Travel guide Tunisia

The bab, door in Arabic, designates in particular the accesses by which one penetrates in the medina (the old Arab city, as opposed to the city of more recent construction). The bab often give their name to the surrounding districts. The gates of the desert are also generally represented by a bab before the first dunes.

Dar Miloud, Dar Said... the dar is the house in Arabic, the house Miloud, the house Said, etc.. A primordial term in a region where the family, which holds a capital importance, is often defined in relation to its home. The emergence of guest houses, often called Dar, makes the term resurface in favor of this new form of hotel.

No camels in Tunisia, but dromedaries. Resistant to desert conditions, the herbivorous animal has been exploited for thousands of years by nomads for its endurance, its skin, its meat and its milk. Nowadays appreciated by tourists, it is still very common in the South. Majestic and intelligent, it deserves to be (better) known!

Of all the countries in North Africa, Tunisia is one of those where women enjoy more freedom: gender equality, the right to divorce, abolition of polygamy, etc. Started under Bourguiba, the liberation of women continues to be confirmed. In rural areas and in family life, the reality can however be more nuanced.

An important component of the Islamic world, the hammam is intended for the purification of the believer and his hygiene. This place also has a social function. One goes there to wash, of course, but also to meet and exchange the latest news. As the signs are not easy to read, it is better to ask Tunisians where to find them.

It is the national flower, men and women wear it at any time of the day. The flower is worn on the ear or held between the lips... In jasmine are the words yas (despair) and min (lie): the perfume of the jasmine prevails over all the other flowers, it would be it that the adulterous husbands offered formerly to their mistresses...

A legacy of the Roman era, Tunisia boasts one of the finest collections of mosaics in the world. This art form juxtaposes square fragments of stone and marble (called tesserae), to reproduce scenes of daily life, hunting, mythology... Works to be admired at the Bardo Museum or on ancient sites such as Bulla Regia.

Oasis crops are structured on three levels to obtain a multitude of fruits and vegetables. On the first level, the highest: date palms. Just below, the fruit trees: pomegranate, orange and banana trees. On the ground, finally, the low crops: carrots, turnips, salads, peppers... A real paradise for the eyes!

In oil, on plates, used to name places, zeitoun are everywhere! And with tabouna, these traditional breads, they constitute a meal by themselves. The cultivation of olive trees dates back to the Phoenician era and was developed by the Romans. The olive tree occupies about two thirds of the country's tree surface.

The popular protest movements led to the fall of Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. The Tunisian revolution that put an end to the dictatorship, with the slogan Get out, will be followed by other peoples of the Arab world, it is the beginning of the Arab Spring. Today, the revolutionaries are not satisfied with the current policy in Tunisia.

Traveling during Ramadan is an experience. It is a month of fasting, which follows the lunar calendar. There is an unusual atmosphere. With deserted shops, the days are stretched out waiting for the meal at sunset. But the nights are restless and the cities come alive. Out of respect, avoid drinking or eating in public.

Mint tea is drunk according to a precise ceremony and is often accompanied by tasty grilled pine nuts. A delicacy not to be refused under any circumstances, politeness obliges. Tunisians are also great consumers of coffee that they enjoy on the terrace. Direct, coffee cream, express or other Turkish coffee: you will be spoilt for choice!