La Gazelle laGazelle | Page 54

I envie escapade I wishlist getaway I ‫مغـامـرة‬ ‫رغباتنا‬ I envie escapade I wishlist getaway I ‫مغـامـرة‬ ‫رغباتنا‬ 1 2 Kairouan, the holy city Captivating, mysterious and authentic, Kairouan is a must-see destination for those wishing to discover Tunisia. From its legendary past made of historical and cultural wealth, the city keeps many architectural treasures and unique craftsmanship whose reputation radiates well beyond the country’s borders. 1. Intérieur de la Grande Mosquée I View over the city the Great Mosque of Kairouan I ‫الكبري‬ ‫اجلامع‬ ‫عىل‬ ‫شاملة‬ ‫إطاللة‬ 2. Vue aérienne de Kairouan I View over the city – RFI I ‫عىل‬ ‫شاملة‬ ‫إطاللة‬ ‫ة‬ ‫ر‬ ّ ‫ح‬ ‫صور‬ ‫ـ‬ ‫املدينة‬ monuments with exceptional architecture. Among the most striking, the Great Mosque has become the symbol of the city and the Mosque of the Three Doors and its carved facade, continue to arouse the admiration of visitors. These remains are concentrated in the Kairouan Medina, classified since 1988 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A true beating heart of Located in the center of the country, 150 km from the capital, Kairouan fascinates with its prestigious history. Often designated as the most important sacred city of the Maghreb and the fourth holy city of Islam, it was from the ninth to the eleventh century invested with the role of capital of Ifriqiya - region extending from the East of Algeria in western Libya - in the Aghlabid dynasty. A position that has allowed it to prevail for many centuries as the epicenter of the influence of Arab culture and Islam, projecting its influence over much of the Maghreb and as far as Muslim Sicily. From this eminent past, Kairouan has preserved some valuable objects - including the famous Blue Quran - a late 9th to early 10th- century Andalusian Quran manuscript in Kufic calligraphy - preserved in the National Museum of Islamic Art of Raqqada and a multitude of religious 56 the town. Lovers of sweetness will feast on the “makrouds”, a diamond- shaped specialty of the region, filled with dates and deliciously coated with honey. the city, it offers the astonishing spectacle of an infinity of white cupolas The Great Mosque of Kairouan: an architectural masterpiece that mosques which inspired the nickname of “three hundred-mosque city”. A visit to Kairouan would not be complete without enjoying a half a day under which rest the tombs of Muslim saints and also has innumerable The three hundred-mosque city vegetables and proteins which is generously served in most restaurants of A city with longstanding traditions  City of history and traditions, the medina of Kairouan and its stalls abound with treasures. While strolling in its narrow lanes, you will be surprised by the extent of the artisanal know-how of the Kairouanais. Chopped copper trays, basketwork objects, leather sandals, traditional costumes embroidered with silk and ceremonial stools densely populate the storefronts. But Kairouan is mainly famous for its carpets of which only the weaving workshops scattered in the old city hold the secret. In bright or sober colors, these wool carpets have the distinction of being made in knotted stitches to offer pretty floral or geometric designs. As far as gastronomy is concerned, Kairouan also offers tasty discoveries. symbolizes the power of Islam tour to discover the Great Mosque. The first Muslim place of prayer in the Maghreb is famous for its religious importance as well as its exceptional beauty. The Great Mosque of Kairouan dates back to 670 CE and was built by the command of Arab Muslim general Oqba bin Nafi. Although it has been destroyed a couple of times, then rebuilt, today›s structure rests much upon the original mosque. The most extensive destruction came few years after the original construction, in 688 when it was destroyed in a rebellion. The present layout was created in the 9th century, but it is hard to establish which parts date back to this date. Still, the columns of the prayer hall are even older, having been taken from Roman and Byzantine structures in Carthage, Sbeitla, Hadrumetum (Sousse) and Chemtou. I ‫الرتايث‬ ‫املخزون‬ ‫من‬ ‫فلها‬ ،‫املطبخ‬ ‫يف‬ ‫القريوان‬ ‫اختصاصات‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫بالنسبة‬ ‫ا‬ ‫أم‬ ‫غليل‬ ‫يشيف‬ ‫ما‬ ‫جند‬ ‫املهشورة‬ ‫األلكات‬ ‫بني‬ ‫من‬ ٠‫الفريدة‬ ‫املذاقات‬ ‫عن‬ ‫باحث‬ ‫لك‬ ‫عن‬ ‫ا‬ ‫أم‬ ٠‫املطامع‬ ‫أغلب‬ ‫يف‬ ‫م‬ ‫د‬ ّ ‫ق‬ ‫ي‬ ُ ‫و‬ ‫والربوتينات‬ ‫باخلضار‬ ّ‫غين‬ ‫طبق‬ ‫وهو‬ »‫«الكفتايج‬ ‫تقليدية‬ ‫قريوانية‬ ‫حلويات‬ ‫وهو‬ ،»‫«املقروض‬ ‫يف‬ ‫ضالّهتم‬ ‫فسيجدون‬ ،‫ات‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫احللو‬ ‫اق‬ ‫عش‬ ٠‫العسل‬ ‫يف‬ ‫سة‬ ‫غم‬ ‫بالمتر‬ ‫ة‬ ‫و‬ ّ ‫حمش‬ ّ‫معين‬ ‫شلك‬ ‫عىل‬ ‫وم‬ ِّ ‫بني‬ ،‫الكبري‬ ‫اجلامع‬ ‫املعامري‬ ‫وامجلال‬ ‫اإلساليم‬ ‫قل‬ ‫الث‬ ‫اجلامع‬ ‫يشهتر‬ ٠‫ة‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫أساس‬ ‫ة‬ ‫حمط‬ ‫الكبري‬ ‫باجلامع‬ ‫املرور‬ ‫د‬ ّ ‫ع‬ ‫ي‬ ُ ،‫القريوان‬ ‫زيارة‬ ‫عند‬ »‫نافع‬ ‫بن‬ ‫قبة‬ ‫«ع‬ ‫طابعه‬ ‫وجبامل‬ ،‫ة‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫الدين‬ ‫ته‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫وبرمز‬ ‫بعراقته‬ ‫الفاحت‬ ‫بناه‬ ٠ ‫املعامري‬ ‫التوسيع‬ ‫ات‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫معل‬ ‫عديد‬ ‫هشد‬ ‫مكا‬ ،‫ميالدي‬ 670 ‫سنة‬ ‫وذلك‬ ‫العتيقة‬ ‫املدينة‬ ‫جانب‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫للزّائرين‬ ‫تروق‬ ‫ة‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫معامر‬ ‫فة‬ ُ‫تح‬ ‫ميالدي‬ 836 ‫سنة‬ ‫منذ‬ ‫جعله‬ ‫ا‬ ‫مم‬ ‫البناء‬ ‫وإعادة‬ ‫القرون‬ ‫خالل‬ ‫لعب‬ ‫وقد‬ ،‫للقريوان‬ ‫رمزا‬ ‫الوقت‬ ‫مبرور‬ ‫اجلامع‬ ‫أصبح‬ ‫لقد‬ ٠‫اليوم‬ ‫بالعملاء‬ ‫جع‬ ‫الذي‬ ‫الثقايف‬ ‫مركزه‬ ‫بفضل‬ ‫املعارف‬ ‫نقل‬ ‫يف‬ ّ‫مهما‬ ‫دورا‬ ‫الوسىط‬ ‫عىل‬ ‫حافظ‬ ‫ولكنّه‬ ،‫عقود‬ ‫منذ‬ ‫الكبري‬ ‫اجلامع‬ ‫مدرسة‬ ‫اختفت‬ ٠‫القانون‬ ‫يف‬ ‫والباحثني‬ ‫يف‬ ُ‫يخ‬ ،‫املصقولة‬ ‫احلجارة‬ ‫ذي‬ ‫املتني‬ ‫جداره‬ ‫خلف‬ ٠‫ة‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫اإلعتبار‬ ‫وقميته‬ ‫املهيبة‬ ‫هشرته‬ ‫اليت‬ ‫العتيقة‬ ‫اكألمعدة‬ ‫ة‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫األثر‬ ‫املعامل‬ ‫بعض‬ ،‫بقرطاج‬ ‫ة‬ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫األثر‬ ‫املواقع‬ ‫من‬ ‫جلهبا‬ ‫مت‬ »‫«منرب‬ ‫أقدم‬ ‫عىل‬ ‫اجلامع‬ ‫احتواء‬ ‫جانب‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫هذا‬ ،‫وشميتو‬ ،‫حرضموت‬ ،‫سبيطلة‬ I ٠‫اإلساليم‬ ‫بالعامل‬ Among the culinary specialties of the city, the “kefteji”, a dish rich in 57