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“The promontory of the eternal sun”… This is how Slimane Mostafa Zbiss, a pioneer of archaeology in Tunisia, defined this mythical village.
Located about twenty kilometres from Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is a picturesque village perched on a cliff overlooking the archaeological site of Carthage and the Gulf of Tunis. The village is recognizable in the blink of an eye thanks to the immaculate white of the walls and the typical blue of the windows of its houses.
The village is an important holiday resort, a place of relaxation and cultural dynamism, and is in the process of completing its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
There is a peaceful and friendly atmosphere at any time of the day and in any season…
A bit of history
The village of Sidi Bou Said has not always been a haven of peace. Since the Carthaginians and until the 17th century this hill was mainly used as a watchtower for possible attacks by enemies from the sea.
In the 13th century, Sidi Bou Said (Abu Said Khalaf Ibn Yahya Attamimi Al Beji) withdrew to the Ribat on the hill to stand guard and teach Sufism. Several other saints of Tunisia will be his followers including Sidi Belhassan.
From the 17th century, Sidi Bou Said became the holiday resort of the Tunisian bourgeoisie and the Beylicale family. Many residences were built in an Arab and Andalusian style.
The village acquired its worldwide reputation at the beginning of the 20th century, after the arrival and installation of Baron D’Erlanger. He built his palace in the village, which was and still is a masterpiece of several architectural styles.
Chateaubriand, Gustave Flaubert, Paul Klee, August Macke, Alphonse de Lamartine, André Gide, Colette and Simone de Beauvoir were all attracted by the charm of this village, rightly nicknamed The White and Blue Paradise.
Michel Foucault, for his part, wrote “The Archaeology of Knowledge”.
Architecture
Overlooking the Gulf of Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is a true architectural marvel with its typical bright white houses and blue windows.
The atmosphere that reigns in the village and its tortuous alleys, full of nostalgia and spirituality, gives the visitor the impression of wandering in a place out of time.
Architecture
Overlooking the Gulf of Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is a true architectural marvel with its typical bright white houses and blue windows.
The atmosphere that reigns in the village and its tortuous alleys, full of nostalgia and spirituality, gives the visitor the impression of wandering in a place out of time.
