Medina of Tunis (Tunisia)

Historic building attributes

"Under the Almohads and the Hafsids, from the 12th to the 16th century, Tunis was considered one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the Arab world. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, new powers endowed the city with numerous palaces and residences, great mosques, zaouias and madrasas."

World Heritage Committee, 34th session, Document WHC-10/34.COM/8E 

The Medina contains over 80 listed monuments, including religious monuments, mosques such as Al-zaytouna Mosque, the Kasbah and Youssef Dey, and mausoleums such as Tourbet el Bey; palaces and noble houses such as Dar el-Bey, Dar Hussein, Dar Ben Abdallah and Dar Lasram; educational institutions, including medrasahs such as Es- Slimanya and El-Mouradia, and the Zaouia of Sidi Mehrez, and government buildings such as the El Attarine military barracks. 

Minaret and mosque of Sidi Yousef © Citizen59, CC-BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia

Madrasa Es-Slimanya © Sami Mlouhi, CC-BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia

Funerary hall, Tourbet El Bey mausoleum. © Jean-Pierre Dalbéra CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Skyline of Tunis, with the Al-Zaytouna Mosque in the foreground © Uta Scholl / Shutterstock.com *

Traditional dwellings

The courtyard house is a common model for domestic architecture in North Africa and the Middle East. The Medina of Tunis courtyard houses follow a similar typology to other historical Islamic cities, adapted to local traditions, construction materials and environmental factors. Their plan is introverted, with rooms looking towards the central open space, which provides privacy and comfort.

Attributes of urban elements

The Medina of Tunis is one of the first Arabo-Muslim towns of the Maghreb (698 A.D.). Capital of several universally influential dynasties, it bears witness to the interaction between architecture, urbanism and the effects of socio-cultural and economic changes of earlier cultures". The relay role played by the Medina of Tunis between the Maghreb, Southern Europe and the East encouraged exchanges of influences in the field of the arts and architecture over many centuries. As an important city and capital of different dynasties, the Medina of Tunis offers an exceptional testimony of the civilisations of Ifriqiya from the 10th century onwards. 

The Medina of Tunis is a representative example of the North-African Islamic city typology. Historic centres of traditional North-African cities are known as Medina (city, in Arabic). Medinas are typically surrounded by thick city walls with gates. Inside, courtyard buildings two to three stories high are closely placed together. This homogeneous landscape is punctuated by minarets, which rise above narrow lanes and twisting streets. Streets and courtyards remain cool and shaded during the summer heat.

The narrow streets of the Medina are often covered by sabats, structures bridging over the street. © UNESCO / Carlota Marijuan Rodriguez, based on a photograph by Voyager avec JiCeGe.

The minarets stand out amongst the courtyard houses of uniform heights © UNESCO / Carlota Marijuan Rodriguez, based on a Facebook post by @Tunisia.Architecture.

The World Heritage property includes the 8th-century Medina and the 13th Century neighbourhoods to the North and South and some 700 historical monuments. The Medina, as an ensemble, has conserved the integrity of its urban fabric with all its typo-morphological components, including:

• Dense urban settlement pattern with narrow, twisting streets.
• Residential quarters of uniform height, following a similar dwelling typology of middle-height courtyard buildings.
• Remains of city walls, including gates of Bab-Jedid and Bab El-Bhar.
• Markets such as the Souq el-Attarine and Souq ech-Chaouachia.

Ancient city gate of Bab El-Bhar © Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.com

Souq El-Attarine © Selma Jmii, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia

Intangible heritage values

The Medina of Tunis "bears witness to the interaction between architecture, urbanism and the effects of socio-cultural and economic changes of earlier cultures" (SOUV) and developed an influence in the development of the arts in the Islamic context. The World Heritage Nomination Dossier 36 (1979) indicates that traditional trading activities took place in the Medina, a social and economic practice threatened by competition from other parts of the city. 

The Medina of Tunis, a city of festivals

Contribution by Mr Montassar Jmour, site manager, “Medina of Tunis”

During Ramadan, the palaces and cultural centres of the medina open their doors for concerts, recitals and various shows. Evenings of tarab theatrical dance, music with a religious connotation (Sufi, gospel...), Arabic or Andalusian music continue the ancestral traditions and bring to the attention of the public the budding talents of tomorrow. The shows are developed by artists. The festivals include a diversity of rhythms and music, bringing together local residents to recharge their batteries and remember that the heart of the city is also part of their own heart. 

In the heart of the Medina, a melting pot of civilisations, the Ramadan festival brings together more than fifty Arab, African and European artists, with innovative art installations that change over the course of the editions.

The residents of the medina join the cultural events, which have become "their" events as they take place on their territory. Residents have free access to all cultural festivals, and are often involved in the organization of the events.

Amongst other objectives, the festivals aim to highlight the artisanal, historical, geographical and cultural heritage of Tunis while promote the Medina as a tourist destination.  

This celebration has become an important tourist attraction thanks to its uniqueness and originality rich in light and colour. It brings new life and rhythms to the Medina, making residents and visitors alike enjoy its rich heritage.

Musical performance at the "Medersa El Slimanya" as part of the festival "Slimanya's Nights" © Montassar JMOUR / National Heritage Institute.

Young Tunisian urban dancers at Beb Bhar Square, as part of the "Dream City" festival © Pol Guillard / National Heritage Institute *

Concert "Dar Lasram", as part of the Medina festival © Montassar JMOUR / National Heritage Institute

Art installation "Métamorphose #2" by Essia Jaib at palace Dribet Dar Hussein © Pol Guillard *