Hotel Dakyanus

Tataouine's former convicts prison

by mariev

Well, not exacly favourite (but moving when you come to think about all those who suffered here)...

Tataouine's reputation outside Tunisia is mainly due to the presence of a former military convicts prison.
During the french colonial period, Tataouine hosted the "Bataillon disciplinaire de la Légion Etrangère" quarterings.
Now, the remaining infrastructures - a fortress type building - standing alone on a hill, are used by the Tunisian army.

Tataouine

by croisbeauty

Tataouine is what I call "bogu iza nogu" place and I'll never find out why we got here, a pure waste of time. It is ugly small town with ugly architecture and equally ugly people. Besides, the locals are very rude, unpolite and unfriendly. There is no doubt, it was my worst experience in whole of Tunisia.

Just a normal little town

by mariev

When speaking of Tataouine, most people think convicts, stones,unbearable heath...

When we arrived in the town of Tataouine, the first shocking idea that came to my mind was "But, that's a perfectly NORMAL little town !"

Tataouine presents the typical architecture of south Tunisia ; low white houses around a market place, narrow streets to preserve what little shade is available.

In Tunisia, Tataouine is renown for it's spices market and it's highly sylized (and superb) carpets.

The town becomes more animated on mondays and tuesdays when the market takes place.

The other days, life flees slowly and peacefully under the burning sun.

Tataouine & Ksar Haddada

by croisbeauty

"Sidi Mosbah"

The desert area of southern Tunisia is pretty much different then one I saw last year in area of Douz. The sand is of dark yellow colour which is changing under the poor light conditions becaming almost red. The vegetation is also poor and the fact that surprised me the most, there are no palm trees here.

"Ksar Haddada"

Since Ksar Haddada isn't listed VT destination, I had to put it under this page. More pictures you can find under Off the beaten path tips.