Where is sousse located in tunisia. Sousse, Tunisia: photo of the city of Sousse, description

Sousse is called the capital of the eastern part of Tunisia. This is very a nice place with a developed entertainment infrastructure, hotels on the seashore, well-preserved old streets medina(the ancient part of the city) and sprawling olive groves.

Sousse is located in a picturesque bay south of Hammamet... To the north, the city is bordered by a popular resort area Port El Kantaoui... In Sousse, it is quite convenient to get to the country's airports: 12 km to Monastir airport, 140 km to Tunisian.

Climate and weather

Tunisia is a country of subtropical Mediterranean climate... Sousse, like most Tunisian cities, pleases its residents and visitors with mild and warm weather. Here warm summer, average temperature in the range + 25 ... + 30 ° С. Holiday season in Sousse it starts at the end of April and ends only in October-November. In winter, it is also warm enough here - + 5 ... + 12 ° С.

Nature

Sousse is a very bright city. Here, the mild maritime climate and fine sandy beaches are a paradise for tourists. As in other cities of Tunisia, there is a lot of greenery, especially interesting gardens with exotic plants.

sights

In Sousse, a must visit Ribat... This is a monastery-fortress, which was founded in 780, and completely completed in 821. On the inner side of the Ribat, along its perimeter, galleries of cells are located. Closer to the southeastern part is the sentinel Nador tower, to which 73 steps lead.

Very beautiful in Sousse medina... It is surrounded by walls with observation towers... The walls are 2.25 km long and 8 m high.

The medina of Sousse is famous for its towerKalef Al Fata, which was built in 859, was once a lighthouse. The height of the tower is 30 m. If you climb it, you will see a wonderful panorama of the city.

Also a beautiful architectural monument of the 10th century is Great Mosque, which was built by the Arab dynasty of Aglabids. Watchtowers rise in the corners of the mosque. There is a gallery on the inner side of the courtyard.

V Sousse Museum a large number of mosaics are presented. Here is perhaps the most beautiful and unusual mosaic collection in the world.

Ancient finds can be seen at the Archaeological Museum of Sousse in Kasbah fortress.

In the vicinity of the city, there are remains of Christian catacombs, Roman houses, Phoenician tombs and Byzantine fortifications.

In August in Sousse every year the Festival “ D'Ossu", Famous for its carnival processions.

Nutrition

You can have an inexpensive and tasty snack in the restaurants of Sousse: fish Le Pacha and Mediterrannee, as well as in an institution with Tunisian cuisine La caprise... Many popular Arab cafes, where you can always smoke a hookah and taste local drinks, are located in Port El Kantaoui.

In addition, in Sousse you can visit the Ice Cream House ( Casa Delgelata). This is a paradise for tourists with a sweet tooth. It offers about 100 varieties of different ice cream.

Accommodation

Many new hotels are under construction in Sousse, so sometimes hotels are separated from each other by hundreds of meters of wasteland. They are all located on the beach. The longest distance from the hotel to the sea is 100 meters.

In Sousse, prices for 4- and 5-star hotels fluctuate between 500-800 $ per person per week. But you can choose hotels with 3 stars - albeit more modest, but very neat and clean. Umbrellas in hotels are given free of charge. Sun loungers cost about $ 1. They can be taken for the whole day along with the mattress.

Entertainment and recreation

In Sousse one of the most popular tourist places is an Port El Kantaoui... It is a prestigious resort with a zoo, an artificial yacht harbor, a water park, a 27-hole golf course and an amusement park.

The sandy beaches in Sousse are some of the best in Tunisia.

Near Sousse in a small town Hergla situated entertainment center Hergla park, where there is an amusement park and a go-kart track.

In the casino Caraibe there are more than 300 slot machines, you can also play baccarat, poker, roulette and blackjack here. Entrance is strictly according to passports, the visitor must be at least 21 years old.

The most popular discos in Sousse are Samara king and Maracana.

In the city you can not only relax, but also improve your health - in the centers of thalassotherapy Hasdrubal Talassa and Abou Navas Boujafar.

Purchases

The best places to shop are oriental bazaars. Here you can buy products made of olive wood and leather, gold, silver, bronze and copper, carpets, dresses, antiques, shoes and many other interesting things. Remember that in Sousse, as in any Arab city, you need to bargain. Then you will not only save money, but also behave in accordance with local traditions.

Sousse shops are open every day (except Sunday) from 9:00 to 19:00. Usually the lunch break is from 12:00 to 14:00.

Soula Center Is the largest shopping center in Sousse. Here the prices are fixed.

Transport

There is a railway station in the city center. It will be very convenient to get by train, for example, to the capital of Tunisia. And it will cost only $ 8. Also, trains of increased comfort run here.

They go through Sousse and electric trains, which the locals for some reason call the "metro".

The bus station is located at Souq el-Ahad... The cost of tickets for city transport is the same as in other cities. For example, a ticket to El Jama, where the Roman amphitheater is located, will cost $ 3, and to Tunisia - $ 6.

Connection

Calling from a hotel room will cost three times as much as calling from a pay phone on the streets of Sousse. To communicate with other countries, it is better to use payphones at international call centers Taxiphones Internationales .

Payphones accept coins of 1 DT ($ 0.62), half dinars ($ 0.31) and 100 millimeters ($ 0.062). Dinars can be exchanged for small coins at the attendants working in the call centers.

During conversations, do not forget to keep track of the payphone counter and add coins to it in advance. Payment starts after the 14th second of connection, even if you just hang on the line, waiting for an answer. Payphones work from 08:00 to 22:00.

Security

In Sousse, it is forbidden to photograph:

• women in burqa;
• praying;
• police officers;
• presidential apartments;
• objects with the state flag.

Be as polite as possible with the local population - oriental people value culture and tact like no one else.

