Tozeur

★★★ Tozeur — Queen of the Oases

Tozeur is the most beautiful oasis city in Tunisia and the perfect starting point for Sahara adventures. The city (approx. 45,000 inhabitants) is located on the edge of the Chott el-Jerid, surrounded by one of the largest palm groves in the world: over 400,000 date palms on 1,000 hectares, crisscrossed by a sophisticated irrigation system from the 13th century.

Tozeur has two faces: the modern city with wide boulevards and cafés, and the old town Ouled el-Hadef — an architectural jewel with a unique brick construction style worldwide.

★★★ Old Town Ouled el-Hadef

The old town of Tozeur is a masterpiece of desert architecture and fundamentally different from any other medina in Tunisia. Instead of whitewashed walls, the houses are made of yellowish mud bricks laid in intricate geometric patterns — diamonds, crosses, stars, creating different shadow plays depending on the sun's position. This technique is unique worldwide and at least 700 years old.

The alleys are so narrow that you can almost touch the opposite house walls. Everywhere arches and bridges between the houses provide shade and keep the heat away. A walk through Ouled el-Hadef is like a journey through time.

★★★ Palm Oasis (Palmeraie)

The palm grove of Tozeur is a green world amidst the desert. Over 400,000 date palms form a three-tiered ecosystem: palms at the top, fruit trees (pomegranates, figs, oranges) below, and vegetable beds and herbs at the bottom. An ancient irrigation system (from the 13th century) distributes water from artesian wells fairly across the gardens.

The Deglet-Nour date ("Finger of Light") from Tozeur is considered the best date in the world — honey-colored, translucent, buttery soft. The harvest in October/November is a special experience: men climb to dizzying heights on the palms to cut the heavy date clusters.

• On foot: Several marked hiking trails through the oasis (1–3 hours).
• By horse-drawn carriage (Calèche): The romantic option. From 20 TND for a tour (1 hour).
• Eden Palm: Private museum and palm garden with explanations about date culture and irrigation. 10 TND.
• Zoo du Désert: Small zoo on the edge of the oasis with Sahara animals: fennecs, desert foxes, gazelles, snakes.

Tozeur as a Film Location

Tozeur and its surroundings are a popular filming location: parts of "Star Wars" (Mos Espa set in Ong el-Jemel), "The English Patient," "Indiana Jones," and "The Mummy" were filmed here. The cinema museum Dar Cheraït showcases original sets and photos.

Arrival: Tozeur-Nefta Airport (TOE) with seasonal connections. Louage from Tunis (5–6h, 12€), from Gabès (3h, 6€). Night train from Tunis (8–9h, 15€ sleeper).