Le Kef

Le Kef stands at around eight hundred metres on a rocky spur in western Tunisia, and it has been continuously important since it was the Numidian town of Sicca: the kasbah on the summit is Ottoman on older foundations, the Basilica of Saint Peter below it is a fourth-century church later used as a mosque, and Roman cisterns, an Ottoman synagogue and a set of zaouias fill the streets between. The Medjerda valley and the Algerian hills spread out below.

Background

El Kef is the capital of the Kef Governorate in northwestern Tunisia, 175 kilometres west of Tunis and some 40 kilometres from the Algerian border. The 2004 census counted 45,191 inhabitants. The old town climbs the cliff face of Jebel Dyr, a table mountain, and the Sidi Bou Makhlouf Mausoleum holds the tomb of the city's patron saint, still a place of visits for the town.

Source: Wikipedia, "El Kef"

What you'll find

• The kasbah - the Ottoman citadel on the summit, on much older foundations.
• The Basilica of Saint Peter - a fourth-century church reused across the centuries.
• The Ghriba synagogue - the Ottoman-period synagogue in the old town.
• The Roman cisterns - the water storage cut into the rock below the kasbah.

When to go

April to October is comfortable; the altitude makes winter cold and wet, with occasional snow. Spring is best for the surrounding country. Mornings are best for the kasbah.

Things to know

The town is steep and the streets are hard going. Several monuments have irregular opening. It is a long drive from Tunis and public transport is slow.

Nearby

Dougga is east, and Haidra is south.

Key facts