When walking around Suss, do not forget that it is forbidden to drink bottled wine and beer in cans on the streets. If possible, do not drink alcohol at all on the street, since the Arabs, although they are hospitable people, do not approve of alcohol.

Business climate

In Sousse, as in other cities in Tunisia, it is very profitable to start your own business. For a foreign businessman, the local government can offer:

1. Regulated banking sector.
2. A modern legal framework.
3. Preferential taxation.
4. Developed infrastructure.
5. Opportunity to cooperate with both European and Arab countries.
6. Qualified workforce.
7. A fairly high standard of living.

Since Sousse is a resort town, it is quite profitable to open various cafes, restaurants and retail outlets here. You can also start building hotels or rent out real estate (houses by the sea) to visitors. In addition, it is beneficial to open information technology companies.

Real estate

Sousse is famous for its whitewashed oriental-style houses. Very often, palm trees grow right in the courtyards, which creates the feeling that you are living in an oriental fairy tale. Homes usually combine traditional oriental luxury with modern touches. There is always a lot of light and space in them.

Absolutely any foreigner can buy his own house in Sousse without any problems. The cost will depend not only on the footage, but also on how close the object is to the sea. True, it will be more difficult with the purchase of land plots, since it will not be possible to acquire land into ownership - you can only lease the land plot for 40 years (with the possibility of a subsequent extension of the contract for another 40 years).

Going to rest in Sousse is good as in summer period and in winter. Even at this time, the weather is always warm here and you can properly rest and relax. However, in this case, do not forget to take an umbrella with you - precipitation is possible in Sousse in winter.

While on holiday, be sure to check out the coastal resort named Port El Kantaoui... Here you can not only soak up the beach, but also rent one of the yachts, play on the golf course, have fun in the water park and attractions, or go to the zoo.

Sousse is busy city for a vacation in Tunisia on the shores of the Gulf of Hammamet. Sousse in Tunisia has attractive white sand beaches against the backdrop of a shimmering Mediterranean Sea, hotels for every pocket, chic restaurants, Medina, a listed property World heritage UNESCO, and 2800 years of history. It is now clear why Sousse is one of the favorite vacation spots among Tunisians and Europeans.

The Phoenicians were the first to recognize the advantageous location of the Sousse area on the seashore. In the 9th century BC. they founded a colony on these shores and named it Handrumentum.
Despite the fact that the Carthaginian general Hannibal used the Handrumentum as a base in the second Punic War, Roman sympathy for this city was very strong. Therefore, a garrison of 5,000 soldiers was sent here to defend the city.
The Handrumentum was under Roman rule for a long time. A number of extremely well-preserved mosaics and some buildings have survived to this day. When Rome fell in the 5th century AD, Vandals destroyed the city and then rebuilt it in honor of their leader Haneric, calling it Hanericopolis. One hundred years later, the city was re-captured by Byzantium, whose rulers renamed it Justinianopolis in honor of the most famous emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
Later the city was renamed Susa, or Sousse in French. Its famous Ribat was built during the Arab invasion period, who opposed the attacks of the Christian Sicilians.
Today Medina Soussa and its fort are among the best examples medieval arabic architecture around the world. Some scenes from Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed in Sousse.

Airports near Sousse

Although the city of Sousse does not have its own Airport, it is located close to two well-known international airports. Sousse lies close to the airports of Monastir and Hammamet.

Closer, of course, is the Monastir airport. Most of the tourists who want to relax in Sousse go here. It is only 15 km from this airport to Sousse, so you can easily get to the city by bus, train or taxi (the cost is about 12-15 dinars).
But the good thing about Sousse is that you can fly to another Tunis airport, which is located near this city. This is Enfidha airport. From it, however, it takes a little longer to get there (about 30-40 minutes by car). But is it long? The cost of a taxi ride will be about 25-30 dinars, so those who want to save money can use the bus or train. Trains run from the airport to Sousse quite often.
From Sousse to the airport "Enfida" trains leave at 04:40, 06:10, 07:40, 09:10, 10:40, 12:10, 13:40, 15:10, 16:40, 18:10, 19:40 and 21:10.
From the airport to Sousse, trains leave at 06:10, 07:40, 09:10, 10:40, 12:10, 13:40, 15:10, 16:40, 18:10, 19:40, 21:10 , 22:40.

Sousse beaches

Sousse's beaches are one of the most popular tourist destinations given that Sousse's beaches provide holidaymakers with crystal blue waters and fine sand. Many of the beaches are suitable for families to enjoy a picnic on. What are the famous beaches in Sousse?

Bujafar beach
Bujafar is a long white sand beach lined with high-rise hotel buildings. Everyone here gets the opportunity to enjoy the clear blue waters and white sand. This beach is wonderful place for families with children.

The promenade
The promenade is long and has white sand. This beach is great for sunbathing. You can simply ignore the locals who gather around to sell all kinds of goods. Beach parties are also held in the area of ​​this beach.

Hammam beach
Hammam Beach is ideal for walks and picnics. Although there are many restaurants nearby, it is not uncommon to see families gathering at the beach and enjoying a meal by the sea.

In addition to these beaches, there are also beaches belonging to certain hotels. They are also famous for their white sand and clear waters, but they will be problematic to relax on if you are not a guest of the hotel that owns the beach.

Excursions

Sousse has a pretty good location for excursions. The most favorite tourist excursion to the Sahara from Sousse is carried out by many companies, but usually tourists choose the company from which they purchased the tour to Tunisia. This is the longest excursion from Sousse. It is relatively close to other places from here. So you can quickly get to Carthage, Douggie, Cap Bona, Sidi Bou Said. Phrygia Zoo is also nearby, as well as the city of Hammamet, which offers an amusement park and a water park. True, there is a water park not far from Sousse - in Port El Kantaoui.

