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Kairouan (Kairwan, , Kayrawan, Al Qayrawan) is a city in Tunisia, about 160 kilometres south of Tunis. In 2003 the city had about 150,000 inhabitants. Founded in about the year 670, the original name was derived from Arabic kairuwân, from Persian Kârawân, meaning "camp", "caravan", or "resting place" (see caravanserai).

Contents 1 History 2 Religion 3 Sights 4 Miscellaneous 5 External links

History

Kairouan was founded in about the year 670 when the Muslim general Uqba ibn Nafi selected a site in the middle of a dense forest, then infested with wild beasts and reptiles, as the location of a military post. It was to keep in check the Berber hordes and was located far from the sea where it was safe from attack. A city soon developed, with luxuriant gardens and olive groves. Ibn Nafi was killed in battle by the Berbers about fifteen years after the military post was established.

The city was soon recaptured and remained for four centuries the "holy city", the Mecca of North Africa. In the tenth century, the city was embellished by the Aghlabites. It was the capital in the eleventh century, and was famous for its wealth and prosperity. About the middle of the eleventh century, the Fatimites of Egypt instigated the Egyptian Bedouins to invade this part of Africa. The city was so utterly destroyed that it would never regain its former position. Then Mahdia became the capital under the Fatimites. Under the Ottomans, Tunis became, and remains, the capital. In 1881, Kairouan was taken by the French, after which non-Muslims were allowed access to the city.

Religion

Kairouan is a holy city for many Muslims, and many Sunni Muslims consider it the fourth holiest city of Islam, after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, and the holiest city of the Maghreb. There are very many mosques in the city, among which the great mosque. For a long time, non-muslims were not allowed to enter the city, in more recent times this is allowed. Pilgrimages are made to this holy city.

Sights

The souk (market place) of Kairouan is very famous, it is in the medina, which is surrounded by walls, and of which the entrance gates can be seen from far. Products that are sold here are carpets, vases and goods made of leather. As with merchants in most major Tunisian cities, Kairouan merchants rely on tourism for much of their income.

Miscellaneous

Amongst Tunisians, Kairouan is famous for its pastries (e.g., zlebia and makroudh).

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the street scenes in "Cairo" were actually filmed in Kairouan.

External links

• Kairouan, tourismtunisia.com
• Kairouan World heritage Site, whc.unesco.org
• Kairouan University
• Kairwan, jewishencyclopedia.com

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