The Tourist Development of The Ksour of Medenine

(in the southeast of Tunisia)

Abstract

El Ksour are very old buildings in south-east Tunisia. They represented farm grain storage places and products, markets and various service centers. The ksours were varied: mountain ksour in Benikhdech and Tataouine, plain ksour in jeffara. ksours were particularly concentrated in Medenine and Om Ettamer. The Ksar consists of a set of storage cells (ghorfa), a central courtyard and a vestibule. In the construction of the Ksar we used local materials and effective techniques. with information protectorate, the role of the Ksours fell back and many of them collapsed .

After the Independence, the demolition actions continued. Today, only 3 ksours stayed in Medenine. With the development of tourism in Djerba, Zarzis in the sixties (60'S) and then in Tataouine, the tourist value of the Ksours emerged. Therefore, there was an interest to restore it and profit its value on tourism. the ksours of Medenine contain a heritage museum, cafés , shops for the sale of souvenirs and handicrafts. These ksours are increasingly frequented by tourists, and this is a reason that encouraged to profit that in tourism development. A qualitative leap in the tourism implementation of Medenine ksour, requires continued efforts backup and recovery, innovation in the tourism offer and a better coordination between the different actors.