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Kairouan Essentials

Founded in 670 AD, Kairouan is one of Islam's holiest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This collection highlights the Great Mosque of Uqba, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, and the 9th-century Aghlabid Basins, an ancient hydraulic feat. The list explores the intricate tilework of the Zaouia of Sidi Sahabi, the sacred Barrouta Well, and the National Museum of Islamic Art at Raqqada. These sites showcase Kairouan's legacy as a historic center of religious scholarship and North African architectural innovation.

Kairouan Essentials – Mapa

damian entwistle / CC BY 2.0

A

Great Mosque of Kairouan

The Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as the Mosque of Uqba, is a mosque situated in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Kairouan, Tunisia…

B

Alqyrwan

A UNESCO World Heritage site encompassing a dense network of narrow streets, traditional souks, and defensive walls. It remains a remarkably preserved example of early Arab-Muslim urban planning and architecture.

C

Zaouia of Sidi Sahabi

Known as the Mosque of the Barber, this complex houses the tomb of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. It is renowned for its 17th-century decorative tilework, intricate plaster carvings, and peaceful courtyards.

D

فسقيات الأغالبة

These 9th-century open-air reservoirs represent a major feat of medieval hydraulic engineering. Originally a series of 15 basins, they were designed to collect and store water for the city via a 36-kilometer aqueduct.

E

Barrouta Well

Located in the heart of the Medina, this 17th-century building houses a sacred well. A camel-driven noria (waterwheel) is used to draw water, which local tradition links to the holy Zamzam well in Mecca.

IssamBarhoumi / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Three Doors Mosque

The Mosque of the Three Doors or Mosque of Muhammad ibn Khairun is a mosque In the city of Kairouan, Tunisia.

G

Sidi Abid el-Ghariani Zaouia

A 14th-century funerary complex and madrasa featuring a courtyard with black-and-white marble arches. It serves as the burial place for a prominent local saint and was once a center for the Shadhiliyya Sufi order.

H

Bab ech Chouhada

Also known as the Gate of Martyrs, this 20th-century reconstruction of an older gate serves as a primary entrance to the southern Medina, characterized by its traditional horseshoe arch and stone masonry.

I

Rakada Palace Museum

Located on a former Aghlabid palace site, this museum displays significant Islamic art, including rare 9th-century ceramics, ancient coins, and parchment fragments from the famous 10th-century Blue Quran.

J

Bab Tunis

The 'Tunis Gate' is a fortified entrance in the northern city walls dating to the 18th century. It marks the historic departure point for the road leading toward the capital.