Sfax ( ; , ) is a major port city in Tunisia, located southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD849 on the ruins of Taparura, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate (about 955,421 inhabitants in 2014), and a Mediterranean port. Sfax has a population of 341,999 (census 2022).
History
Carthaginian and Aghlabid eras
Present-day Sfax was founded by the
in AD849 on the site of the town of
Taparura. The modern city has also grown to cover some other ancient settlements, most notably
Thenae in its southern suburb of
Thyna.
Almohad era
By the end of the 10th century, Sfax had become an independent
city-state. The city was conquered by Roger II of Sicily in 1148 and occupied until it was liberated in 1156 after a revolt and taken by the
Almohads, and was briefly occupied by European forces again, this time by the Spanish, in the 16th century, before falling into
Ottoman Empire hands. Sfax became an integral base of the
Barbary pirates, prompting an unsuccessful invasion by
Venice in 1185.
Al-Idrisi, in the 12th century, described Sfax as:[ نزهة المشتاق في اختراق الآفاق - الإقليم الثالث، الجزء الثاني Muhammad al-Idrisi]
The city of Sfax is an ancient and thriving city with many markets and extensive buildings. It is surrounded by a stone wall with fortified iron-plated gates. Along its walls, there are well-constructed watchtowers for guarding. Its markets are lively, and its people drink from cisterns. Fine fruits of astonishing variety are brought to it from the city of Gabès in sufficient quantities, making them abundant and inexpensive. A significant amount of fish is caught there, large in size and plentiful in number, mostly captured using enclosures set up in stagnant waters through various clever methods. Its main agricultural products are olives and olive oil, which are of a unique quality not found elsewhere. The city has a harbor in stagnant waters. In summary, it is one of the most distinguished cities, and its inhabitants possess pride and dignity. The great King Roger conquered it in the year 543 AH 1148. It remains inhabited today, though not as prosperous in architecture, markets, and trade as it was in ancient times.
Hafsid era
Abou Yahya Abou Bekr finally re-established
Hafsid unity and recaptured
Kerkennah from the Christians in 1335. The peace returned to the country was only disturbed by rare episodes, the most lasting of which began with the price of Sfax by the dissident brothers, Ahmed and Abdelmalèk ben Makki.
Towards 1370, following the arrival of Caliph Abdul-Abbas, Sfax returned under the Hafsid era.
After more than three centuries, which had seen the preponderance of the Hafsids, the conflict between the Turkish people and the Spaniards precipitated the fall of their dynasty. In 1534, the privateer Barberousse entered Tunis, proclaimed the decline of the Hafsids and effortlessly reunited the towns of the coast, among them the town of Sfax.
Husseinid era
The founder of the new dynasty, Hussein, gave the country unquestionable economic prosperity. In Sfax, the mosque is enlarged, which regains its original extent; the new mihrâb is dated 1758, the work was completed in 1783.
The ramparts were restored and two large reservoirs were built to supplement the Nasriah cisterns. In 1776, the southern suburb of the city, the Frankish quarter, was built, reserved for Jews and Christians, a major place of maritime trade, but which was also to serve as a buffer against sea attacks, which were still to be feared. The eventuality was not long in coming, the Venetians bombarding Sfax four times in the space of two years (1785–86). A large fort was built during the siege to flank Borj Ennar; it was demolished after the last war.
Around 1830, the Frankish quarter was surrounded by a wall and in 1860 the city had a post office and telegraph. In 1876, the telegraph clerk made a plan of the city and told us about a signal tower built a century earlier and of which we have lost track.
French era
When the Bey of Tunis signed the Bardo Treaty, in 1881, making
Tunisia a protectorate, an insurrection broke out in Sfax. Six ironclads were dispatched from
Toulon (
Colbert,
Friedland,
Marengo,
Trident,
Revanche,
Surveillante) to join the French Navy ships in Tunisian waters. In Sfax, three ironclads from the Division of the Levant were already present (
Alma,
Reine Blanche,
La Galissonnière), together with four cannon boats.
Sfax was bombarded, and on 16 July the city was taken by the French after hard fighting, with seven dead and 32 wounded for the French.
World War II
During World War II, the
Axis powers used the city as a major base until
Tunisia Campaign on 10 April 1943. After World War II, Tunisia was returned to France, but gained independence in 1956.
