Tabarka Attractions
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.
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.
Ain Draham
On the Jendouba road (GP 17), 25km/16mi south of Tabarka, is the little hill resort of Ain Draham. Situated at an altitude of 823m/2,700ft, surrounded by dense forests of cork-oak, it is a good center for walks and climbs in the hills (waymarked footpaths).
Basilica
100m/110yds southwest of the Hotel de France in Tabarka is the so-called Basilica - actually the remains of a Roman cistern of the third or fourth century with a capacity of 2,700cu.m/594,000 gallons which probably supplied public fountains and baths. The structure was later converted by the Pères Blancs (White Fathers) into a three-aisled church six bays long. The building is used during the summer for small exhibitions, and the courtyard serves as an open-air theater.
Beaches
To the west of Tabarka, towards the Algerian frontier, are small shingle beaches; to the east are beautiful mile-long sandy beaches.
Beni Mtir Lake
Southeast of Ain Draham is the Beni Mtir reservoir, which supplies Tunis with water and electricity.
Bordj Messaoud
Southwest of the Basilica in Tabarka is the Bordj Messaoud, also originally a cistern which in the 12th century was converted by merchants from Marseilles and Padua into a fortress. In the 18th century this was enlarged and strengthened by the Turks. Beyond this again is the Turkish fortress of Bordj el Djedid (viewing platform).
Galiton
The little island of Galiton (lighthouse) is the home of a colony of monk seals, now a protected species. The waters around the islands are well stocked with fish and offer ideal conditions for diving.
Hammam Bourguiba
15km/9mi west of Ain Draham, just on the Algerian frontier, is Hammam Bourguiba, a modern spa for the treatment of throat and kidney disorders.
Hotel de France
The main street of Tabarka is Avenue Habib Bourguiba, lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. Opposite the tourist information office is the little Hotel de France, in which Habib Bourguiba, Mongi Slim and Habib Acour were interned in 1952. Mementos of them are now displayed in the rooms they occupied.
Island Genoese Fort
The island, measuring 400m/440yds by 600m/660yds, is linked with the mainland by a causeway 400m/440yds long. Although there are only scanty remains of the once mighty Genoese fort, it is worth visiting the island for the sake of the fine views of the town and the bay.
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Les Aiguilles
To the west of the harbor in Tabarka are the Aiguilles (Needles), pinnacles of ochre-colored rock, 20-25m/65-80ft high, worn into bizarre shapes by wind and water.
Roman Sites
Among the important Roman sites which can be visited from Tabarka are Bulla Regia (59km/37mi south), Chemtou (64km/40mi south), Dougga (155km/96mi southeast) and Mustis.
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