City in Tozeur Governorate, Tunisia
Tozeur (Arabic: توزر, romanized: Tūzirⓘ; Berber languages: ⵜⵓⵣⴻⵔ, romanized: Tuzər) is a city in southwest Tunisia. The city is located northwest of Chott el Djerid, in between this Chott and the smaller Chott el Gharsa. It is the capital of Tozeur Governorate. It was the site of the ancient city and former bishopric Tusuros, which remains a Latin Catholic titular see.
Map showing Roman TusurosDuring the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire and in the Vandal Kingdom, Tozeur was the site of Tusuros, in the Roman province of Byzacena (originally part of Africa Proconsularis).
At this time it was the seat of a suffragan bishopric, called Tusuros.[1]
Located in the Sahel hinterland of the Byzacena coastline, close to the towns of Aquae and Nefta and south of Capsa and Ad Turres, Roman Tursuros became an important center of Donatism.
The bishopric ceased to function following the seventh-century arrival of Islam. The remains of an ancient church are visible in the foundations of an old mosque of Tozeur.
Four bishops (two canonical, two schismatic Donatist heretics) are historically documented
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(February 2025)After the Umayyad conquest of North Africa in the late 6th century and early 7th century, the city became part of the Umayyad Caliphate, and later the Abbasid Caliphate.
Al-Tijani described Tozeur in the 14th century:[5]
"Tozeur is the capital of the Djerid region, and there is no forest in the Jarid lands larger than it or with more abundant water. Its water originates from springs that emerge from the sand, gathering outside the town in a wide valley, from which numerous streams branch off. Each stream further divides into channels that the inhabitants distribute among themselves according to established ownership divisions, with known shares of water. They have appointed trustworthy officials from among their righteous men to oversee the distribution, allocating the water by the hours of day and night according to a well-known and established system. [..] Many of its people reside in its palm grove, and there is a stark contrast between the buildings within the grove and those inside the town. The structures in the grove are larger and more refined. Inside the town, there are two mosques for Friday prayers and a single bathhouse. Their main gathering place for leisure is at a location they call Bab al-Manshar, which is among the most beautiful spots for recreation because it is where the waters converge."
It was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin titular bishopric of Tusuros (Latin) / Tusuro (Curiate Italian) / Tusuritan(us) (Latin adjective) of the Roman Catholic Church.[6]
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank:
Tozeur has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) typical of the northern edge of the Sahara. The annual average rainfall is 80.8 mm (3.18 inches), and the annual mean temperature (day and night) is 22.2 °C (72.0 °F), making the city both hot and dry year-round. The weather is usually settled and sunny throughout the year. Summers are extremely hot, with daily highs often exceeding 45 °C (113 °F) in the shade, and the sirocco may push temperatures close to 50 °C (122 °F). During winters, it can sometimes freeze at night and just before the sunrise, as the temperature may drop below 0 °C (32 °F).
Climate data for Tozeur (1991–2020, extremes 1950–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 27.6With hundreds of thousands of palm trees, Tozeur is a large oasis. Dates are exported from Tozeur. In ancient times, before the advent of motorized vehicles, the oasis was important for the transportation through the Sahara, which took place in caravans. The name of the city in antiquity was Tusuros, it was an important Roman outpost. The Medina quarter of Tozeur, contains traditional architecture, fashion and workmanship.
Tozeur, in common with the surrounding Jerid region, is noted for its yellow/brownish brickwork as well as its patterns in geometric designs which form the facades of most buildings in the old city and the new tourist zone.
A round gate, the entrance to the carpet market. "Shop Berber". A satellite dish. A tower of a mosque, Tozeur, 1997.
A local in traditional
Berberclothing in the Medina, 2007
Inner courtyard of a house, Tozeur, 2020.
Double square door of a recently constructed house, 2020
Panorama of Tozeur houses viewed from the roof of the Café Berbère, 2020.
Typical brick decorations on a facade in the
Medina of TozeurThe entrance of the
Medina of TozeurThe old town of Ouled El Hadef (also known as Medina of Tozeur) is an example of the local brickwork which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tozeur and was a home for Jews too.
Tozeur has a football club who plays in the First Professional Federation of Football in Tunisia, the team is called LPS Tozeur. In 2010–2011 season the club almost made it to the First Professional Federation of Football.
Carrefour Market of TozeurAlthough still the largest part of the local economy, dates and farming are becoming less appealing to the young, who are more often employed in tourism. Tourism is heavily developed and promoted, and Tozeur is considered a center of "Desert tourism". The annual "International Festival of Oases" (Arabic: المهرجان الدولي للواحات بتوزر) takes place in the town in November and December each year.
Tozeur marketThe government initiated two large-scale projects:
The region around Tozeur is seeing a large influx of unemployed workers and their families from the once rich phosphate region of Metlaoui, Gafsa and Om Laarayes in hope of work in the tourism sector. The phosphate mines are no longer productive and thousands of workers were laid off after the government sold them to European investors.
Overall the region, and Tozeur in particular, is going through a tough time. The region is embracing the unstable tourism economy and shying away from its traditional agricultural based economy. During the first Gulf War the sector suffered with a loss of large number of workers and an increase in unemployment. The same happened during 11 September 2001 attacks and the Iraq War.
Hospitality Management School of Tozeur Tozeur–Nefta International AirportThe city is served by buses, taxis, railway, louage (shared or group taxi), and Tozeur–Nefta International Airport with national and international services from London, Paris, Rome and few other European countries (international flight services are mostly during the summer tourism season). Tozeur lies on the edge of the Sahara desert. Tourism activity is higher in the fall and winter months with Douz Festival among others in late December
People from Tozeur[edit] Echebbi statue at Ras al-Ain (Tozeur)Tozeur was used as a filming location for the Star Wars saga and Raiders of the Lost Ark (specifically Sidi Bouhlel canyon outside the town and the salt-flats of nearby Nefta). Lucasfilm also built an entire set a few kilometers north-west of Tozeur in the middle of the desert. This set acted as Mos Espa in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The buildings are still there and can be visited. The English Patient (9 Oscars) with Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas was partially filmed outside Tozeur.
In May 1984 the Italian singers Alice and Franco Battiato represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I treni di Tozeur" ("The Trains of Tozeur"), whose lyrics contain several references to Tozeur, the historic train Le Lézard rouge and Tunisian history in general. This song became a chart hit throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia.
Tozeur is twinned with:
Notes and references[edit]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Tozeur.
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