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Kairouan
The following Kairouan travel guide is based on our own experience and therefore description given in the guide necessarily contains an element of subjective opinion which may not reflect your own experience on another occasion.
Kairouan in short - Key Attractions
- The Great Mosque
- Medina
About Kairouan
The town of Kairouan - the 4th holiest city in the Islamic world is located approximately 155 kilometres from Tunis and 55 kilometres from Sousse.
By far the most interesting tourist attraction in the town is the Great Mosque of Kairouan known also as Great Mosque of Oqba ibn Nafti. It was founded in 670 A.D. at the founding of the town of Kairouan. The mosque is spread over a surface area of 9,000 square metres and is considered to be the oldest and the most revered sanctuary in the western Islamic world. We have the stories that some Tunisians believe that Muslim duty of pilgrimage to Mecca can be redeemed by visiting Kairouan seven times. The Great Mosque of Kairouan is certainly one of the most impressive and largest Islamic monuments in North Africa.
Did you know?
Kairouan is classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
Published on 10th February 2010
By Arek Zasowski
Photographs by Viola and Arek Zasowski
Useful information and our recommendations
You may purchase great souvenirs from the shop located just outside the Great Mosque. It is by far the cheapest shop we have ever found in Tunisia. Price is a lot lower than in costal resorts of Sousse or Port El Kantaoui.
You may go through the shop on the roof to take great photos of the Great Mosque and the area.
If you visit Kairouan during two days organised excursion to the Sahara Desert the itinerary does not include actual visit to the Great Mosque and it is usually only a few minutes stopover on the way to the resort. If you really want to explore the area you will have to come back to Kairouan another time.
