Kairouan
Kairouan is North Africa's oldest Islamic city, founded in the 7th century, and home to the Great Mosque, reputed to be the oldest mosque in Africa. UNESCO inscribed the city in 1988. Most of our journeys sleep here, usually at La Kasbah, on the road south.
- Time on our journeys
- One night
- Region
- Kairouan
- UNESCO World Heritage
- The city of Kairouan was inscribed in 1988.
- On our journeys
- Five of our six private journeys
Visiting Kairouan
Kairouan was founded and developed during early Islamic times and is North Africa's oldest Islamic city. It became an important centre of Islamic scholarship and culture. It lay on the caravan routes, which gave it a base for a flourishing crafts industry, and the region is still the base for much of Tunisia's craft industry, particularly rugs and textiles.
The Great Mosque, also known as the Mosque of Uqba, was founded in 670 AD under the Umayyad Caliphate, and our sheets describe it as reputed to be the oldest mosque in Africa. It is one of the oldest and most significant examples of early Islamic architecture in North Africa. It has a large hypostyle hall, supported by numerous columns, a layout that influenced later mosques across the Islamic world, and a minaret that is one of the oldest surviving in the Islamic world. The interior carries geometric patterns and calligraphy, with work in stucco, marble and wood, and the mosque stands at the heart of the old city.
The medina is the other reason to stay. Its back alleys are narrow and maze-like, lined with colourful houses, and the skyline is thin minarets and bulky domes. Our guide to Tunisia lists the Aghlabid Basins, the Mausoleum of Sidi Sahab, the Museum of Islamic Art, the tower of the Barber's Mosque, the Friday market and the old well of Bir Barouta among the places to see.
On our programmes Kairouan is a night stop on the road south, at La Kasbah, or similar. Some journeys arrive from Dougga and one from Sbeitla. The next morning the road continues to El Djem on the seven day and archaeological journeys, and south west to Sbeitla and Tozeur on the eight, ten and eleven day journeys.
What to see
- The Great Mosque of Kairouan
- The Aghlabid Basins
- The back alleys of the medina
- The Mausoleum of Sidi Sahab
- The Museum of Islamic Art
- The tower of the Barber's Mosque
- The Friday market
- The old well of Bir Barouta
Journeys that include Kairouan
Five of our seven journeys visit Kairouan. The day by day, the hotels and the price are on each journey's own page.
- Carthage, Kairouan and the Coast7 days, 6 nights. Reached on day 3, with a night here.$1,950 a person, double occupancy
- From Carthage to Kairouan7 days, 6 nights. Reached on day 4, with a night here.$2,190 a person, double occupancy
- The Splendors of Tunisia8 days, 7 nights. Reached on day 3, with a night here.$2,190 a person, double occupancy
- Tunisia's Marvels10 days, 9 nights. Reached on day 4, with a night here.$2,550 a person, double occupancy
- The Wonders of Tunisia11 days, 10 nights. Reached on day 4, with a night here.$3,150 a person, double occupancy
Along the way in Kairouan
North Africa's oldest Islamic city, and a mosque reputed to be the oldest on the continent.
KairouanYou are here. One night.
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