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اكْ تِشاف découverte I discovery I<br />
envies<br />
wishlist<br />
رغباتنا<br />
3 4 5<br />
Sidi Bou Saïd, timeless city<br />
Typical village, perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Tunis, Sidi Bou Saïd<br />
is one of the most beautiful sites in Tunisia. It owes its international reputation<br />
to English baron Rodolphe d’Erlanger who settled there in 1912 and had a<br />
sumptuous palace built. A real paradise in the heart of the Mediterranean where<br />
a magnificent marina, cafés full of delights and winding streets lined with blue<br />
and white houses mingle with landscapes blooming with luxurious flora. It takes<br />
more than a lifetime to discover all its treasures.<br />
Its history<br />
Sidi Bou Saïd is located in the chic suburbs of Tunis,<br />
capital of Tunisia. This old village of marabouts was<br />
once dedicated to religion. In 1207, a mystic named<br />
Abou Saïd Khalafa ben Yahia settled down to develop<br />
Sufism. Death made him a saint and the hill of Sidi<br />
Bou Saïd became a place of spirituality. Once a quiet<br />
fishing village, it will become internationally renowned<br />
thanks to the famous Baron d’Erlanger and the<br />
edification in 1912 of his splendid palace. Music buff,<br />
he opened his door to various artists by organising<br />
meetings and evenings where art, music and<br />
litterature where on the menu. After his death in 1932,<br />
his heirs left his legacy to Tunisia. Numerous artists<br />
such as Chateaubriand, Gustave Flaubert, André Gide,<br />
Simone de Beauvoir, Paul Klee settled in this beautiful<br />
haven of peace. Sidi Bou Saïd is classified as a World<br />
Heritage Site by Unesco since 1979, an international<br />
recognition of its so special architecture.<br />
Its architecture<br />
All white and blue, Sidi Bou Saïd has a typical<br />
Mediterranean architecture. Far from the excitement<br />
of large Tunisian cities and large touristic sites, Sidi<br />
Bou Saïd is a village that has been able to to preserve<br />
its charm despite the influence of the new<br />
millennium. The beauty of the city hasn’t been<br />
destroyed by any modern construction. And yet, it is<br />
only about twenty kilometers away from the Tunisian<br />
capital. Besides, the place benefits from an ideal<br />
location since Carthage is nearby. The houses of the<br />
village, which combine Arabic and Andalusian<br />
architecture, are incredibly white. Along the winding<br />
streets, we can admire their colourful doors. Each<br />
perspective draws a picture where luxurious flora is<br />
perfectly married to white walls.<br />
Its cafés<br />
Sidi Bou Saïd is renowned for its cafés where residents<br />
of Tunis and tourists like to relax. Places where beauty<br />
and warmth are the rule. One of the most famous is<br />
the Café des Nattes, which offers a view of one of the<br />
most beautiful alleys in the village. We can enjoy the<br />
moment while drinking a mint tea. The Café Sidi<br />
Chaabane has the most beautiful view over the port of<br />
Sidi Bou Saïd and the Gulf of Tunis. Built on the roof of<br />
1. Ruelle typique menant au<br />
café Sidi Chabaane I Typical<br />
alley leading to the café Sidi<br />
Chabaane I<br />
زقاق منوذجي يؤدّي إىل مقهى<br />
سيدي شبعان I<br />
2. Porte d’entrée bleue ornée<br />
d’un encadrement en pierre<br />
I Blue entrance door adorned<br />
with dressed stone I<br />
باب أزرق يزيّنه إطار حجري I<br />
3-4-5. Détail d’une porte<br />
typique de l’architecture locale<br />
I Detail of a door, typical of<br />
local architecture I<br />
تفاصيل أحد األبواب النّموذجية<br />
للعامرة املحلّية I<br />
الغزالة 85 I 61
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