of the abundance of tourists.
The oldest European settlement opens for visitors the ancient, like the Jamaa-al-Gorba mosque, the synagogue of Djerba - one of the main cloisters for believing Jews, which has become a landmark of the island, like fonduks - formerly inns where wanderers and merchants of the Ottoman era settled . Now tourists are interested in the stunning view from the Borj al-Kebir fortress, built in the 13th century.
Mohammed Ferjani street leads to Khedi Shaker square. Nearby is a market with a Turkish mosque. Tourists do not forget to visit the tomb (zauyu) of Sidi Brahim, located on Moncef Bey Street.
Local residents are proud of the sights of the island and the capital, but not only the Jamaa al-Gorba mosque, where the followers of malekism pray, but also the ancient square, named after Sidi Brahim, the Mosque of the Wanderers.

The largest settlement of the island of Djerba in Tunisia is the city of Houmt Souk. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, attracting tourists with sandy beaches, clear waters and a mild climate.

What makes the city attractive

First of all, the city is positioned as an important tourist center of the island. It is difficult to argue with this, given the presence in this city of Djerba of a developed tourist infrastructure: beautiful and comfortable hotels, mostly located in the coastal zone and offering wonderful views of the sea horizon, a variety of cafes, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues. The city of Houmt Souk on Djerba is able to guarantee the most comfortable and pleasant stay for its guests.
Water sports are very popular in the coastal strip of the island. So, while relaxing on the beaches of the city of Houmt Souk, there is an opportunity not only to ride a banana, jet skis or water skiing, but also try yourself in more extreme activities. For example, parasailing behind a boat (parasailing) will give exciting and unforgettable impressions, windsurfing will excite and give a lot of pleasant emotions (it will not be difficult to get the necessary equipment for this at any hotel located by the sea). Diving lovers off the coast of Houmt Souk will also find something to do. The coastal underwater world of Djerba is very rich: a wide variety of flora, fauna, sunken ships resting on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea since the Second World War.

The city's attractions

Within the boundaries of the city of Houmt Souk on Djerba, quite a lot of attractions are concentrated. Among them, the fort of Bordj el-Kebir stands out - an old fortress with a rich and gloomy history. Now it is a fortification having a rectangular shape. The fort is surrounded by a moat, at the bottom of which are cannonballs and cannons left from the old days. The fortification walls are up to 4 meters thick.
The small streets of the main city of Djerba are intertwined into an intricate labyrinth, in the bowels of which there are three more prominent sights: the Jamaa el Gorba mosque, the Jamaa Etruk mosque and the Ash Sheikh mosque. The first of the shrines of the city is also called the "foreigners' mosque" and is the abode for the followers of malekism (one of the Islamic religious movements).
Jamaa-Ettruk or the Turkish Mosque in the main city of Djerba is a sacred place for representatives of Sufism (the mystical-ascetic trend in Islam, which was formed back in the 8th century AD). A visit to this religious monument is included in almost all route guides for tourists.
The Ash Sheikh Mosque is a kind of small miracle, since it is intended for the Ibadis (representatives of the Islamic movement), who are considered akin to heretics on the island. The shrine is distinguished by its simplicity of structure and decoration, since the representatives of Ibadism believe that nothing should distract from communion with God. And these are only the most significant sights.

How to get there

Nine kilometers from the city of Houmt Souk, there is an international airport Djerba-Zazris, which receives regular and charter flights. From the airport, you can get to the city by resorting to the services of public passenger transport, ordering a taxi or renting a car. Going to the city of Houmt Souk by land transport from Tunisia, you will first have to cross the famous Roman road connecting the island and the mainland, and then follow one of the main highways of Djerba.

Houmt Souk is a city located on the island of Djerba in Tunisia. Washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Climate: Mediterranean, mild. The average temperature in July is +28 degrees.

Transport

The city has a developed ferry and bus service. In general, you can move around the territory on foot.

