Welcome to Kairouan Centre, Kairouan

Discover the spiritual and historical heart of Tunisia in the medina of Kairouan, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 670. Its urban fabric and monuments reflect centuries of Islamic civilization and scholarly activity (britannica.com).

Historical Context

Kairouan served as the capital of the Maghrib under the Aghlabids in the 9th century and became a major center of Islamic learning, law, and medicine (britannica.com). Its medina, reservoirs, and religious sites bear witness to the early development of Islamic thought and architecture (whc.unesco.org).

Landmarks

• Great Mosque of Kairouan: One of the oldest and most important Islamic monuments in North Africa, established in 670 and rebuilt in the 9th century, featuring a vast hypostyle hall, marble columns, and seminal architectural elements.
• Mosque of the Three Doors: Dating from 866, it is renowned for its richly decorated façade, one of the earliest sculpted exteriors in Islamic architecture.
• Aghlabid Basins: Historic 9th-century water reservoirs built to supply the city—remarkable examples of early Islamic hydraulic engineering.
• Zawiya of Sidi Sahib: A religious complex housing the tomb of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, dating back to early Kairouan and expanded in the 17th century.

Museums

• Musée d’Art Islamique (Raqāda)

  Located just south of the medina, it houses significant Islamic art and manuscript collections originating from Kairouan and its mosque school (britannica.com).

  Visit Website

  Opening Hours: Typically open daily, mornings and afternoons (check local info).

  Ticket Price: Often included in the combined Kairouan tourist ticket (~12 TND) or approximately 2 TND individually (thenomadalmanac.com).

• Medina (as living museum)

  Though not a traditional museum, the medina itself—with its souks, traditional architecture, and urban layout—acts as a living museum of Islamic urbanism and craft (visittunisianow.com).

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  Opening Hours: Always accessible; daytime is best for exploration.

  Ticket Price: Free to enter; some entrances to monuments may require the tourist ticket (~12 TND) (thenomadalmanac.com).

Tips for Visitors

• Purchase the combined Kairouan tourist ticket (~12 TND) for easier access to multiple sites.
• Non-Muslims may only enter the courtyards of some mosques (e.g. Great Mosque, Mosque of the Three Doors) but not the prayer halls (travel.com).
• Visit early in the day to enjoy calm medina streets and avoid crowds.

Sources

• Encyclopedic and UNESCO data on Kairouan’s heritage (whc.unesco.org).
• Britannica overview of Kairouan’s history and development (britannica.com).
• Smarthistory and other scholarly sources on the intellectual role of the city and its architecture (smarthistory.org).