But we have given you examples of excursions that are conducted by tour operators. You can go on excursions on your own. What if, for example, you do not want to go on an excursion to the Sahara, but want to see the Colosseum in El Jem or the mosque in Kairouan? Then you can travel to these cities for public transport from Sousse. It would be surprising if there are two major cities like Sousse and Kairouan, which have over 100,000 inhabitants and are relatively close by, would not have a regular bus service. Buses from Sousse to Kairouan and back run quite often, so you can easily arrange an excursion to the holy city for Islam. The same goes for El Jem - buses also run frequently to this city.
Alternatively, you can do it yourself sightseeing tour along Sousse and go to the neighboring town of Monastir, which is located 22 km away and also has many interesting sights.

Entertainment

If you think that there is nothing to do in Sousse, then you are wrong - the entertainment in Sousse is very diverse. What entertainment is there in Sousse? Now we will briefly tell you about them.

Of course, the main attraction is relaxing on the beaches of Sousse. Not only can you sunbathe, swim and relax on a sun lounger on the beaches of Sousse - there are also a variety of sports opportunities. Many adults and children do not miss the opportunity to go water skiing, banana boat, kayak, jet ski or parachute flight.
You can also visit the nearby Phrygia Zoo. You can spend the whole day walking around the zoo and watching the shows there.
You can also spend the whole day at the water park in Port El Kantaoui. The water park can be reached by taxi, train or bus.
Shopping is another pastime in Sousse as there are quite a few shops in the city. There is also a rather old Medina, which is also worth your attention, as well as other sights of the city that are worth seeing.
Young people can entertain themselves at night in local bars and nightclubs. Of course, Sousse is not a well-known city for its nightlife, but for Tunisia it is quite noisy at night.
But if all these entertainments are not enough for you, then you can go on excursions from Sousse, as from this city you can get to many interesting places Tunisia.

Discos

Sousse's nightlife and discos make the city one of the most famous centers of nightlife in Tunisia. There are quite a few discos in Sousse for such a city. Alternatively, you can have a good time and party until the morning in one of the many bars in the city. Below we present you the most famous discos in Sousse, as well as some of the bars.

El Hana Beach
This place is so that you can get to know the local culture here. The hotel has a bar where you can see local dancers and musicians. Local alcoholic drinks sold together with vodka and other international alcoholic beverages. For tourists who want to witness local Tunisian entertainment at a low cost, El Hana Beach is suitable place for this. Drinks here can cost anywhere from $ 5 to $ 15.

Metallica Disco
Located in the very center of Sousse, the disco is very popular with local youth. The disco offers rhythmic music as well as local and international drinks. The bar has a very informal atmosphere, and tourists can buy drinks at prices ranging from $ 2 to $ 10 per glass.

Dreams
For tourists who want to experience a real Tunisian disco, we recommend visiting the Dreams bar, which is located in the very center of Sousse. You can feel safe in this bar. It offers modern amenities and a wide variety of drinks. In addition, most of the waiters and bartenders are women living in Sousse.

The esplanade
To experience local nightlife, it is worth going to The Esplanade bar, which is located near the beach. Here you can sample local alcoholic drinks for as little as $ 1 to $ 5 a glass.

Living bar
This is a disco bar that closes in the late morning. Living Bar is a huge place where people rest locals and tourists. This safe and exclusive bar offers drinks ranging from $ 5 to $ 20 a glass.

Water park in Sousse

Aqua Palace is a water park in Sousse (or rather in Port El Kantaoui) and the first water park in Tunisia, created for recreation. This water park in Sousse has a variety of slides, spirals, pools, relaxation areas and spacious grounds. There are also small slides for small children, opportunities for family vacation as well as a huge wave pool. In addition, the water park has many relaxation areas equipped with sun loungers.

A train that goes to the north of the country can take you to this place of entertainment. The trip will take about 15 minutes, and you will have to spend no more than 1 dinar on it.
Once you have entered the park, you must pay the entrance fees at the box office, which is located to the left of the main entrance. Once paid, you will be presented with your entrance tickets, which you then give to the person right at the main entrance. From here you head to the dressing room. There are men's and women's changing rooms, but unfortunately there are no family changing rooms. There are also safes in the water park, however, you have to pay for their use.
In general, we recommend visiting this water park at least once, as it offers a good value for money. The park itself is well laid out and very clean. At Acqua Palace you can have a great time with the whole family!

The shops

Sousse is famous not only for its beaches - Sousse's shops also attract tourists. The "Pearl of the Sahel", as Sousse is also called, has many shops and shopping centers, which is not surprising for the third largest city in Tunisia. You can buy a variety of exotic goods here, which include art, handicrafts, carpets and other items that will always remind you of your wonderful Sousse holiday.

Below we briefly introduce you to the main shops and markets in the city of Sousse.

Medina
This is a weekly market where you can find almost everything that is sold in Sousse. Here you can bargain with the seller to lower the price. The medina is located in the city center and is a maze of streets lined with small shops. Here you can buy silver jewelry, ceramics, brass and copper items such as trays, teapots, leather goods and a variety of clothing.

Soula Shopping Center
This is a large shopping center that has four floors. Soula Shopping Center is located near the Medina. However, you will not be able to bargain here as the prices in the store are fixed. The mall is a great place to shop for some locally sourced goods. A big plus of this store is that credit cards can be used.

Magasin General
If you are a wine lover then this is the best place for you as this shop offers a wide selection of Tunisian wines. You can also buy furniture and household appliances here.

Supermarket Monoprix
This is the place where you can buy basic groceries. This supermarket chain is owned by French businessmen.

Weekend Market
Sousse has a weekend market located northwest of Sousse city center. This market is open on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Don't be surprised if you find a stuffed camel there, as there are many interesting products on sale here.

What to buy

For those who do not know what to buy in Sousse, we will immediately say that you can buy almost anything in Sousse. Sousse is a fairly large city by local standards, so it is not surprising that it sells a variety of goods.