Attractions

In the labyrinths of the old city, you can see 3 mosques: Eh Sheikh, Jamaa el-Gorba, Jamaa Ettruk. Also noteworthy is the exposition of the local history museum, which presents jewelry, traditional clothes of local residents, samples of ceramics and wood carvings.

Entertainment

As entertainment, you can advise to visit golf clubs, discos, bars, go on an excursion.

Hotels

In local hotels there are all conditions for a good rest. On their territory there are shops, fitness centers, nightclubs, restaurants, beauty salons, swimming pools, saunas.

Restaurants

In restaurants, you will be offered to try dishes from fish and meat, as well as treat you with palm milk, desserts from honey and dates, cactus fruits, green tea with mint.

The shops

In the center of Houmt Souk there is a market square where you can buy jewelry, exotic souvenirs, cosmetics, fruits and other goods. You can and should trade.

Houmt Souk is the largest city on the island of Djerba.
Almost half of all the inhabitants of the island live here, and this is no less than 65 thousand people. By local standards Dzherbinsky just a metropolis!
We were brought here literally for an hour so that we could walk around on our own and assess the level of security probably. :)
One way or another, the main attraction here is the market or, in other words, "bough", from which the name of the whole city came. Initially, people simply gathered here and bought and sold their goods to each other. Fishermen brought fish, potters brought their pots, olive oil producers brought oil, in general, just a bazaar. Professional merchants began to settle right next to the market, and the city was formed. Since the main thing in the city is the bazaar, then we’ll start with it, and then we’ll see what else there will be time for.

The weather that day was not too bright, so all the shots in the series are a little muted, without much contrast and bright details.

One of the entrances to the market. The photo shows a person whom I naively did not immediately send nafig! It was necessary not to be modest and not waste time on him, he dragged us to some kind of shop with all sorts of rubbish, when I said that it was all shit, he got a little upset and offered to go to another one, which 5 minutes before him showed us another similar caller. In general, don’t get fooled by him, but send nafig right away, they won’t be offended much, they have such a job. :)

2.

Something thermonuclear and supposedly sweet in appearance. They didn't try. In general, I am rather wary of the markets and do not really like them, to be honest. If it wasn’t for this excursion, I wouldn’t go for anything, but they say it’s necessary and the blogger dutifully goes. :)

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In the market, all the traders for the most part are positive and generally surprising, but almost no one was embarrassed by overseas citizens with cameras, everyone acted either as if we were not there, or showed hospitality, tried to treat or sell something. Not any aggression, although stereotypically and subconsciously I do not really trust the Arabs, here you begin to relax.

4.

Wow what a melon, small but delicious! :)

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These sellers are clearly not up to us, they are busy on their phones, they are probably testing new Sberbankonline services. P2P transfers are made without commission. :)

6.

We came to the national office of fish.

They have a fish auction here. What a joke they told us, but at that moment I was filming something and only journalists recorded recordings on a dictaphone that they would never decipher. :)

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While you get to the auctioneers, you can see quite a few serious fish. Everyone wants to try! (Looking ahead, I’ll say that after that we went to a fish restaurant, where we tasted excellent local fish. I didn’t shoot there, because I was very hungry.)

8.

The actual auction. They talk, they show each other fish.
It looks just like a decoration or a tribute to tradition, but everyone behaves around seriously, no one smiles. Probably those are the rules.

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After such a grain as in the photo above, it is not clear why this little thing is so valuable that an auction should be held with it?

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A bunch of heels goes to the gentleman in the front row!

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Other sellers are doing well without an auction.

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We run away from the fish market, sniffing and drooling over probably very tasty fresh fish.

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The market is universal, you can buy almost everything here. In general, everything is like ours, only people are different.

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Rows with live birds and delicious rabbits. Stroked and you can eat. 100% freshness guaranteed! :)

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If you don't like rabbits, buy toys.