Colbert-Bougault.jpg|The French ironclad Colbert which bombarded Sfax (1881)
Bab Diwan old 01.gif|Bab Diwan (1890)
Colonel Bougrain, du 4e RST, et Léon Beaufils, contrôleur Civil, à Sfax, 1934.jpg|Colonel Bougrain and Léon Beaufils in Sfax (1934)
The British Army in Tunisia 1943 NA1913.jpg|British Army in Tunisia (1943)
Sfax. Les salines. On voit, sur les rails, des trains Decauville chargés d'acheminer le sel vers le port (CPA R. Marcelon n°9 - Coll. Ch. Attard).gif|Les Salines of Sfax (1910)
German prisoners in Sfax POW camp 1946.jpg|German prisoners (1946)
Bab Diwan old 03.jpg|Bab Diwan and Old view of Sfax (1954)
Sfax, Tunisia After An Allied Bombing Raid, June 1943 TR1018.jpg|Street in Sfax after an Allied bombing raid in June 1943
Sfax, Tunisia After An Allied Bombing Raid, June 1943 TR1022.jpg|Train yard in Sfax after an Allied bombing raid in June 1943
Sfax, Tunisia After An Allied Bombing Raid, June 1943 TR1028.jpg|Warehouses near the port of Sfax after an Allied bombing raid in June 1943
Geography
Climate
Sfax has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSh). Owing to its sheltered location relative to Mediterranean Sea winter storms, Sfax receives half the rainfall of Tunis and less even than the major cities of Libya (Tripoli and
Benghazi). Summers, like all of North Africa, are hot and almost rainless, whilst winters are very pleasant with usually only light rain.
+Sfax mean sea temperature |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Topography
The topography of the governorate of Sfax tilts regularly from the west to the coast and local presents small hills and mountain ranges in the form of elongated draâs.
Relief
Sfax is characterized by a monotonous, low and slightly uneven relief. The altitude y rarely exceed 250 m, especially in the center-west of the governorate (Draâ Lahirech, 269 m; Djebel Chebka, 255 m). Most of the study site extends over wide plains not exceeding the 150 m above sea level, including a low coastal strip about 15 km wide and having an average altitude of 20 m.
[ Atlas du Gouvernorat de Sfax: Page 16 (In French)]
Hydrography
The monotonous character, low and not very rugged of the topography largely determined the characteristics hydrographic in the governorate of Sfax. Indeed, the rivers are numerous, shallow and rarely reaches the sea. The hills and small mountain ranges of the center-west present a hydrographic hairline dense and relatively deep compared to the coastal strip. Like a few exoreic rivers (wadi Agareb, wadi Laâchech, wadi El Maleh), most of the Wadis are endorheic, leading to closed depressions of the sebkhas and garâas type. Depending on their morpho-structural conditions, these closed depressions take the form of basins synclinal (Menzel Chaker and Hancha regions) or the form of sebkhas and garâas (Noual, Bou Jmal, Mchiguigue, Karafita... etc.).
[ Atlas du Gouvernorat de Sfax: Page 17 (In French)]
Neighborhoods
Whether in the city center or between the radial roads, there are large, popular neighborhoods in Sfax, most of which are:
-
Hay El Rabdh
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Hay El Habib
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Hay El Bahri
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Hay Bourguiba
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Hay El Badrani
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Hay Ennasr
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Hay El Maez
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Hay Thyna
Politics and administration
Mayor and municipality
Sadok Guermazi.jpg|Sadok Ghermazi
Abdelmajid chaker2.JPG|Abdelmajid Chaker
Mohamed Chaker.jpg|Mohamed Chaker
The current mayor of the city is Mounir Elloumi (belonging to Ennahdha), elected in the 2018 Tunisian local elections[ Résultats préliminaires (Instance supérieure indépendante pour les élections).]
Administrative division
The Governorate of Sfax has 16 municipalities:
Demographics
In 2019, the population of Sfax has reached 1,013,021 inhabitants. The urban population represents 63.7% of the population.
In 2014 the
represent 50.2% of the population structure with a population of 140,752. As to the
Females, they represent 49.1% with a population of 139,814.
Architecture and urbanism
Medina
The Medina represents one of the most important quarters of Sfax. it plays a touristic and historical role of the city. It was built by Aghlabid prince Abu Abbass Muhammad between 849 and 851. The medina is home to about 113,000 residents and is dominated by the Great Mosque of Sfax.
Walls and gates
Apart from Borj Ennar and three other towers that disappeared, the walls of the medina kept the same original architecture since 1306.
These are 2,750 meters long and have 34 dungeons. Their height varies between seven and eleven meters.
Originally, the medina had only two doors: Bab Jebli, also known as Bab Dhahraoui (northern door), and Bab Diwan or Bab Bahr (the sea door). Yet, in the 20th century and because of the economic development and the huge increase of the population, new doors had to be created to reduce the flow from these two main doors such as Bab El Ksar and Bab Jebli Jedid.
Kasbah
Like most of the other medinas of
Tunisia, Sfax has its own kasbah. It is a desert fortress, located in the southwestern corner of the medina. It was used for different purposes throughout history, first, a control tower built by the
Aghlabid dynasty on the coast, then the seat of the municipal government, and then the main army barracks. Its construction was preceded by the deployment of the wall and the
medina quarter. Today it is served as a museum of traditional architecture.
Mausoleums and mosques
Also here are the Sidi Amar Kammoun Mausoleum, Sidi Ali Ennouri Mausoleum, Sidi Belhassen Karray Mausoleum, El Ajouzine Mosque, Bouchouaicha Mosque,
Driba Mosque and Sidi Elyes Mosque.
City hall
The city hall of Sfax is in the center of the modern city and opens on Habib Bourguiba Street in parallel with the main entrance of the historic city. The Municipal Palace draws attention to the magnificence and beauty of its exterior architecture and its interior decorations and masterpieces. This unique landmark was designed by French architect Rafael Guy, who blended the Arab-Moriscan character with the European character
The project of the construction of the Palace of the scourge began at the beginning of the twentieth century, where the municipality issued a tender for this purpose in the newspaper Adebash Svaxian on 30 June 1904 and began construction works in late 1905 and ended in 1906
In 1912, he began to expand gradually until around 1943
After the Second World War, the town hall was completed in 1955.
Sfax,façades de l’immeuble.jpg
Sfaxcentre.jpg
Hotel de ville de Sfax.jpg
Town hall of Sfax.jpg
Place de Magdebourg - Demi-Finale de CAN 2019 14.jpg
Cityscape
Culture
The city of Sfax includes an archaeological museum, located in the municipal building and is open during the hours of municipal services, which includes a collection of ancient archaeological discoveries in the city and in the close sites, including the ancient city Thanae (Thyna); its collections include pieces dating from prehistoric, Roman and Islamic. Sfax also contains a museum of arts and traditions located in the medina called Dar Jallouli.
[ See Culture]
Education
Sfax concentrates the main educational institutions of the south of the Sahel:
The University of Sfax includes:
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ENIS (École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax) issued a number of well-known scientists and industrialists.
[ enis.rnu.tn]
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ESCS (École Supérieure de Commerce de Sfax) issued a number of managers, Economy and Management researchers and young entrepreneurs.
[ escs.rnu.tn]
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FLSHS (Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Sfax) issued a number of renowned poets and prose writers.
[ flshs.rnu.tn]
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Sfax Faculty of Medicine (Faculté de Médecine de Sfax).
[ fmsf.rnu.tn ]
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ISAAS (Institut Supérieur d'Administration des Affaires de Sfax)
[ isaas.rnu.tn]
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FSEGS (Faculté des Sciences Économiques et de Gestion de Sfax).
[ fsegs.rnu.tn]
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FSS (Faculty of Science Sfax) .
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ISIMS (Institut Supérieur d'Informatique et de Multimédia de Sfax).
[ isimsf.rnu.tn]
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FDS (Faculté de Droit de Sfax)
[ fdsf.rnu.tn]
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ISAMS (Institut Supérieur des Arts et Métiers de Sfax)
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IHEC (Institut des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Sfax)
The North American Private University
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The International Institute of Technology (IIT)
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The International School of Architecture (ISA, a department of IIT)
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The International School of Business (ISB)
Theater
The city had a municipal theater between 1903 and 1942 built by the architect Raphaël Guy according to a neo-Moorish architecture, in line with the seat of the municipality and the Ramdanetru palace. It was bombarded during campaign of Tunisia which nevertheless targeted the commercial port much further south of the city and during which the Frankish quarter was completely razed.
Festival
The city of Sfax organizes the International Festival of Sfax, a summer event which welcomes artists from various countries.
[ « Le festival international de Sfax revient pour sa 42e édition », Tunisie.co, 24 juillet 2020.]
Maison de France
The French Institute of Sfax, commonly Maison de France (French House), is a space of meeting, reflection, and creation open to all and also of expression, whose goal is to support and supervise the activities of the civil city and its artists. It was opened the 16 June 2006.
It has more than 40,000 visitors per year, and more than 50 cultural events. There is also a library that makes more than 20,000 documents available to the public.[ Maison de France of Sfax]
Economy
Sfax is the second-most important industrial city in Tunisia. Sfax's most important industries are leather, wool, olive and almond cultivation, and fishing. Sfax is known for many traditional crafts industries such as construction, traditional handicrafts, carpentry, blacksmithing, as well as handcrafting of gold and silver.
[ See Economy]
Sectors
Agriculture, especially olive cultivation, despite all these changes occupies an important place in the regional economy. Agricultural land occupies almost the entire area of the region (90%). The city produces on average 40% of the olive oil and 30% of the almonds of Tunisia, which makes it the first national producer. Another component of the Sfaxian economy is the exploitation of petroleum: the Miskar natural gas field covers a total area of 352 km2 and has a capacity of 22.7 billion m³. On there exploit 1.18 million tons per year.
Statistics
The working population is divided between three sectors: agriculture and fishing (25.3%), services (25.6%), and manufacturing industries (24.4%).
Statistics of the Sfaxian economy by sectors and field:
Agriculture
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Cultivable land (S.A.U): 639,000 ha
-
Irrigated Areas: 12,300 ha
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Forests and pastures: 118,000 ha
Fishing
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Coastal fishing: 6,500 tonnes
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Trawl fishing: 13,000 tonnes
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Tuna fishing: 2,700 tonnes
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Fire fishing: 1,140 tonnes
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Sponge and mussel peach: 417 tonnes
Energy
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Oil: 1,2 millions m3
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Gas: 1,7 milliards m3
Transport
Motorways
The A1 motorway connects Sfax with
Tunis and also with Gabès that was inaugurated in 2017.
Railways
A narrow-gauge railway system of
SNCFT offers passenger services to Tunis and delivers phosphates and iron ore for export.
Airports
Sfax is served by Sfax–Thyna International Airport and
Syphax Airlines has regularly scheduled flights to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Tripoli International Airport, and charter flights to
Jeddah Airport for the pilgrimage to
Mecca.
Media
Founded in 1961,
Radio Sfax broadcasts 20 hours a day
on MW 720 kHz/105.21 MHz.
There is also:
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Al Qalam TV
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Diwan FM
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Chams El-Janoub, hebdomadaire arabophone
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La Gazette du Sud, mensuel francophone
Sport
Sfax has three sports clubs, for football, volleyball and basketball:
CS Sfaxien, Sfax Railway Sport, Stade Sportif Sfaxien:
|
|
| Club Sportif Sfaxien | Stade Taïeb Mhiri | 1928 | 8 | 11 | 19 (women's) |
| Sfax Railways Sports | Stade Ameur-El Gargouri | 1920 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Stade Sportif Sfaxien | Stade 2-Mars | 1960 | 0 | – | – |
Notable people
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Ahmed Abbes, mathematician
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Ali Abdi, professional footballer
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Max Azria, fashion designer
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Mamdouh Bahri, artist, composer, jazz guitarist, and teacher
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Hédi Bouraoui, poet and writer
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Nouri Bouzid, film director
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Hamdi Braa, basketball player
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Mohamed Charfi, academic, politician, jurist, and scholar
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Eoin Colfer, Irish author; worked in Sfax in the 1990s and set several of his books there
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Aymen Dahmen, professional footballer
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Moncef Dhouib, director and screenwriter
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Luciano Di Napoli (Sfax born), Italian pianist and conductor
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Tom Dixon, industrial designer
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Serge Dumont, business executive
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Mohamed Fourati, surgeon
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Mohamed Gouaida, footballer
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Farhat Hached, trade union leader assassinated by the French government
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Mohamed Jamoussi, artist, poet, composer, and famous singer
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Claude Kayat, Franco-Swedish writer and dramatist
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Mounir Laroussi, scientist, inventor
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Christian Lauba, composer
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Ali Maâloul, professional footballer
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Abdessalem Mseddi, former Minister of Higher Education, linguist, and writer
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Georges Perec, writer
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Hatem Trabelsi, former football player
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Saber Rebaï, Tunisian pan-Arab singer and composer
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Majida Boulila, Militant
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Mounir Lazzez, UFC Fighter
International relations
Twin towns – sister cities
Sfax is
Sister cities with:
Gallery
Avenue Habib Bourguiba Sfax 02.jpg
Immeuble Frikha.JPG
Vue du rue haffouz et jardin dakar sfax.jpg
Hôtel de ville Sfax.JPG
Place de l'église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Sfax 03.jpg
Bab diwan by night 3.jpg
See also
Notes
External links
