Sights of Djerba Island (Tunisia) - what to see

Excursions and attractions on the island Djerba

Frankly speaking, Djerba Island is not the center of attractions Tunisia. There are some interesting places on the island, but they cannot be called grandiose sights, but rather described as places that can be visited so as not to die of boredom on the island in between beach holidays. All of them can be inspected in 1-2 days. The easiest way to do this is as part of excursions offered by guides in hotels (prices, by the way, are not that low). But if you are ready to move around the island on your own by rented transport or taxi, you can get much more pleasure from a thoughtful and unhurried acquaintance with local attractions.

Usually hotel guides offer the following standard excursions to guests of the island:

• A trip on a "pirate" ship to one of the nearby islands
• Crocodile Farm
• A trip to the Sahara (different duration in time, but not more than 3 days)
• Sightseeing tour ($20 per person). This usually includes an inspection of the Roman road, a visit to the Guellala Museum in the village of the same name, the El Ghriba synagogue, the capital of the island, the city of Houmt Souk. They are additionally delivered to shops and shops along the route

Houmt-Souk

A large number of attractions are concentrated in the capital of the island – Humt Suk, which is located in the north of the island. The town consists of low clay houses whitewashed with white lime with blue platbands and doors. Here it will be interesting to walk along the shopping streets with many shops, shops, markets where you can buy souvenirs and relax in a cafe or restaurant. There are three mosques in the labyrinths of the city: Djemaa el-Gorba (for followers of Malekism), Eh Sheikh (the main mosque of the Ibadites) and Djemaa Ettrouk (Turkish mosque). There are also several interesting monuments and museums in the city.

The city itself is very often visited by tourists to walk in it, have fun and buy souvenirs. In general, there is something to see here.

Houmt-Souk city on the map of Djerba

Fortress Borj El Kebir (Borj El Kebir or Big Fortress) or Borj Gazi Mustafa

The fortress of Borj el-Kebir ("big tower") is located on the coast near the town of Houmt Souk, next to the port. It was built in 1284 and served as a defensive fortification against invaders: Normans, Spaniards. In 1560, during a fierce battle with the Spaniards, the fort was captured by Turkish troops led by Dragut. In 1567 the fort was rebuilt. The construction was carried out under the leadership of Gazhi Mustafa (according to some sources, he was the successor of Dragut), from where the second name of the fort was subsequently fixed, as the fortress of Borj Gazhi Mustafa. The fortress has a rectangular shape with powerful stone walls 4 meters thick, surrounded by a moat around the perimeter, at the depth of which one can see the remains of the original fortress of the 13th century and fairly rusted cannons and cannonballs to them. There are no exhibits inside the building. The fortress does not represent anything special, however, it is one of the main attractions of the island.

🕐Working hours: from September to March - 9.30 – 16.30, from April to August - 8.00 – 19.00, Friday is a day off.

Entrance fee / tickets price: 4 Tunisian dinars (Tunisian currency, exchange rate)

🚶 How to get there: Fortress Borj el-Kebir on the map of Djerba

Borj el-Rous

Near the fort of Borj el-Kebir there is an obelisk erected in memory of the former tower of Borj el-Rus on this site. The tower, in turn, served as a reminder of the victory of the Turks in the battle with the Spanish soldiers. In 1560, the fortress of Borj el-Kebir was captured by Turkish troops during a long siege. A lot of warriors died. In honor of his victory, the Turkish commander Dragut ordered to "build" a kind of pyramid from the heads of the defeated Spaniards, called the Borj el-Rus Tower, which stood from 1560 to 1848. Later, an obelisk was erected on this site, the remains of the soldiers were buried in a Christian cemetery.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

Where is it located: on the beach, opposite the fort Borj el Kebir.

El Ghriba Synagogue

The main attraction of the island is the ancient synagogue of El Ghriba (built in the 6th century BC), which is a place of worship for Jews from all over the world, located in the village of Riyadh (Er Riadh) (formerly called Hara Segira or Hara Segira) 7 km southwest of the capital. It is the oldest on the African continent and one of the oldest in the world. According to one of the legends of the formation of the synagogue is the legend of a beautiful girl named Mushroom, who died in the fire, however, her body was not touched by the fire, people took her for a saint and erected a synagogue at the place of death. The synagogue contains the oldest Torah scrolls (hidden from visitors), and one of the authors of the Talmud is also buried here. The building has been repeatedly restored and rebuilt. The synagogue has been repeatedly attacked. So, in 1985, during a holiday on the occasion of the beginning of a new cycle of reading the Torah, one of the policemen opened fire on a crowd of people, resulting in the death of three people, including one child. In 2002, a truck with explosives was blown up near the walls of the synagogue, killing 21 people, 14 of whom were German tourists. Al–Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack. To date, only part of the walls have been preserved, the new building was erected in 1920. The entrance to the synagogue is through an arched gate. There is a hotel for pilgrims and synagogue attendants on the territory. The room where the services are held directly has a rectangular shape, the walls are decorated with a mosaic with a blue pattern and different patterns. The main room is conditionally divided into parts by means of installed columns connected to arched vaults. You can sit down on the benches available here.

