Hergla
A white clifftop village on the Sahel coast known for esparto grass basketry and a saint's mosque.
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Hergla sits on a low cliff above the sea north of Sousse, a compact village of whitewashed houses around the mosque of Sidi Bou Mendil, a saint who according to local tradition crossed the sea on his handkerchief. The village is the centre of Tunisian esparto grass work, with workshops weaving the tough steppe grass into baskets, mats and couscous steamers, and it has an international film festival for African and Mediterranean animation.
What you actually see
- The esparto workshops - baskets, mats and steamers woven from steppe grass.
- The Sidi Bou Mendil mosque - the saint's mosque at the centre of the village.
- The clifftop setting - white houses above the sea on a low cliff.
- The animation festival - the international festival held in the village.
When to go
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable. The animation festival falls in summer. Mornings are best for the workshops.
Honest expectations
The village is small and an hour or two covers it. Workshops are working businesses rather than displays. There is little accommodation and it is usually a stop from Sousse.
Nearby
Sousse is south, and Hammamet is north.
What to pack for Hergla
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.