Chief town of the governorate of Sousse
Situation and characteristics
Sousse (Arabic Souza), the third largest city in Tunisia (after Tunis and Sfax) and capital of the Tunisian Sahel, lies at the south end of the Gulf of Hammamet, fringed by a beach of fine sand and surrounded by extensive olive
plantations.
The old town, situated on a gently sloping hill and enclosed by walls, has many fine examples of Arab architecture and an interesting Archeological Museum. The Medina, the beautiful sandy beaches and the many other places of interest within easy reach, including Kairouan, Monastir, Mahdia and El Djem, make Sousse a popular and attractive tourist and holiday center.
Every Sunday there is a camel market near the Catacombs.
Economy
Until the late sixties the economy of Sousse was almost exclusively centered on its Harbor, which exported the agricultural produce (mainly olive oil and esparto grass) grown in the surrounding area and processed in the town as well as phosphates from the Metlaoui area. Fishing and fish- processing also made a contribution to the town's economy. Since then Sousse has developed into a considerable industrial town with a number of large factories, mostly to the south of the town. They include an assembly plant for goods vehicles, a large tannery, factories producing clothing for the European market, hardware, plastics and hothouses, and a large cement works opened in 1982.
The holiday and tourist trade has also flourished, and the Sousse area, including Monastir and Port El Kantaoui, is now one of Tunisia's leading tourist regions. The beaches are lined with new hotels in all categories, from expensive luxury establishments to modest guesthouses. To the north of the town is Port El Kantaoui, an ultra-modern tourist complex opened in 1979. This development has been promoted by the construction of the new Skanès-Monastir airport and the establishment of a hotel school.
History
In the ninth century B.C. the site of Sousse was occupied by an important Phoenician trading post, which in the sixth century came under the influence of Carthage. (A Punic tophet dating from that period has been discovered here.) During the Second Punic War this was Hannibal's base in his campaign against Scipio's Roman forces - a campaign which ended in his defeat at Zama in 202 B.C. In the Third Punic War the town, now known as Hadrumetum, went over to the Roman side and was rewarded with the grant of important privileges. These were lost, however, when Hadrumetum took Pompey's side in his conflict with Caesar. Thanks to its strategic situation and its extensive olive groves it soon recovered, but it suffered a further setback after taking part in the Gordian rising in A.D. 238.
In the reign of Diocletian (284-305) the town rose to some importance, and in Byzantine times became capital of the province of Byzacena. Later it was taken by the Vandals and renamed Hunericopolis; then recovered by the Byzantines and given the new name of Justinianopolis. Towards the end of the seventh century it was conquered by Oqba ibn Nafi's Arab forces, after putting up a fierce resistance, and totally destroyed. As a result Sousse has few remains of Roman buildings apart from the catacombs of the second/third century A.D.
Two hundred years later, under the Aghlabids, a new town was founded with the name of Susa to serve as the port for their inland capital of Kairouan. This was the period when the Ribat, the Great Mosque, the Kasbah and the town walls were built.
In the 12th century the Normans who then ruled Sicily captured Sousse, but were able to hold on to it for only eleven years. The town was in Turkish hands from the 16th century to 1881, when French troops entered it without a fight. During the Second World War, in 1942-43, Sousse suffered severe damage, which was rapidly made good after the war.
Access
Sousse lies on GP 1 (Tunis-Sfax), 140km/87mi south of Tunis and 127km/79mi north of Sfax.
The airport of Skanès-Monastir (15km/9mi southeast of the town on the Monastir road) is most conveniently reached on the Métro du Sahel or by bus (No. 52). From the airport there are flights to all the larger towns in Tunisia; and during the holiday season it is used by many charter flights from Europe.
Rail connections with Tunis, Sfax, Gabès, Gafsa/Metlaoui/Tozeur and Hammamet/Nabeul.
The Métro du Sahel, a new local express service, runs between Sousse and Monastir roughly every hour, with a halt at the airport.
Bus services from the Gare Routière in Avenue Léopold Senghor to Tunis, Kairouan, Sfax, Gabès, Gafsa, Le Kef and Kasserine.
Print this page
Add to Favorites
