Ez Zahra: Coast and History

Ez Zahra is a coastal town south of Tunis, in the southern suburbs of the capital. Its location on the Mediterranean and a history stretching from the name Saint-Germain to visible traces of a fortress give the town two distinct points of interest. Ez Zahra borders the Mediterranean Sea and the municipalities of Radès, Hammam Lif and Bou Mhel el-Bassatine. When choosing a destination for a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether you want to focus mainly on the coast, the town’s history or both.

A Coastal Town with a History

The seaside resort of Ez Zahra, founded in 1909 under the name Saint-Germain, had a wide beach. The municipality of Ez Zahra was established under this name on 10 September 1909, during the colonial period. Its founding history anchors the former name to a specific date and era; at the same time, its coastal location gives the town its geographical character.

Saint-Germain was also associated with paintings by Paul Klee and August Macke, created in 1914. La Siesta was another part of the town’s history: it was the former casino of Saint-Germain, whose grounds included bungalows by the sea. The La Siesta building later became a restaurant. The former name is therefore linked both to art and to the changing use of a single building.

Traces of a fortress can still be seen in Ez Zahra. Together with the wide beach of the former seaside resort, they add another facet to the town’s history. As you make your choice, you can consider whether to select Ez Zahra mainly as a coastal destination, for its historical connections, or for a combination of both interests.

Ben Arous: A Distinct Archaeological Chapter

Within the wider destination of Ben Arous, Oudhna offers a distinct archaeological strand. The colony was founded at the end of the 1st century BC for veterans of the Roman XIII Legion and was named Uthina. It reached its peak in the 2nd century AD, particularly under Hadrian. Oudhna probably existed before Roman rule in Africa, and possibly as early as the time of the Indigenous Berbers of North Africa.

The amphitheatre is partly cut into a hill on the northeastern edge of the city and can accommodate around 16,000 spectators. The House of Ikarios covers about 2,300 square metres and has more than 30 rooms. A mosaic floor there depicts a grape harvest; the central image shows Dionysus giving Ikarios a vine. Oudhna’s buildings and visual motifs thus offer very different insights into ancient history.

Oudhna’s large public baths are a symmetrical structure of the imperial type, covering about 10,000 square metres. The upper level contained hot and cold rooms, while the lower level was used to store firewood. An aqueduct supplied Oudhna with water, including for the baths. The archaeological site also includes an ancient theatre, the Temple of the Capitol and large public cisterns southwest of the forum.

Discover more destinations: Mornag.

Return to the main travel overview: Ben Arous.