Kasserine Attractions
Chief town of the governorate of Kasserine
Kasserine 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. Thanks to its situation it is an important traffic junction and market town (market on Tuesdays); but it is now mainly an industrial center. In the largest industrial plant in central Tunisia, established in 1963, the esparto grass which grows in the surrounding steppe is used in the manufacture of cellulose and paper.
History
The town was founded by the Romans, probably in the second century A.D., under the name of Cellium, and in the third century was raised to the status of a colonia. With the fall of the Roman Empire it declined in importance, and until the colonial period remained no more than a small market center for the surrounding villages. The French built a railway station and settled European colons on the land.
Access
Kasserine lies on both GP 17, coming from Le Kef, and GP 3, coming from Kairouan; it is 120km/75mi south of Le Kef and 155km/96mi southwest of Kairouan.
No rail connections (goods station only). Bus services to and from Gafsa, Kairouan, Le Kef, Sbeitla, Sfax, Thala and Maktar; bus station (Gare Routière) in town center.
Kasserine 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. Thanks to its situation it is an important traffic junction and market town (market on Tuesdays); but it is now mainly an industrial center. In the largest industrial plant in central Tunisia, established in 1963, the esparto grass which grows in the surrounding steppe is used in the manufacture of cellulose and paper.
History
The town was founded by the Romans, probably in the second century A.D., under the name of Cellium, and in the third century was raised to the status of a colonia. With the fall of the Roman Empire it declined in importance, and until the colonial period remained no more than a small market center for the surrounding villages. The French built a railway station and settled European colons on the land.
Access
Kasserine lies on both GP 17, coming from Le Kef, and GP 3, coming from Kairouan; it is 120km/75mi south of Le Kef and 155km/96mi southwest of Kairouan.
No rail connections (goods station only). Bus services to and from Gafsa, Kairouan, Le Kef, Sbeitla, Sfax, Thala and Maktar; bus station (Gare Routière) in town center.
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Feriana, Tunisia
(Near Kasserine)
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.
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
(Near Kasserine)
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.