If you go to Medina, you will see a lot of souvenirs and other products, which are mainly aimed at tourists. Here you can buy almost everything that is intended for tourists in Tunisia. Magnets, key rings, ceramics, leather goods, clothing (including traditional), watches, olive oil, creams, oils, cosmetics - all this and much more can be bought in Sousse without leaving the Medina.
If you are interested in more expensive goods, such as jewelry and clothing of famous brands, then it is better to pay attention to shopping centers and brand stores in Sousse, which are concentrated mainly in the city center. Here you can protect yourself from fakes, as such shops value their reputation.
If you are looking to buy food, then it is better to go to a supermarket (for example, to the Monoprix supermarket), as the sanitary conditions are much better here than in shops on the streets of the city. Sometimes it is even unpleasant to go into stores, and buying goods from them is even worse. Although, to be honest, this fear is unfounded. In all Sousse stores, products are bought mainly by local residents, who can at any time complain about a particular store to the appropriate authority. So, although many stores are located in old buildings and have poor sanitary conditions, you can buy food there without fear. But, I believe that tourists from European countries it is still better to do such purchases in supermarkets.
Fruit and vegetable lovers can buy fresh melons, watermelons, strawberries and other fruits and vegetables at markets or street stalls. Of course, supermarkets have all this, but the cost of street vendors will still be lower.

When is the best time to go

When planning a visit to this city, you first need to decide when is the best time to go to Sousse. The exotic city of Sousse is located in central Tunisia and is washed by the beautiful Gulf of Hammamet, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the fact that Sousse is located near the sea, beach lovers mainly come here. I would even say that almost 95% of tourists who come to Sousse do it in order to spend their holidays by the sea.

Summer in Sousse runs from May to September, so this period can be considered the best time to visit the city. Summer temperatures can go up to 35 degrees, but you can always cool off in the sea or in the hotel's pool.
As we said above, many people come to Sousse for their holidays during the summer. But there are also tourists who do not visit this city for a beach holiday. There are many different festivals in Sousse, so some people come here to take part in them. For example, the Olive Tree Festival takes place here in the festival. Tourists from many countries of Southern Europe come to this festival.
Do not forget also that not far from Sousse is the city of Kairouan, which is often visited by Muslims who often prefer to choose accommodation at the Sousse hotel.
In general, if you are going to Sousse mainly for relaxing on the beach, then the best time to travel is from May to September, although in October you can swim in the sea, but the air temperature will already be relatively low.

Great Mosque and Ribat

The Great Mosque of Sousse is the only mosque in North Africa without a minaret. This is because minarets did not become a standard part of architecture until the 11th century AD, and the Sousse Mosque was built back in the 9th century.

The Khalaf Ribat Sussa Tower has a dual purpose - it serves as a minaret and watchtower. The Ribat was originally part of the fortifications of the Arabs, who built them in order to defend their territory against the invasion of Sicilian Christians, who had been attacking Sousse for 300 years.

Port

Sousse is the port city of Tunisia. Tourists probably did not expect that there is a large port in Sousse, as it is a famous resort town. But in fact, Sousse is also an important port for Tunisia.

The port of Sousse, called the Port of Sousse, is relatively small, but considered large in Tunisia. From here, ships leave for many other ports in Tunisia, such as Bizerte, Sfax, Gabes, etc.
As you know, near Sousse there is a large plantation of olive trees and factories for the production of olive oil. That is why the main focus of the port is the export of olive oil and olives to European and other countries.
If you rest in the Sousse area, you will often be able to see ships arrive and leave this port.

Catacombs

The Sousse catacombs can come as a big surprise to many visitors. Many believe that the catacombs of Sousse were built as hiding areas for Christians during the Roman persecution. Not all people know that Tunisia was a Christian country in the past.

The catacombs were not a haven for the living, but for the dead Christians. The tunnels originally stretched over 5 km and contained 15,000 graves.
The area is open to visitors and has only about 100 meters of tunnels, but you can see the continuation of the tunnels through the iron gates. Illuminated by soft light, the catacombs offer a sense of authenticity. You can see many corridors and skeletons in the catacombs, which are displayed behind glass in two places.

Sousse is one of the most popular resorts in Tunisia, especially among young people.

Popularity Sussu how the club brought the youth resort in its time Bora bora which is currently closed.

Sousse one of the most numerous regions of the country located in the resort area. It is part of the Sousse vilayet and is its capital, the population in the city is about 360,000 people, in the region is about 570,000.

In many sources, including when selling tours, Sousse merged with the resorts of Port El Kantaoui and Shott Meriam... There are noticeable differences between them, and not only in the hotel base, which is why we separate these two resorts.

Sousse can be roughly divided into three parts:

• historical- here is the Medina, most of the historical sites of the city;
• central- mainly local residents live here, there are hotels in the coastal zone;
• northern- Hammam-Sousse area, the tourist part of the city (the El-Hammam river separates Sousse from Port el-Kantaoui).

Sousse resort area

Transport in Sousse

Close to Sousse there are two international airports, in addition, it will not be difficult to get from Tunis City:

• Monastir Habib Bourguiba Airport- 30km
• Enfidha Hammamet International Airport) - 40 km
• Tunisia (Tunis Carthage International Airport)- 150 km

You can easily get from the airport to the city by taxi, public transport (buses, louis). If you wish, you can order an individual transfer.

Sousse is a very large transport center if you prefer independent trips across the country, you can easily get from here:

• local Railway(Metro du Sahel) - to Mahdia or Monastir (trains run at intervals of 15 - 30 minutes);
• central railway (Tunis-Gabes) - to Sfax, El-Jem, Hammamet, Tunis-city.

Taxi, as in any other region, is the most convenient mode of transport, only you need to take into account some peculiarities.

