Ben Arous – Discover Oudhna and Boukornine
Accommodation in Ben Arous
For a trip to Ben Arous, you can focus on two different highlights: the archaeological site of Oudhna and the visitor trails in Boukornine National Park. Oudhna offers insights into Roman history and architecture—from its amphitheatre to a house with an impressive mosaic. In the national park, you can choose from developed trails with different themes. This variety can help you decide while planning which experiences you want to shape your trip.
Oudhna: from veterans’ colony to the heyday of Uthina
The city of Oudhna was founded at the end of the 1st century BC as a colony for veterans of the Roman 13th Legion. The colony was named Uthina and reached its heyday in the 2nd century AD, particularly under Hadrian. Its history may go back even further: Oudhna probably existed before Roman rule in Africa, and possibly as early as the time of the Indigenous Berbers of North Africa.
The archaeological site includes an ancient theatre and a historic temple known as the Temple of the Capitol. Large public cisterns stood southwest of the forum. Several houses with mosaic floors have also been uncovered at the site. Together, these places offer different insights into the city, from public buildings to homes and the water supply.
Amphitheatre, baths, and water supply
The amphitheatre of Oudhna is partly cut into a hill on the northeastern edge of the city and can accommodate around 16,000 spectators. Its position in the landscape is a striking feature of the structure. The large public baths offer a different sense of scale: this symmetrical building of the imperial type covers around 10,000 m². The upper level contained hot and cold rooms; the lower level was used to store firewood.
Oudhna also brings the connection between buildings and infrastructure to life. An aqueduct supplied the city with water, including the large baths. As you explore, you can consider several aspects together: the scale of the public buildings, their functions, and the supply systems needed to operate them.
The House of Ikarios and its mosaics
The House of Ikarios covers around 2,300 m² and contains more than 30 rooms. One mosaic floor depicts a grape harvest; in the central scene, Dionysus gives Ikarios a vine shoot. The agricultural motif and the mythological scene appear side by side. For visitors interested in more than the large public buildings, the house offers a close-up look at the imagery found in a single residence.
As you explore the site, you can move between different features: the amphitheatre as a large structure, the baths with their different levels, and the mosaics in the House of Ikarios. This variety makes Oudhna especially interesting if you want to experience Roman history through more than a single monument.
Visitor trails in Boukornine National Park
Boukornine National Park has three developed visitor trails: a general discovery trail, a trail exploring the park’s plant and animal diversity, and a hiking trail. Each trail therefore has a different thematic focus. If you are planning a hike, check the current condition of the trails before your visit.
When choosing your holiday rental, you can take into account whether you plan to visit Oudhna, the visitor trails in Boukornine National Park, or both.
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