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Tunis تونس
Tunis Night
Coordinates: 36°8′N 10°17′E / 36.133, 10.283
Country	Tunisia
Governorates	Tunis Governorate
Government
- Mayor	Abbes Mohsen
Area
- Total	212 km² (81.9 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	693,486
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website: commune-tunis.gov.tn

Tunis, capital of Tunisia.

Tunis - Ave. Habib Bourguiba as seen from Carlton Hotel

Tunis (Arabic: تونس, Tūnis) is the capital of the Tunisian Republic and also the Tunis Governorate, with a population of 728,453 in 2004. Informal estimates state that the population of greater Tunis approaches two million. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Tunis. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... The following is a list of the 24 governorates of Tunisia: Ariana Béja Ben Arous Bizerte Gabès Gafsa Jendouba Kairouan Kasserine Kebili Kef Mahdia Manouba Medenine Monastir Nabeul Sfax Sidi Siliana Sousse Tataouine Tozeur Tunis Zaghouan Categories: Tunisia | Lists of subnational entities ... Tunis Governorate Tunis Governorate is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries that do not observe summer time Central European Time (CET) is one of the names of the time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Central European Time West Africa Time British Summer Time* Irish Summer Time* Western European Summer Time* Category: ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Central European Summer Time (CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Eastern European Time Central Africa Time Israel Standard Time South Africa Standard Time Central European Summer Time West Africa Summer Time Category: ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (956x968, 742 KB) Description: A satellite image of Tunis with Lake of Tunis (right). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (956x968, 742 KB) Description: A satellite image of Tunis with Lake of Tunis (right). ... Image File history File links Tunis1. ... Image File history File links Tunis1. ... Habib Bourguiba - 1980 Habib Ben Ali Bourguiba (Arabic: حبيب بورقيبة) (born August 3, 1903 in Monastir, Tunisia – died April 6, 2000) was a Tunisian statesman and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 to November 7, 1987. ... Arabic redirects here. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Tunis Governorate Tunis Governorate is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia. ...

Situated on a large Mediterranean gulf, (the Gulf of Tunis), behind the Lake of Tunis and the port of La Goulette (Halq al Wadi), the city extends along the coastal plain and the hills that surround it. At the centre of more modern development (colonial era and post) lies the old medina. Beyond this section lie the suburbs of Carthage, La Marsa, and Sidi Bou Said. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Gulf of Tunis is a large gulf in northeastern Tunisia. ... Satellite picture of Tunis The Lake of Tunis (Arabic: , French: ) is a natural lagoon located between the Tunisian capital city of Tunis and the Gulf of Tunis (Mediterranean Sea). ... La Goulette (Arabic: , Halq al Wadi) is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. ... A medina quarter is a distinct city section found in many North African cities. ...

The medina is found at the centre of the city: a dense agglomeration of alleys and covered passages, full of intense scents and colours, boisterous and active trade, a surfeit of goods on offer ranging from leather to plastic, tin to the finest filigree, tourist souvenirs to the works of tiny crafts-shops. A medina quarter is a distinct city section found in many North African cities. ...

Just through the Sea Gate (also known as the Bab el Bahr and the Porte de France), begins the modern city, or Ville Nouvelle, transversed by the grand Avenue Bourguiba (considered by many to be the Tunisian Champs-Élysées), where the colonial-era buildings provide a clear contrast to smaller older structures. As the capital city of the country Tunis is the center of Tunisian commercial activity, as well as focus of political and administrative life in the country. The expansion of the Tunisian economy in the last decades is reflected in the booming development of the outer city where one can see clearly the social challenges brought about by rapid modernization in Tunisia. The Champs-Élysées (pronounced  ) is the most prestigious and broadest avenue in Paris. ...

Geography

Tunis is located in north-eastern Tunisia on the Lake of Tunis, and is connected to the Mediterranean sea's Gulf of Tunis by a canal which terminates at the port of La Goulette / Halq al Wadi. The ancient city of Carthage is located just north of Tunis along the coastal part. Tunis is located at 36°81′N, 10°16′E (36.81881° N 10.16596° E). Satellite picture of Tunis The Lake of Tunis (Arabic: , French: ) is a natural lagoon located between the Tunisian capital city of Tunis and the Gulf of Tunis (Mediterranean Sea). ... Gulf of Tunis is a large gulf in northeastern Tunisia. ... La Goulette (Arabic: , Halq al Wadi) is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. ... La Goulette (Arabic: , Halq al Wadi) is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. ... Roman Carthage with former military harbor Carthage (Greek: , Latin: , from the Phoenician meaning new town; Arabic: ) refers both to an ancient city in Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ...

