Kasbah Mosque, Tunis

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This large modern looking square was the location of the city's Kasbah which was destroyed by the French in 1883. All that remains from before the French is the Kasbah Mosque. The square is paved with local granite and is home to the National Monument and the city's modern municipal building.

This is all that remains of the Kasbah that was destroyed by the French in 1883. The mosque dates from 1235 and features a minaret that pays tribute to the Moroccan style as it was built by the Hafsids who had links with the Almohad strand of Islam. As you can tell by the picture, the minaret was being renovated when I visited and the mosque was closed.

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On Place du Kasbah, just beyond the place du Gouvernement in the west of the medina you can see some of the oldest and newest Tunisian architecture. This area is home to many government departments, including the prime minister's office. Not surprisingly, many buildings here are off limits and there are plenty of armed security guards in the area.

The largest building on the square is the modern municipal building on the west side which has a modern sculpture at its entrance and at least 10 Tunisian flags on its exterior.

The distinctive Sadiki College, with its twin domes and whitewashed façade. is at the north end of the square. This is the most prestigious college in Tunisia and many illustrious Tunisians, such as Bourguiba, were educated here.

The most impressive building is the Kasbah Mosque to the south. This is one of the few remaining parts of the large Kasbah which stood here during the Hafsids reign in medieval times. The mosque dates from the 13th century and has been used as a model for many other mosques in Tunisia. Much of the rest of the Kasbah has been taken over by government buildings.

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Kasbah - the citadel town built in 12th century (by Almohdas) as a part of the fortification system. Kasbah spread over 8 hectares and included a mosque, palace, administrative buildings and barracks. Further reconstructured in Hafsid times and later in the Turkish period. Knocked over in the late 50s.

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Place de la Kasbah (Kasbah Plaza) is located just outside the medina, next to the Place du gouvernement. As we had spent our day wandering through the medina, we found it was a welcome break from narrow alleys and overzealous merchants.

Place de la Kasbah is also where you will find the Kasbah Mosque and Tunis city hall, as well as several government impressive buildings which cannot be photographed (as some soldiers were so kind to remind me).