Climate in Sousse

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Tours and attractions in Sousse

Sousse can be safely attributed to those regions of Tunisia, where there is something to see without leaving the resort:

• Kasbah of Sousse- the fortress built in the middle of the 9th century is located in the Old Town, the building houses the Archaeological Museum (the collection of mosaics is second only to the collection of the Bardo Museum);
• Great Mosque- the main mosque of Sousse, you can inspect it only from the outside - only Muslims are allowed inside;
• Ribat fortress- built in the 8th century to protect the coast from pirates;
• Medina- the old city, surrounded by a fortress wall, now in fact it is a large market, where it is traditionally customary to bargain, if you are not a fan of this process, then it is better to use the shops with fixed prices Fix Price;
• Kalaout el-Koubba museum- located in the center of Medina, the exposition is represented by thematic scenes - exhibitions demonstrating the life, utensils, clothes of Tunisians;
• house-museum "Dar Essid" (Museum Dar Essid)- undoubtedly one of the most interesting and visited places in Sousse, located on the territory of the Medina.

Museum Dar Essid

This is a small private museum - the home of a noble Tunisian family, whose descendants still live in the house (they also own the museum). Visitors have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the life, traditions, way of life of several generations of Tunisians. In the house there are many antiques (paintings, carpets, jewelry, furniture, utensils and much more), even a kind of marriage contract is presented, which is about 700 years old. A very colorful place!

Basic moments

International tour operators position Sousse as a youth and family resort. It is crowded, noisy and fun most of the year. Travelers are attracted by the wonderful mild climate, well-equipped sandy beaches, and decent tourist infrastructure. Many comfortable hotels have been built in the city; most of the hotels are located by the sea.

Medina Sousse ( Old city) Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the collection of artifacts from the local Archaeological Museum is one of the richest in the country. Researchers have discovered under the streets of the medina a whole network of dungeons with burials from the period of early Christianity, some of them are available for inspection.

Sousse has a large commercial port and several smaller fishing ports. The restaurants located on the waterfront prepare delicious dishes from a variety of seafood. From Sousse, you can easily go to the nearest neighboring resorts, electric trains and buses run to them. From here, fascinating excursions to the surrounding ancient cities begin, to picturesque ruins Roman buildings, jeep safari along the plains of the Tunisian Sahel. For fans of extreme sports, off-road vehicle trips to the Sahara Desert are organized. In summer, the city hosts music festivals and various cultural events.

The history of Sousse

In the XI century BC. NS. Phoenician sailors from Tire, a trading post with a fortress and a port was erected on the coast of the Gulf of the Mediterranean Sea. The harbor has become another link in the chain naval bases providing ships bound for Italy, Sicily and further to Gibraltar. The Phoenicians built their fortified town at the mouth of a small river, about 10 km south of the center of modern Sousse, and named it Hadrumetum. Today, the village of Hammeim stands here; archaeological excavations are being conducted on its territory.

Subsequently, the city expanded. It was surrounded by a strong fortress wall 6410 meters long, had several shipyards, a strong navy and fiercely competed with the later built Carthage. But still, Hadrumetum supported the Carthaginian general Hannibal in his war with Rome. However, during the Third Punic War, which wiped out Carthage in 146 BC. e., the ruler of Hadrumetum took the side of the Roman Empire, for which he retained the right to rule in this region and mint his own money. Actually, according to the inscriptions of Hadrumetum on the coins found in the ground, archaeologists have established the name of the city in ancient times. This made it possible to identify him in written sources.

During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Hadrumetum, which became one of the largest cities in the province of Africa, supported Caesar. After his victory, the inhabitants of the city were recognized as free citizens of Rome, which gave them significant rights and privileges in all spheres of the life of the empire.

According to legend, it was here that Julius Caesar, who stumbled, jumping to the shore from the ship, rose to his feet with a handful of sand clenched in his fist and resourcefully exclaimed: "Teneo te Africa!" (Now you are in my hands, Africa!).

At the beginning of the new era, there was a Byzantine province, conquered in 434 by the Vandal king Geiserich. A century later, the Byzantines conquered the city, but in the 7th century all of Tunisia was occupied by the troops of the Arab Umayyad Caliphate. The millennial Hadrumetum was destroyed to the ground. The conquerors did not restore the city and erected new fortress a few kilometers to the north, it received the Berber name of Sousse.

Under the protection of the fortress walls of the medina, the Arabs built a large shipyard in Sousse. Here merchant ships and warships were designed, which then played a key role in the conquest of Sicily, where the Tunisian Arabs ruled from 826 to the beginning of the 11th century.

The hilly plains of the Tunisian Sahel, stretching for 6,600 km², are covered with vast olive groves. Olives are comfortable here: although the sandy and stony soil is absolutely dry for most of the year, the low level of precipitation is covered with high atmospheric humidity, the tree foliage "pumps" moisture directly from the air. In the 60s of the last century, at the initiative of the government, Tunisians planted hundreds of thousands of eucalyptus trees, pines and other drought-resistant trees in the Sahel.

The climate in Sousse is mild, the air temperature in the winter months fluctuates between + 12 ... + 18 ° С, but during this period there are often cold rains. Nevertheless, at the end of January and February, tourists admire almonds blooming in city squares, and oranges are already poured on boulevards planted with fruit trees. By the way, when they ripen, it is not forbidden to pick a couple of fruits, anyway they will fall on the asphalt, and the wipers will sweep them and send them to the garbage containers. True, street oranges are small and bitter.

Precipitation stops in May; in the last month of spring, the city is rapidly warming. In summer, the temperature varies widely - from +22 ° С in June to +38 ... + 42 ° С in July-August, when the wind brings heat from the nearby Sahara desert.

The Velvet season starts in September and lasts until mid-October. During this period, it is not so hot in Sousse, hotels are overcrowded with tourists, room rates soar to the maximum.