History

Early history

In the 2nd millennium BC a town, originally named Tunes, was founded by Berbers and also over time occupied by Numidians. In the 9th century BC, the city was taken over by Phoenicians from Carthage. The Berbers^[specify] took control of Tunis in 395 BC but it was soon lost when Agathocles invaded Africa and established his headquarters there. When Agathocles left Africa, the Carthaginians took control of the city once again. The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. ... The Berbers (also called Imazighen, free men, singular Amazigh) are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group indigenous to the Maghreb, speaking the Berber languages of the Afroasiatic family. ... The Numidians were tribes who lived in Algeria east of Constantine and in part of Tunisia. ... Phoenicia was an ancient civilization in the north of ancient Canaan, with its heartland along the coastal plain of what is now Lebanon and Syria. ... Roman Carthage with former military harbor Carthage (Greek: , Latin: , from the Phoenician meaning new town; Arabic: ) refers both to an ancient city in Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ... The Berbers (also called Imazighen, free men, singular Amazigh) are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group indigenous to the Maghreb, speaking the Berber languages of the Afroasiatic family. ... For the grindcore band, see Agathocles (band) Agathocles (361 BC - 289 BC), tyrant of Syracuse (317 BC - 289 BC) and king of Sicily (304 BC - 289 BC). ...

In 146 BC, the Romans destroyed Tunis (along with Carthage). However, the city was subsequently rebuilt under the rule of Augustus and became an important town under Roman control and the center of a booming agricultural industry. The Common Era is the period beginning with a year near the birth of Jesus, coinciding with the period from AD 1 onwards. ... This article refers to the state which existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC. For alternate meanings, see Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... For other persons named Octavian, see Octavian (disambiguation). ...

Islamic Control

It was not until the 7th century, after the final destruction of Carthage, that the city achieved its own importance under the control of Arab Muslims. It was at this time that the medina of Tunis was first built. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... A medina quarter is a distinct city section found in many North African cities. ...

From the 12th century to the 16th century, the old city was controlled by the Almohad and the Hafsid Berber dynasties. During this time, Tunis was one of the richest and grandest cities in the Islamic world, with a population of about 100,000. The Almohad Dynasty (From Arabic الموحدون al-Muwahhidun, i. ... Flag of Tunis under the Hafsids according to the Catalan Atlas c. ... The Berbers (also called Imazighen, free men, singular Amazigh) are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group indigenous to the Maghreb, speaking the Berber languages of the Afroasiatic family. ... The Islamic world is the world-wide community of those who identify with Islam, known as Muslims, and who number approximately one-and-a-half billion people. ...

Ottoman rule and piracy

The Ottoman Empire took nominal control of the city in 1534 when Barbarossa Hayreddin captured it from the Hafsid Sultan, Mulai Hassan. Mulai Hassan fled to the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. Charles, who suffered at the hands of the corsairs operating out of Djerba, Tunis and Algiers, agreed to reinstate Mulai-Hassan in exchange for an acceptance of Spanish suzerainty by Mulai-Hassan. A naval expedition led by Charles himself was dispatched in 1535 and the city was quickly recaptured. The victory against the corsairs is recorded in a tapestry at the Royal Palace of Madrid. The resulting protectorate lasted until the Ottomans retook Tunis in 1574. After 1591, the Ottoman governors (Beys) were relatively independent and piracy and trade continued to flourish. Ottoman redirects here. ... Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha (Turkish: Barbaros Hayreddin PaÅŸa or Hızır Hayreddin PaÅŸa; also Hızır Reis before being promoted to the rank of Pasha and becoming the Kaptan-ı Derya (Fleet Admiral) of the Ottoman Navy) (c. ... For the Carlist claimant King Carlos V, see Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Djerba [1] (also transliterated as Jerba, Jarbah or Girba جزيرة جربة) is the largest island off North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabes off the coast of Tunisia. ... This article is about the capital of Algeria. ... Combatants  Holy Roman Empire  Ottoman Empire Commanders Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Khayr ad-Din Barbarossa Strength 60,000 troops + Genoan fleet[1] Unknown Casualties Many fell to dysentry[1] At least 30,000 civilians killed[1] The Conquest of Tunis was an attack on Tunis, then under the control... “Palacio Real” redirects here. ... Bey is originally a Turkish[1][2] word for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. ...