It is strictly forbidden in the synagogue:

• both women and men can enter without a covered head (scarves or bales are issued at the entrance)
• photographing worshippers
• visit her in open clothes: shorts, tracksuit, short skirt

🚶 How to get there: El Ghriba Synagogue on the map of Djerba

Djerba Explore or Djerba Heritage Museum and Entertainment Complex

It is located in the east of the island, a few kilometers from the coast, in the vicinity of Midun. The complex includes 3 zones. A single ticket worth 12 dinars is sold for access to all three zones:

1. Ethnographic Museum of Lalla Hadria (Lalla Hadria Museum). The Museum of Arab-Islamic Culture of the VII-XIX centuries consists of 15 exhibition halls. It will introduce you to the history and culture of Tunisia. The expositions feature products made of clay, metal, wood, traditional types of clothing and more.
2. Djerba Explore Park, where the traditional dwelling of the islanders – menzel - is recreated on the territory of the park. This is a whitewashed house with clay walls, it is divided into rooms in which household items and utensils are collected. There are also weaving and pottery workshops here. And a camel pumping water from a well will not leave anyone indifferent, because you can pet it and take a picture with it (for a fee)
3. Crocodile farm. The crocodile farm is the largest in the Mediterranean region. It is home to more than 400 individuals of different species and ages from Africa and Madagascar. Most of the individuals are real Nile crocodiles. You will be able to observe the life of reptiles from special bridges, and even feed yourself in the summer (after 16.00 h.). Egg clutches can be seen in the incubator. And in smaller pools to look at young crocodiles. The farm is open all year round, from April to September from 9:00 to 20:00; from October to March from 9:00 to 18:00. In addition, there are souvenir shops and cafes throughout the complex.

🚶 How to get there: Djerba Explore Museum and Entertainment complex on the map of Djerba

Jewish settlements

Of particular interest to pilgrims and tourists are the villages of Es-Suani, formerly Hara Kbira, and Riyadh, formerly Hara Seghira, where Jews have long lived. It is not known how and when the Jews got to the island. According to one version, after their conquest and expulsion from Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in the 6th century BC and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the main Jewish shrine, according to another, in 70 AD, Roman troops destroyed the city of Jerusalem and burned the Temple, and this was the beginning of the settlement of Jews around the world.

Es-Suani is home to a large part of the Jewish population, there is a large Jewish cemetery, a synagogue and several jewelry workshops that produce their silver and gold products in the old style.

🚶 How to get there: The Jewish settlement of Riyadh on the map of Djerba

Musee de Guellala

In the village of Guellala (Guellala), which itself is famous for pottery, the manufacture of various kinds of dishes from clay, there is a museum of ethnography. Here you can see the historical stages of the development of the Tunisian people. Its customs and traditions, wedding ceremonies, holidays on the occasion of the birth of a child or circumcision. Among the exhibits of the museum are the utensils and household items of Tunisians. The museum is perfectly located on a hill, from where you can see the surrounding landscapes of the island.

🚶 How to get there: Ethnographic Museum of Guellala on the map of Djerba

Ajim

Ajim village is the main fishing port of the island. Djerba is located in the south-west of the island. From here you can reach the mainland by ferry in just 10-15 minutes. The place is famous as a place for catching sea sponges, which, by the way, are used to cleanse the skin during cosmetic procedures. If you wish, you can go here and observe firsthand how the sponges are caught. In the evenings, octopuses are caught here, using large clay jugs as a trap.

One more fact: the scenery for the filming of the first part of Star Wars has been preserved in the village, so tourist groups are very often brought here.

🚶 How to get there: The village of Ajim on the map about. Djerba

Roman Road

An embankment Roman road connects the island with the mainland. Its length is more than six kilometers. Now this road is used for motor transport and it is possible to get to the island by bus or rented transport. But it is interesting because it was built by the Romans, who, according to one version, flooded ships at this place in order to build it, and then covered them with stones and sand.

Frankly speaking, this is a dubious attraction, since at present it is simply a paved highway. However, tourists are persistently brought there during sightseeing tours.

🚶 How to get there: Roman road on the map about. Djerba

Local History Museum

Not far from the fortress of Borj el-Kebir there is a museum of local lore. Among the exhibits of the museum there are also traditional folk clothes, ceramics and wood products, precious stones and handicrafts.