Kasserine Tourist Attractions
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Chief town of the governorate of KasserineSituation and characteristicsKasserine lies on the Oued el Habeb in the upland steppe country of central Tunisia, surrounded by the country's highest hill, Djebel Chambi (1,544m/5,066ft), to the northeast, Djebel Semmama (1,314m/4,311ft) to the northwest and Djebel Selloum (1,373m/4,505ft) to the southeast.
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Djebel Chambi
Djebel Chambi, Tunisia's highest hill (1,544m/5,066ft), was declared a National Park in 1981. The hill is covered with dense forests of Aleppo pines, interrupted here and there by clearings overgrown with esparto grass, and is now again the habitat of species which had become rare - mountain gazelles, moufflons, hyenas, eagles, vultures and peregrine falcons. At the foot of the hill, in the middle of the forest, is the National Park information office, with a small natural history museum.AccessLeave Kasserine on GP 17, signposted to Thala, which in 5km/3mi turns northwest. In another 4km/2.5mi take a track on the left which runs south to the village of Chambi. This is negotiable by an all-terrain vehicle to a height of 1,300m/4,265ft, where there is a radio transmitter and the small lead mine of Kef. From here it is a 2-hour climb to the summit, which is crowned by a crescent; extensive panoramic views. For information about the condition of the track consult the Arrondissement Forestier in Kasserine.
Cillium
Outside Kasserine, on the road to Gafsa (soon after GP 17 goes off on the right to Thala, some 200m/220yds beyond the Hotel Cillium), is the site of ancient Cillium. The remains lie on the left of the road. Only a small area of the site has been excavated. The best preserved structure is a triumphal arch with a decorative frieze and an inscription; like most of the remains, it dates from the third century. Nearby are the foundations of a Christian basilica and a small Byzantine fortress. Farther away, on the slopes of a hill, is the theater, which lacks the stage wall.
Mausoleum of Flavius
Some 600m/660yds farther west (200m/220yds beyond the bridge over the Oued Derb), opposite the Governor's Office, is another tower-mausoleum, in an excellent state of preservation, of similar type to the Numidian mausoleum at Dougga. It is of three storys, with a 110-line inscription on the base lauding the virtues of its founder, Flavius Secundus, buried here with his family. The middle section of the tomb is decorated with half-columns; there is a niche on the third section which once contained a statue of Flavius; and the whole structure was originally crowned by a pyramidal roof.
New Town
During the period of French colonial rule a modern town was built around the old center of Kasserine. The town is traversed by its 4km/2.5mi long main street, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, in the eastern section of which (towards Kairouan) is the modern town center, with the railroad station, bus station and numerous shops. The ancient remains are at the other end of the street, in the direction of Gafsa.
Thelepte, Tunisia
30km/19mi southwest of Kasserine, 700m/770yds beyond the village of Thélepte, is the site of Roman and Byzantine Thamesmida, an extensive scatter of remains on both sides of the road and the railroad line which is likely to be of interest only to archeological enthusiasts. To reach the site, leave Kasserine on the Gafsa road (GP 17), and when it joins G 15 turn right.
Feriana, Tunisia
The little market town of Feriana (pop. 4,000) lies 4km/2.5mi south of Thélepte on the Gafsa road (GP 15).
Mausoleum
At the west end of Kasserine, opposite the barracks, can be seen the scanty remains (the base and fragments of two walls) of a tower-like mausoleum.
