Djebba

Djebba El Olia sits on the northern slope of Djebel Gorraa in northwestern Tunisia, where villagers have built stone terraces up the mountainside and grow figs on them in a system that also carries olives, pomegranates and cereals in the same plots. The Djebba fig has protected designation status in Tunisia and the whole farming system has been recognised internationally as a globally important agricultural heritage system. Rock carvings survive on the mountain above.

What you actually see

• The stone terraces - hand-built agricultural terraces climbing the mountainside.
• The Djebba figs - the protected local variety grown on the slopes.
• The mixed cropping - figs, olives, pomegranates and cereals in the same plots.
• The rock carvings - prehistoric engravings on the mountain above the village.

When to go

April to October is best for the terraces; the fig harvest runs from July into September. Winter in these hills is wet and cold. Mornings are best for walking.

Honest expectations

The terraces are private working farms and walking them needs permission or a local guide. There is no visitor infrastructure. The mountain road is narrow and steep.

Nearby

Testour is southeast, and Beja is northwest.