Toujane

Toujane sits on the mountain road between Matmata and Medenine, a village of stone houses divided into two halves by a gorge, with a ruined kalaa on the height above and terraced olive gardens in the valley below. It is known for weaving, and the road through it is lined with carpets and blankets hung out by the makers. The view from the village runs east over the Jeffara plain towards the sea, and scenes of René Vautier's 1974 film La folle de Toujane were shot here. The road up to it from the plain climbs through bare rock and scattered olive trees, and the village appears suddenly at the head of the valley with its two halves facing each other across the gap.

What you'll find

• The gorge - the ravine splitting the village into two halves.
• The weaving - carpets and blankets made in the village and hung along the road.
• The ruined kalaa - the fortified height above the settlement.
• The plain view - the Jeffara running east towards the coast.

When to go

October to April is comfortable; summer is very hot. Late afternoon light suits the stonework. The mountain road is winding.

Things to know

Carpet sellers along the road are persistent and pressure is heavy. The village is small and the visit brief. Many houses are abandoned.

Nearby

Matmata is northwest, and Medenine is east.

Key facts