The beach season opens at the end of May, it is comfortable to swim in the sea until the end of October. In early summer, the water temperature near the coast of the Gulf of Hammamet is +20 ... + 22 ° С, in the middle of the season - up to +25 ... + 27 ° С. You can swim until the beginning of November, the water still keeps the temperature + 19 ... + 20 ° С, but going ashore is no longer very comfortable, a cool wind blows from the sea, the rainy period begins. In addition, jellyfish appear near the coast, they are capable of stinging careless bathers painfully.

Sousse landmarks

The main attractions of Sousse are located in the ancient medina. Medieval town occupies 32 hectares, it is surrounded by walls stretching for 2.5 km. Completed in 859, these dilapidated fortifications are now looking great thanks to a recent restoration with the help of an international team of specialists.

Originally, there were eight gates within the walls of the medina. Today, only the Kairouan Gate leading to the south and the West Gate have survived. Since 1988, the entire complex of buildings in the Medina of Sousse has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Register.

Medieval walls and towers made of stone darkened by the burning sun, like a mirage, rise on a hill above the snow-white quarters modern city... The streets of the medina often serve as an excellent backdrop for filming adventure films. To the east, the medina faces the convenient harbor in the Gulf of Hammamet.

The Ribat Stronghold was built in the 8th century. For about a thousand years in the fortress there was a garrison of marabouts - warrior monks. Marabut literally means "the one who is in the garrison." In the Berber dialect of the Arabic language, this word has the same root as ribat (fortress). Muslim brotherhoods of ascetics can be compared with Christian knightly orders, but the functions of marabouts are much broader. They are spiritual teachers, interpreters of the Koran, and even sorcerers who know how to predict future events. Sufi brotherhoods of armed monks emerged during the Arab conquest North Africa, they still exist.

Big mosque

Traditionally, the main mosque in the medieval Tunisian medina is located in the center of the development. In Sousse, this tradition was broken, because the Grand Mosque was erected only at the beginning of the 9th century, when the center was already occupied by other buildings. The walls surrounding the mosque are not dominated by minarets, but by two watchtowers with loopholes for archers. This mosque is one of the few that does not have its own minaret. Its role "in combination" is performed by the tallest watchtower in the Kasbah - another fortress on the territory of the medina.

Kasbah

This fortress is located in the southwestern part of the medina of Sousse. The Kasbah is the legacy of various peoples that replaced each other here in the 9th-11th centuries. The main element of the fortress is the 30 m high Khalef al-Fata tower dominating the city. The tower was built in 859 and was used as a sentry and signal tower. She has not lost these roles until now, since there is a lighthouse at its top.

The restored Kasbah houses the Archaeological Museum, which presents the history of the Tunisian Sahel from antiquity to the beginning of the Arab conquest. Some of the halls are located in underground rooms. In terms of the richness of the exposition, this collection is only slightly inferior to the National Museum of Bardo in metropolitan Tunisia. The exhibition area of ​​2000 m² includes three thematic sections. They contain artifacts from the Punic (Carthaginian) period, Roman rule and Byzantine times, when Christianity was established in this region.

In the exposition of the Roman section, the most valuable is the collection of mosaic compositions that once adorned the walls and floors of public buildings and private palaces. Here you can see an image that exactly resembles the Taoist symbol of Yin and Yang, but this mosaic is seven centuries older than the earliest such design found in China. Attention is drawn to mosaic panels with everyday and mythological scenes, still lifes, the faces of the gods of the Roman pantheon.

From June to September, the Archaeological Museum is open from 09:00 to 19:00, during the period of downturn in the flow of tourists, the exposition is open from 08:00 to 17:00. Price entrance ticket- 9 dinars. To the east of the entrance to the museum, there is a parking lot for cars and sightseeing buses, there is a cafeteria, a gift shop, and toilets in the building.

Catacombs

French amateur archaeologist Louis Carton and his friend Abbot Leino in 1904 made an outstanding discovery - they discovered many kilometers of catacombs with many Roman and Byzantine burials. These dungeons were dug in the period from the 2nd to the 4th century. The burials are located in wall niches and sarcophagi. Memorial inscriptions and drawings have been preserved on the walls.

The total length of the dungeons, located in three tiers, reaches five kilometers. Only part of the underground corridors is accessible for inspection. Several steles and tombstones are exhibited in a separate exposition of the Archaeological Museum.

The entrance to the catacombs is on Rue des Catacombes. For a visit you need to pay 5 dinars. The dungeon is quite dimly lit, if you want to carefully look at the graffiti scrawled on the walls, take a flashlight with you.

Beaches

The Sousse city promenade is an endless line sandy beaches stretching along the bay in a northerly direction, where they imperceptibly pass into the zone of the next resort - Kantaoui. The coast is lined with many hotels, restaurants and taverns. You can get an umbrella and a folding chaise lounge at any bar conditionally "free", you just need to order something from the establishment - a cocktail, ice cream or just a glass of lemonade. In half an hour, you will surely not be able to resist the mouthwatering smell of grilled goodies and re-invest your place in the Tunisian sun.

The beaches offer all kinds of equipment for swimming and entertainment - from flippers with a mask to scooters and hang-gliders towed by boats.

It's good to see the sunrise by the sea in Sousse - coastline oriented to the east, the sun rises directly over the sea horizon.

Leisure

From Sousse, you can go on one-day or more detailed excursions throughout the country - go to Carthage, visit the capital Tunisia, see museums and Roman monuments in other cities. Not far away, 20 km to the south, is the resort town of Monastir with many attractions and entertainment.

You can join a three-day off-road trip in the south of Tunisia. During this trip you will visit the Big Erg mountains, Berber villages, and the oases of the Sahara Desert. On the way back, the road runs along the largest salt lake in North Africa, Shot el-Jerid. You will drive through endless olive groves and picturesque forests of pines - Mediterranean pines with an umbrella crown, make a stop to view the Roman amphitheater.

The cost of the tour as part of a group of cars is 612 dinars, including three meals a day. An individual guided trip will cost 1100 dinars. The most comfortable time of the year to travel to the Sahara is late fall and winter.

