ON THE TRAIL
Tataouine
Tataouine was built using adobe brick — a mixture of clay , sand and straw — which seamlessly blends into the city ’ s vast Sahara surrounds . The stunted archtop doorways and rock-hewn passages are thought to have been constructed in the 11th century , but Berbers have inhabited the city since prehistoric times . Records of its neighboring stations were carved into caves 5,000 years ago and the Phoenicians , Romans , Vandals and Byzantines have all passed through here . Crouch on entry to the passageways and explore its narrow routes to learn about the natural cooling and ventilation systems developed by ancient Berbers that are still in use today .
Kesra
A set of decoratively adorned steps are cut into the Aleppo pine-lined stone path that leads up to Kesra , the highest Berber village in Tunisia . Perched nearly 3,280-feet above sea level , this village was visited by the Roman Empire and its maze of tight passages and short stairways lead out to a Byzantine fort . Despite its history of invasion , its proud Berber roots are still clear — their ancient alphabet is etched into the steps , and the fort today houses the Museum of Traditional Heritage . Visit to learn about how traditional pottery and textiles were used by Berbers throughout the centuries .
Matmata Visitors to Matmata can hear
one of the 40-odd dialects of the Berber language used in its underground laneways . Matmata is firmly rooted in its Berber heritage — it preserves the dugout , troglodyte-style homes of their ancestors , their oral traditions and the earthenware tools developed in the desert . Explore the string of small subterranean pits connected by slim passageways and sand-dusted courtyards , a traditional building method designed by the Berbers to offer respite from the sweltering sun . It ’ s also a familiar scene for Star Wars fans — it was a location for the first film of the franchise . summer 2024 • 25