Matmata & the Ksour

★★★ Matmata — Star Wars on Earth

Matmata is one of the most extraordinary settlements in the world. For centuries, the Berbers have not built their houses above ground, but dug them into the earth: A circular crater (10–15 meters deep) serves as an open courtyard, from which cave-like rooms are horizontally driven into the soft sandstone. The temperature remains a pleasant 18–22°C year-round — a brilliant adaptation to the extreme climate.

Matmata became world-famous in 1976 when George Lucas filmed the home of Luke Skywalker on the desert planet Tatooine here. The Hotel Sidi Driss, a converted troglodyte house, served as the setting for the Lars family's moisture farm. The sets are still preserved — the dining room and bar are decorated with Star Wars props. The film crew returned for "Star Wars: Episode II" (2002).

What to see

• Hotel Sidi Driss: The original Star Wars set. Non-guests can visit for 5 TND. Having a beer (or tea) in the Tatooine dining room is a must for fans.
• Troglodyte houses: Several inhabited cave houses can be visited. Berber families open their homes for a small tip (2–5 TND) and explain underground life. Fascinating: kitchen, bedroom, storage rooms, oil press — all underground.
• New Matmata (Matmata Nouvelle): In the 1960s, the government initiated the construction of a "modern" settlement on the plain. Many Berbers moved, some stayed in their caves. The contrasts between old and new tell a story of modernization.

Getting there: Louage from Gabès (45 min, €1.50). By rental car from Djerba (2h via Gabès). Day trips from Djerba (organized, from €40 per person).

★★★ Ksar Ouled Soltane

The most spectacular granary castle in Tunisia is located 22 km south of Tataouine and is a masterpiece of Berber architecture. Four levels of storage cells (Ghorfas) surround two courtyards in a honeycomb structure reminiscent of a beehive. The vaulted cells served the semi-nomadic Berbers as secure storage rooms for grain, oil, and valuables.

Ksar Ouled Soltane was also a Star Wars set: The slave quarters on the planet Tatooine in "Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (1999) were filmed here. The resemblance to alien architecture is astonishing.

22 km south of Tataouine. Free entry. Accessible at any time. Best in the morning or late afternoon for photos (light play in the courtyards).

★★ Other Ksour (Granary Castles)

The region around Tataouine and Médenine is home to dozens of Ksour (plural of Ksar). Particularly worthwhile:

• Ksar Médenine: Directly in the city, the largest Ksar in the region with over 6,000 Ghorfas. Today partially used as shops and cafes.
• Ksar Haddada: Converted into a hotel — you can stay in a Ghorfa! Also a Star Wars filming location (Mos Espa).
• Ksar Hallouf: Remote and rarely visited, but particularly authentic. The Ghorfas are up to five stories high.
• Chenini: A dramatically perched Berber village with abandoned Ghorfas and an old mosque. The view over the desert plain is breathtaking.
• Douiret: Another abandoned hilltop village with troglodyte houses and an underground oil mill. Atmospheric and deserted.