Entertainment

The Sousse coastline is dotted with attractions. They belong coastal hotels, but available for everyone who wants to have fun. The largest water park in the area, AquaSplash, is built at the hotel. There are 14 attractions here.

There is a stadiometer at the ticket offices of all water parks, its indicators affect the cost of tickets and admission to attractions - for safety reasons. Children with a height of 140 cm and above can ride any slide. A prerequisite is that the child must wear a bright life jacket.

Sousse's nightlife is in full swing on the seaside streets. On the embankment there are nightclubs, bars and restaurants, dance floors, where they have fun until the morning, alternating dances with night swimming in the gentle sea.

Those wishing to play roulette with the capricious Fortune, cards or hit the jackpot in slot machines, in the evenings go to the seaside Boulevard 14 Janvier, where Casino Europe, a popular place among desperate tourists, is located. The casino is open daily from 19:00 to 04:00.

Most of the entertainment in the city is tailored to the needs of young people. One of the city discos called Bora-Bora is the largest dance floor under open air in Africa. A variety of establishments with noisy merry parties exists here not only for the sake of foreign tourists. More than 60,000 students study at the University of Sousse, in addition, there are about three dozen other educational institutions of various profiles in the city. At parties, you can easily meet and talk with local party-goers: although the state language in Tunisia is Arabic, the second official language is traditionally French. The townspeople are fluent in both languages, many speak Italian, Spanish, communicate in English, you can also meet Russian-speaking Tunisians.

Take a trip to the park wildlife"Phrygia". It is spread over an area of ​​36 hectares, where more than 400 animals live in spacious open-air cages - from lions to turtles, porcupines and tiny jerboas. A total of 62 species of animals are kept here. Above the aviaries with predators, there are high platforms, from where visitors can watch the life of the zoo's inhabitants. Elephants and giraffes can be fed, packets of treats are sold at kiosks (1-2 dinars).

Tourists ride on donkeys and camels. Part of the park is dedicated to the dolphinarium, where dolphin shows are held twice a day.

The inspection of the park takes 3-4 hours. Here you can have a bite to eat in a cafe, stylized as buildings different regions Africa, relax in the shade of trees by the waterways where flamingos and sea lions live. Gift shops sell handicrafts brought from African countries located south of the Sahara - carved ritual masks, figurines of animals, decorative weapons, painted ceramics.

The Shaka ethnic restaurant is located on site. It serves African cuisine and hosts a colorful South African Zulu show in the evenings.

The park is open from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday is a day off. The ticket price for adults is 6.5 dinars, for children - 4 dinars. The cheapest way to get to the park is by train, the ticket price is 7 dinars. The trip lasts 45 minutes, you need to get off at the Friguia Park station.

10 km north of the center of Sousse is the marina, where a whole flotilla of pleasure sailing schooners, stylized as Tunisian pirate ships, is based. Estimated cost walks - 80 dinars. On the beaches, such mini-sea cruises are actively offered by barkers, you can bargain with them.

Sailboats leave about one and a half to two miles from the coast and anchor. Below the waterline, panoramic windows are installed in the sides, tourists watch the underwater world. In the open sea, passengers can swim and dive from the ship. In the meantime, a light lunch will be prepared in the galley - stewed chicken with vegetable sauce, fried fish. A snack is served during the show. On the deck you can dance with the "pirates", take part in games and quizzes.

For your information: the cost of drinks, with the exception of a glass of lemonade, is not included in the fare, and on board you will be convinced that the captains set prices for alcohol and cocktails truly pirate. But experienced tourists know that there is a way out: the corsairs do not forbid passengers to grab a couple of bottles of wine from a hotel or a port store. There is a chain supermarket Magasin General right in the harbor, which has the exclusive right to sell alcohol. Here you will also find the whole range of goods necessary for resort vacation- light clothing, wide-brimmed hats, umbrellas, fins, etc.

After boat trip go to local beach... In the evenings, the marina is not as noisy as the coastal streets of Sousse, although there are rides and great shops. Here you can play a game of golf, look at funny animals in the mini-zoo. And then take a table in La Nafoura cafe or in L "Opera Cafe, between which there is a" singing "fountain, here you can sit nicely with friends and watch the flashes of the evening illumination of water jets. the setting sun yachts are moored.

You can get to the marina by taxi (8-10 dinars) or by commuter train(2 dinars).

Shopping in Sousse

Local artisans have long been renowned for their beautiful pottery, fine fabrics, comfortable lightweight clothing and exquisite embroidery. All these things and much more can be found in the markets in the Sousse medina. Decorative crafts and beads made of onyx stone, painted earthenware dishes and tea sets, ceramic figurines of marabouts, metal jugs with a long neck decorated with embossing are very popular. Take a closer look at soft leather shoes, for original women's bags with beaded embroidery. Among the paintings with Tunisian landscapes come across very good canvases.

Do not forget to bargain, local traders always call the price too high.

Next to the medina, on Rue de l "église, 3, there is big store Perle Shopping Center. On its four floors, you will find goods from North African countries, boutiques of fashion brands from Italy, France, Spain, sports and beach equipment. The shopping center is open from 09:00 to 21:00.

To the south of the shopping center there is a Magasin General supermarket where you can buy alcoholic drinks.

Typically, shops in Sousse and nearby resorts close during the hottest hours of the day. The break usually starts at 12:00 and lasts until 15:00.

On the farms in the vicinity of the city, they squeeze the best olive oil in Tunisia. Often, stone millstones are used for this, which have served peasants for centuries. In the markets, you can buy a couple of bottles of homemade unfiltered virgin oil. It cannot be found in stores that display factory products that undergo all sorts of industrial procedures for better preservation. The greenish homemade oil is incredibly fragrant, it is used to dress vegetable salads and other dishes - the dishes acquire an absolutely fabulous taste. But frying in such oil is not recommended, the smallest remnants of the pulp of olives contained in this product may burn, and the taste of the dish will be spoiled. It is a pity that unclarified homemade oil does not last long - two to three months. But this period is quite enough to bring it home as a gastronomic souvenir and prepare an amazing treat for friends.