In April 1655, English Admiral Robert Blake was sent to the Mediterranean to extract compensation from states that had been attacking English shipping. Only the Bey of Tunis refused to comply, with the result that Blake's 15 ships attacked the Bey's arsenal at Porto Farina (Ghar el Melh), destroying nine Algerian ships and two shore batteries, the first time in naval warfare that shore batteries had been taken out without landing men ashore. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Robert Blake, General at Sea, 1599–1657 by Henry Perronet Briggs, painted 1829. ...

European colonialism

St. Louis Cathedral on the Byrsa hill at Carthage

The French occupied the city from 1881 to 1956 having established a protectorate system of administration that recognized the nominal authority of local government. During World War II, Tunis was held by Axis forces from November 1942 to May 1943, and was their last base in Africa. Image File history File links Saint_Louis_Cathedral. ... Image File history File links Saint_Louis_Cathedral. ... This article is about states protected and/or dominated by a foreign power. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Axis powers. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Modern history

The Arab League was headquartered in Tunis from 1979 to 1990.The Arab League, which represents 22 Arab nations, transferred its headquarters to Tunis in 1979 because of Egypt's peace with Israel but headquartered back in Egypt since 1990. Headquarters Cairo, Egypt1 Official languages Arabic Membership 22 Arab states 2 observer states Leaders  -  Secretary General Amr Moussa (since 2001)  -  Council of the Arab League Sudan  -  Speaker of the Arab Parliament Nabih Berri Establishment  -  Alexandria Protocol March 22, 1945  Area  -  Total 13,953,041 (Western Sahara Included) = 13,687,041...

. The Palestine Liberation Organization also had its headquarters in Tunis, from 1970s to 2003. In 1985, the PLO's headquarters was bombed by the Israeli Air Force, killing approximately 60 people. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: ;   or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a multi-party confederation and is the organization regarded since 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. ... Operation Wooden Leg was the October 1, 1985 Israeli Air Force raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organizations headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia. ... The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHaḤalal, Air and Space Division, commonly known as חיל האוויר Hel HaAvir) is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces. ...

Landmarks

The medina

The "Porte de France" or Sea Gate, Tunis

The medina of Tunis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The medina contains some 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains dating from the Almohad and the Hafsid periods. These ancient buildings include Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3002x2001, 1910 KB) Summary The Porte de France, or Sea Gate, at the junction of the Tunis medina and French colonial city. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3002x2001, 1910 KB) Summary The Porte de France, or Sea Gate, at the junction of the Tunis medina and French colonial city. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... St. ... Madrassa in the Gambia The word madrassa in the Arabic language (and other languages of the Islamic nations such as Persian, Turkish, Indonesian etc. ...

• the Great Mosque (including the Muslim University and library)
• Aghlabid Ez-Zitouna Mosque ("Mosque of the Olive") built in 723 by Obeid Allah Ibn-al-Habhab to celebrate the new capital.
• the Dar-al-Bey, or Bey's Palace, comprises architecture and decoration from many different styles and periods and is believed to stand on the remains of a Roman theatre as well as the tenth century palace of Ziadib-Allah II al Aghlab.

