Kasserine, Tunisia Tourism

... More

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.