|
::
Attractions : Northern Tunis
Comparatively cooler weather is the reason why northern
Tunisia figures in the tourist map. Although
by-passed by most British holidaymakers, the area north of
Tunis and along the northern coast is a delightful part of the
country with dozens of quiet beaches and one of the most
fascinating towns in the country.
The region can be quite cold in winter
with occasional snow flurries. In summer, it provides a
welcome escape from the heat of the capital.
BIZERTE:
Bizerte has been a major port since Phoenician times when it
was known as Hippo Zarytus. Under French rule in the late 19th
century, it became a naval base and has remained Tunisia’s
biggest military center ever since.
At the heart of the town is the
wonderfully picturesque Vieux Port (Old Port)
surrounded by shops and cafes and usually dotted with dozens
of multi-coloured fishing boats.
On the southwestern approach to
Bizerte is the Monument of the Martyrs commemorating
the Bizerte Crisis of 1961 when French soldiers clashed with
Tunisian troops leaving more than 1300 dead.
Despite
its Byzantine appearance, the Kasbah dates mainly from
the 17th century. Within its walls is a mini-town of narrow,
winding alleys.
A
day trip from Tunis is worthwhile.
JEBEL ICHKEUL NATIONAL PARK :
UNESCO
has designated two water based conservation areas as Wetland
World Heritage Sites. Jibel Ichkeul National Park has that
rare honor, the other being Florida Everglades. It is a major
stopping point for waterfowl migrating between Europe and
Africa, between February and October. It is thus a prominent
bird sanctuary and is also home to one of Tunisia’s most
colorful birds, the purple gallinule. Bird lovers can have a
lovely time here during the season when migratory birds land
here.
The
park is also home to varied animal life with water buffaloes,
wild boars, jackals and otters.
TABARKA:
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Tunisian government
ploughed millions of pounds into creating a purpose-built
holiday town with its own international airport. It was thus
that Tabarka situated in northwest Tunisia, close to the
Algerian border became Tunisia’s flagship resort on the
north coast. it is quite popular in the peak summer months
with Continental visitors. But the tourist traffic becomes
lean in the autumn and winter. Tabarka offers some of the most
exciting dive sites in the Mediterranean including Tunnels
Reef – an extraordinary complex of caves, caverns and
gullies. Hence its future as a tourist destination lies in the
exploitation of the possibilities as a diving destination.
|