Kitchen

There are many restaurants in Sousse, here you can taste the delicious creations of the Maghreb culinary specialists, with motives of the European Mediterranean cuisine. Tourists prefer to dine in the Old Town area. The atmospheric Dar Soltane restaurant is located right by the walls of the medina. It offers Tunisian, Italian and French cuisine, a good choice wines. The restaurant prepares delicious Turkish chorba - thick soup with veal and vegetables, serves tagin with lamb, chicken or fish, with spicy vegetables and porridge. Coals are heated in a special bowl under a ceramic dish with a lid. If you wish, the chefs will prepare a sweet tagine with nuts, dates, figs and other fruits.

Bread, olives and salads, small portions of snacks are brought to the table for customers waiting for the preparation of ordered delicacies. This free treat is not included in the bill. Pickle lovers will discover new flavors of large plum-sized green and black olives pickled or pickled in barrels. They are manually stuffed with lemon slices, salted anchovies, shrimps, mussels. The cost of the main dishes is 15-18 dinars, a bottle of dry wine 0.7 liters will add 20-22 dinars to the bill.

The Lido Restaurant awaits you nearby on the Sousse harbor promenade. They say that fishermen bring their catch here by seven o'clock in the morning, so the seafood here is the freshest, and the prices are low. Customers are invited to the window, where fishermen's catch is laid out on the ice, you can choose what you like. An impressive portion of large grilled king prawns costs 24 dinars, a vegetable salad with tuna, a slide of fish-stuffed pancakes with spicy sauce and a bread basket plus beer will cost 45 dinars. At the end of lunch, a surprise awaits you - on behalf of the chef, the waiter will bring a bowl of fruit.

Tourists praise the excellent Mediterranean cuisine and friendly service at the Le Сristal restaurant, located opposite shopping center Soula. Cute Persian cats live on the open veranda of the restaurant. They behave with dignity, do not beg for anything, but do not refuse treats. The bill for a full meal with wine and dessert will not exceed 70 dinars.

Gourmet French cuisine is on offer at Escargot's seafront restaurant. By the way, this is one of the few restaurants in Sousse where there is a menu in Russian. The signature dish is Burgundy escargot snails with nuts, cooked in white wine, flavored with garlic and Provencal herbs. The establishment is named in honor of this delicacy: Escargot in French means "snail". The chef of the restaurant is a renowned culinary specialist from Paris. You can sit here in the courtyard in the shade of palm trees, or on the terrace overlooking the sea. Lunch for two will cost 150 dinars.

Where to stay

The resort Sousse has more than a hundred hotels of all categories, about half of them offer highest level service marked with categories four and five stars. Many beachfront luxury hotels located on the front lane have thalassotherapy centers, beach attractions, swimming pools, open-air restaurants, green gardens, animation shows. A wide selection of sports equipment is also offered here, and everything you need for water entertainment is available for rent. Tourists who have rested at this resort invariably note the excellent value for money and the quality of services, the friendliness of the hotel staff.

The closest hotel to the medina is Sousse Palace Hotel & Spa 5 * (Avenue Habib Bourguiba, 30). This romantic hotel by the sea has a well-maintained beach, swimming pool, spa and fitness center. Tourists with children like to stay here: there is an opportunity to invite a nanny, the restaurant offers a children's menu, if necessary, the waiter will put a high chair for the baby to the table. Price double room- from $ 86 per day.

Concorde Green Park Palace 5 * Room at the Hôtel El Faracha 2 *

For unpretentious travelers in the city there are several hotels with the minimum cost of living. Among them is Hotel El Faracha, where a room can be rented for only $ 13 per day.

Transport

Sousse has an extensive network bus routes, a well-run taxi service with a large fleet of modern cars. Taxis are painted in corporate yellow. Passengers are also served route taxis(luage). These minibuses with a blue stripe travel within the city, while luages ​​with a red stripe go to the nearest settlements.

Exotic three-wheeled tuk-tuks - motor scooters with a canopy ride around the streets of Sousse, the seats fit 4-6 passengers. The cost of travel must be agreed in advance, trips around the city cost 2-5 dinars.

There are three railway stations... Along the resort sea ​​coast Metro Sahel trains run along the 73-kilometer route Sousse - Mahdia. On the territory of the city of Sousse there are 5 stops of these trains, one of the platforms is located 200 meters from the medina. The trip from end to end according to the schedule takes exactly 100 minutes, along the way, the train makes 30 stops. The train reaches Monastir Airport in 1 hour.

Metro Sahel train stations are open from 06:00 to 20:00, trains run every 30 minutes. The schedule is posted at the stations, near the ticket offices. The fare depends on the distance. The trip between the terminal stations of Sousse - Mahdia will cost 3 dinars, travel to Monastir - 1 dinar. At the entrance, tickets are checked infrequently, but inspectors walk from car to car on every train. The penalty for travel without a ticket is 60 dinars.

How to get there

There is no private airport in Sousse yet. Air harbor this resort is located 20 km to the north international Airport Monastir Habib Bugriba. Airplanes deliver passengers here from 200 European cities, 24 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The center of Sousse is easily accessible from this airport by the Metro Sahel train.

Charter planes with tourists from Moscow, St. Petersburg and others Russian cities land at the new airport Enfidha Hammamet. From here there are buses to Sousse, a distance of 30 km.

There are also sea routes to the resort of Sousse. During the tourist season, passenger ferries regularly arrive at the berths of the city port from the French ports of Marseille and Toulon, from the Italian harbors on the island of Sicily - Pantelleria and Tarpani.