Ruspina Hotel

Great Mosque

by Willettsworld

Next door to the Ribat lies the Grand Mosque which was built in the 9th century by the Aghlabids and enlarged by the Zirids in the 11th century. The columns supporting the arches were salvaged from the ruins of ancient Ruspina.

Monastir

by olja1234

Some History Data
It was founded in 1st millennium BCE by Phoenicians. They called it Rous Penna
When Romans took control in 146, they renames the town Ruspina
Later, it serves as the headquater of Caesar.
In 796 CE a ribat, a seaside fortress is established there.
In 16th century, the Ottomans established a stronghold .
In 1956 with the Tunisian independence and after leadership of the first presudent Bourguiba a town Monastir launched out a grand modernization program.

Monastir

by Willettsworld

I first came to Monastir with my parents back in 1989 for a weeks holiday and came again as part of a 10 day winter tour around northern Tunisia as a day trip from Sousse. I didn't remember much of the town except for the two octagonal pavillions at the entrance to the Mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba which was closed to visitors back then as Tunisia's first president, who was born in Monastir, died in 2000.

Like most of Tunisia, Monastir's history goes back a fair bit. The Phoenicians established a trading station named Rous Penna on this strategic site, and under the Romans this became the town of Ruspina. During the civil war with Pompeii (49-46 B.C.) Caesar made this his headquarters in North Africa and surrounded it with a triple ring of walls. When the Arabs established a chain of fortified monasteries along the North African coast in the 8th century they recognised the strategic value of this site at the tip of the peninsula and built the famous Ribat from which the town takes its name (Greek - Monasterion). Today the town is at the eastern end of a huge tourist area that streches for miles along the Gulf of Hammamet to Sousse.

Monastir

by cheekymarieh

"Where The Heart Is"

The city of Monastir was built on the Punic-Roman city of Ruspina, location of the 46BC Battle of Ruspina. Much of the ancient walls of the city date back to the 9th century. As well as the medina there is the prominantly placed Ribat, close to the sea and now looking out towards the marina complex. Now there is a blend of old and new in this former fishing harbour.

Monastir was named after a monastery was built here in 797BC by an Islamic religious order of monks. The city gained more prominance after Habib Bourguiba became president of the country. He was born here on the 3rd August 1903.

Goegraphically it is located on the Mediterranean Sea 165km south of the capital Tunis, 80km east of Kairouan and 25km down the coast from Sousse.

All around the city there are now reminders of the former president of the country.