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Or transform into some kind of Berber under the skillful hands of a black cloth spinner. I barely escaped from them, I thought he would strangle me and took a death selfie with a trembling hand. :)

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It's time to leave one market to get into the next one.

18.

Oh gods, no, we literally escaped from the world of ceramics half an hour ago, and here he is again.
Everything is the same as in Gellala, but at least two times cheaper and people are ready to bargain...

19.

After leaving the second market, we just walk along the streets and take pictures right and left without any system. You know what it's like to walk around the city without a map and a plan.
Of course, there was some kind of map in the smartphone, but there was definitely no plan. The guide told us only about the market...

20.

The number of women driving transport in Houmt-souk and in general on Djerba caused some surprise. It seems such a masculine country and women, although after a woman minister one could assume such a thing.

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The street is almost typical. The wealth of North Africa is completely invisible on it.

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Something from the dough must be very sweet and tasty.

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One of the mosques of Houmt Souk. They didn't go inside. The place is clearly not a tourist one, but all sorts of passions are told about Muslims, you should not provoke it. Previously, Christians were so bold and they will pass with time.

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Beautiful car park, a real reserve of old French cars.

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There are also German remnants of course, but the French are beyond competition! :)

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Thirst for life.

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Do you know that the flag of Tunisia is almost like the flag of Turkey, only the crescent and star are not white, but in a white circle in the middle of a red cloth?

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It looks like we have returned to the market quarters again, only here there are not stalls, but shops with all sorts of differences very similar to souvenir ones.

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Although there is no direct sunlight, it shoots quite decently from the sky, the shadow does not really save.

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There is a shop in every doorway. You can wander and get lost.

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Lost - eat!

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Or buy Aladdin's lamp and summon a genie!

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100% travel store.

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As much as I don't like it when everything is stripped, but here it is quite harmonious, in an oriental way, it does not smell of Africa at all. Or is it not Africa at all?

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The inscriptions in Arabic tell us: you guys are in the Middle East! :)

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And I want to escape already to the bus and time is running out, but we can’t find a way out, everything seems the same.

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Attractive shop, it's very good that I decided to fly without luggage and money, I only have 10 dinars with me. I won’t buy any rubbish, I’ll look at the photo and that’s enough.

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In one place, I could not resist, I decided to look at the bag, it was not necessary. Spent 10 minutes talking to a salesperson who didn't know how to sell it to me. It cost 150 dinars, and I had 10 times less, he did not know how wrong I was Russian and bargained almost with himself, dropping and dropping the price, offering me to name my own. :)

43.

Tell me, is it possible to buy everything that you like? In my opinion, it's easier to give yourself the installation not to buy anything. No one ever dreamed of any souvenirs, if you bring them, people will put them on the shelf at best, and at worst, they will throw them away immediately after you leave and do the right thing. Who needs other people's impressions?

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How do you like the cell? She is gorgeous in my opinion!

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The sense of beauty did not leave the people of Dzherbin with the departure of the French.

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It is not necessary to stay in hotels on an all-inclusive basis, you can certainly stay in such hotels near the market. It will be much cheaper and more unusual, but who among our tourists would agree to this?

47.

We made another circle and went to the bus. So it's time to leave. No one was left on this bitch, everyone returned safe and sound, the capital of Djerba passed the security check by a group of Russian journalists and bloggers.

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A couple of photos of spontaneous markets from the bus window. The widest range!

49.

The prices are certainly very attractive. :)

50.

Citizens, give me a lift to the city? Such a heat, and you are wrapped up for nothing, well, is it really so good that in winter it will be +20, wrap yourself in fluff? :)

51.

This concludes the story of Houmt-Suk. Write letters and ask questions in the comments, but for now I’ll go look for something from the photos of Dagestan or I’ll rummage around in Djerba, we were there for 4 whole days, and this is at least later for a month of stories, and it’s already the third one, but the photos are still there are unpublished and interesting ones, trust me! :)

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Thank you for your attention!