El Haouaria
Punic and Roman sandstone quarries cut as underground chambers at the tip of Cap Bon.
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The Ghar el Kebir caves at El Haouaria are not natural: they are quarries, cut into the sandstone from the Punic period onwards to supply building stone for Carthage and later for Roman towns, and worked from the top down so that the chambers have pyramid-shaped openings admitting light from above. Blocks were shipped out from the shore below. The village is also known for a spring festival built around traditional falconry with sparrowhawks.
What you actually see
- The quarry chambers - underground rooms with pyramid-shaped light openings above.
- The tool marks - the cuts left by quarrymen on the chamber walls.
- The Carthage connection - stone shipped from here to build the Punic city.
- The falconry festival - the spring event built around sparrowhawk training.
When to go
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable. The falconry festival falls in June. Sea spray makes the coastal path slippery in winter.
Honest expectations
The chambers are dark and the footing is uneven. Sea conditions can close the coastal approach. The falconry festival is a village event and details change year to year.
Nearby
Kelibia is southeast, and Korbous is southwest.
What to pack for El Haouaria
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.