( 9th century - 10th century - 11th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 399 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (533 × 800 pixel, file size: 53 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 399 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (533 × 800 pixel, file size: 53 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Other landmarks

• The Bardo Museum was originally a 13th century Hafsid palace, located in the (then) suburbs of Tunis. It contains a major collection of Roman empires and other antiquities of interest from Ancient Greece, Tunisia, and from the Arab period.
• The ruins of Carthage are nearby, along the coast to the northeast

Hafsid dynasty in Ifriqiya (1229-1574) Significant Rulers: Abu Zakariyya Yahya I. (1229-1249) Muhammad I. al-Mustansir (1249-1277) Yahya II. al-Watiq (1277-1279) Ibrahim I. (1279-1283) Ibn Abi Umara (1283-1284) Abu Hafs Umar I. (1284-1295) Abu Bakr II. (1318-1346) Ishaq II. (1350-1369... The term ancient Greece refers to the periods of Greek history in Classical Antiquity, lasting ca. ... Roman Carthage with former military harbor Carthage (Greek: , Latin: , from the Phoenician meaning new town; Arabic: ) refers both to an ancient city in Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ...

Economy

Products include textiles, carpets, and olive oil. Tourism also provides a significant portion of the city's income. This article is about the type of fabric. ... Carpet is a general term given to any loom-woven or felted textile and to grass floor coverings. ... For the Popeye character, see Olive Oyl. ... Tourist redirects here. ...

Transport

Tunis is served by the Tunis-Carthage International Airport. The growing metropolitan area is served by an extensive network of public transportation including buses, an above-ground light rail system (le Metro), as well a regional train line (le TGM) that links the city center to its closest northern suburbs. Multi-lane autoroutes surround the city and serve the increasing number of privately owned cars one encounters in Tunisia. Tunis-Carthage International Airport (Arabic: ‎) (IATA: TUN, ICAO: DTTA) is the international airport serving Tunis, Tunisia. ... Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (sometimes called Thomas Masaryk in English) (March 7, 1850 - September 14, 1937) advocated Czechoslovak independence and became the first President of Czechoslovakia. ...

• TRANSTU - Société des Transports de Tunis
• OACA - Ministry of Transport (Airports)

Miscellaneous topics

Tunis is the site of the University of Tunis as well as Tunisia Private University. The Tunis University is a university located in Tunis, Tunisia. ... The Tunisia Private University (ULT) is a university located in Tunis, Tunisia. ...

Twin Cities

• Belgrade, Serbia
• Cologne, Germany
• Sarajevo, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

For other uses, see Belgrade (disambiguation). ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ... For other uses, see Cologne (disambiguation). ... Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo) Coordinates: , Country Entity Canton Sarajevo Canton Government  - Mayor Semiha Borovac (SDA) Area [1]  - City 141. ... The location of the FBiH entity as part of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Europe. ...

See also

• Barbary pirates

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Tunis

• Tunis travel guide from Wikitravel
• Lexicorient
• Guide to Tunis
• The Municipality of Tunis official website.
• Video tour of the Bardo Museum
• Video of Tunis Medina

• Maps and aerial photos for 36°48′N 10°10′E / 36.8, 10.17Coordinates: 36°48′N 10°10′E / 36.8, 10.17
  • Maps from MapQuest, Multimap and Yahoo! Maps
  • Satellite images and maps from Google Maps and Live Search
  • Other mapping from GlobalGuide and WikiMapia

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Tunisia

Amphitheatre of El Jem · Dougga/Thugga · Ichkeul National Park · Kairouan · Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. ... El Djem: the amphitheatre of Thysdrus El Djem (Latin Thysdrus) is a town in Mahdia governorate, Tunisia, population 18,302 (2004 census). ... Dougga Dougga or Thugga is a Roman ruin in northern Tunisia located on a 65 hectare site. ... Ichkeul Lake (Arabic: بحيرة اشكل) is a lake in northern Tunisia near the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Kairouan (Arabic القيروان) (also known as Kairwan, Kayrawan, Al Qayrawan) is a muslim holy city which ranks after Mecca and Medina as a place of pilgrimage. ... Medina of Sousse · Medina of Tunis · Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis · Site of Carthage Medina or madinah is Arabic for city. As such it has been used to name particular places. ... View from the Abou Nawas Hotel over to the main beach in Sousse (Bou Jaafar) The Ribat of Sousse Sousse (Arabic سوسة Susa), is a city of Tunisia. ... Kerkouane is a Punic city in northeastern Tunisia, near Cape Bon. ... For the record label, see Necropolis Records. ... Roman Carthage with former military harbor Carthage (Greek: , Latin: , from the Phoenician meaning new town; Arabic: ) refers both to an ancient city in Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ...