Tabarka is a small fishing town at the northwestern corner of Tunisia, near the Algerian frontier. It lies in a wide bay at the mouth of the Oued Kebir, between the foothills, clad with mimosas, cork-oaks and pines, of the Kroumirie range. Offshore is a small island connected with the mainland by a causeway originally constructed by the Carthaginians.
In the past the people of Tabarka gained their subsistence from agriculture, fishing, a coral factory and cork processing. More recently, however, the rocky coast with its sandy beaches, the crystal-clear water - a paradise for underwater anglers - and the beautiful country in the surrounding area have made this a popular tourist center.
Building is going on everywhere, and already more than 300 hectares/750 acres of the coastal forests, formerly a protected area, have been cleared to make way for the new developments. To the east of the old Harbor the Montazah Tabarka holiday complex, with a marina and golf-course, is under construction, and there are even plans to build on the little island. It is to be hoped that the opponents of this project will be successful in preserving the landscape unspoiled.
In addition to its other attractions as a holiday center Tabarka is a good base from which to visit such magnificent Roman sites as Bulla Regia, Chemtou and Dougga.
Coral fishing
Nowadays coral fishing plays only a minor part in the economy of Tabarka. During the fishing season (September to April) divers catch the pieces of coral by towing small nets suspended from a framework in the shape of a St Andrew's cross at depths of between 40m/130ft and 150m/490ft - a technique which dates from the 12th century.
Summer University
The Summer University (Université de l'Eté) is a festival during the months of July and August, when Tabarka becomes a huge holiday village and numbers of young people come to take part in a variety of sporting, craft and musical events.
History
In the fifth century B.C. the Phoenicians established a trading post here and built a causeway linking the island with the mainland. Later the Romans occupied the town, which they called Thabraca, using the harbor for the shipment of building timber, marble from Chemtou, minerals and agricultural produce (corn from the Béja plain, olive oil). Thabraca's merchants and shipowners prospered, and much of their wealth went to the embellishment of the town.
Christianity was also deeply rooted in the town. The famous "mosaics of the dead" in the Bardo National Museum in Tunis came from a church situated between the Bordj Messaoud and the Bordj el Djedid. When the notorious pirate Dragut was captured by an Italian trading fleet in 1540 the island off Tabarka was handed over to the noble Genoese family of Lomellini in exchange for his freedom. The new owners then built a mighty fortress on the island, under the protection of which the fisheries and the coral trade were able to develop.
In 1741 the French, who already had a trading post on Cap Négro, offered to buy Tabarka from the Genoese: whereupon the Turkish Bey Ali Pacha sent troops to occupy the town and Harbor and slight the fortress. In 1881 Tabarka became an important French military base. In 1942-43 it was the scene of heavy fighting.
Access
Tabarka lies on GP 7 (Tunis-Tabarka), 175km/109mi northwest of Tunis. Regular rail connections with Mateur and Tunis and bus connections with Tunis, Le Kef, Ain Draham and Bizerte. Airport under construction 15km/9mi east; due to come into operation in summer 1992.
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