Gsour Medenine

How to get to the Gasr: In the heart of Medenine city.

Suitability for a tourist visit: Yes.

Facilities in the Gasr: Tourist café. Antique dealers and local handicraft vendors. Museum of Medenine Customs and Traditions (since 2006). Open-air theatre (since 1990).

Surrounding facilities: Medenine city center.

Distance from urban center (Km): In the heart of Medenine city.

Date of Construction: 17th century.

Number of Ghorfas: 390.

Number of floors: 2 floors.

Number of external doors: 2.

Architectural State: Maintained.

Gasr Ouled Brahim in Medenine

Photos: Laroussi Kamel, 2020.

Currently, this Gasr is a privileged tourist stop in Medenine and is occupied by antique and local craft dealers in the heart of the city’s large "Souk."

Gasr El’Marsia in Medenine

Photos: Laroussi Kamel, 2020.

Gasr L’Obbera in Medenine

Photos: Laroussi Kamel, 2020.

Currently, the Gasr is occupied by the Municipal Theatre and the Museum of Customs and Traditions of Medenine.

Gsour Medenine in 1920

 

History of the City:

With the arrival of the religious dignitary Sidi Ali Ben Abid (early 17th century), who settled in a cave (called "Oum Eddine," according to the legend recounted by J. A. Boussoutrot) located on the very spot where the Mosque bearing his name stands today.

At that time, one of the Gsour was named Gasr el Orouch: symbolizing the unity of the Ouerghemmi tribes; Medenine subsequently became the granary of the Ourghemma confederation, replacing Gasr Hamdoun in Ghomrassen.

The settlement of the federated tribes in the Jeffara plain around Gasr-Medenine (the city's old name until the early 20th century) allowed for the easing of internal tensions between fractions and the weaving of new links through a form of maraboutic allegiance.

With the advent of French colonialism in Tunisia (1881) and the creation of the first French military camp in Medenine (1888) after its declaration as a "Military Zone," the modern city was established around the original Gsour settlement. New populations from Gabès, Jerba, and Tataouine integrated into the urban and socio-economic dynamics of the growing city (mainly around two neighborhoods: the Hara and the Mehella). This repositioning allowed Medenine to become an economic and social hub for the entire region.

From the dawn of independence (1956), the city hosted the headquarters of the Governorate of Medenine.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than 6,000 Ghorfas across 25 Gasrs.

In the late 1960s, political leaders of the time viewed the Gsourienne city only as the vestiges of a bygone tribal society incompatible with the Bourguibian vision for the country’s modernization. Consequently, by decision of the Governor, Medenine underwent a massive destruction of its priceless Gsour heritage. Indeed, of the twenty-five original gasrs, only three remain: Gasr Ouled Brahim, Gasr El’Marsia (Mars), and Gasr L’Obbera!

Today, the State and local authorities have undertaken the safeguarding and valuation of this heritage, rehabilitating it into the economic and cultural life of the city.