Medenine Things to Do

The "ksour" (plural of "ksar") found in the southern part of Tunisia have always a part built in ghorfas. This is now where you will the most easily see "ghorfas" as I am not sure that those shown on these pictures, taken a few years ago, are still existing.

The "ghorfas".can be built on several levels, sometimes up to 4 levels though 2 or 3 are more common. As Médenine is a main hub, with a lot of trade, there were close to 6,000 of what was called "mouth of darkness"

Coming from the North of Tunisia, it is in Médenine that you find the first "ghorfas". Ghorfas are cereal attics. They are built mostly with clay and strengthen with a few stones as narrow cells, each the shape of a tunnel.

You'll find the ghorfas, storage houses for grain, of two kinds. The smaller ones are situated around the market square. The souvenir and carpet shops in and around them add some coulours. They are least impressive. More impressive are the extremely well kept bigger ones in and around the town. They are still in use and some of them are even transformed into a hotel. On sundays Medinine has also a colourful fruit and vegetable market, where it is great strolling.

In the older part of town visit the ghorfas, even if now they are only used as a tourist attraction. Ghorfas are berber arched three-storey high constructions made from mud and stone, where grain and wheat used to be stored. The one in Medenine isvery well preserved and look like a giant beehive.