Discover Hammamet: Culture and History

Discover Hammamet through its cultural venues and layers of history: a year-round cultural meeting place stands alongside a fort with a varied history of use; to the south of the city, the view turns to the Roman city of Pupput. In summer, performances at the International Festival of Hammamet add to the mix. These different themes give your trip a cultural focus—from activities at the cultural centre to historic architecture and archaeological mosaics.

Culture in Hammamet: year-round and in summer

The Centre Culturel International de Hammamet hosts cultural professionals throughout the year and organises cultural activities. Its history is linked to Dar Sébastian: the house became state property in 1966 and was turned into the Centre Culturel International de Hammamet. This brings the city’s present-day cultural role and a specific chapter of its history together in one place. In summer, the International Festival of Hammamet offers a different, seasonal aspect: artists perform in an open-air theatre. If you want to give your trip a cultural focus, you can consider the year-round cultural venue and the summer festival as separate reasons to visit.

The fort: construction history and changing uses

The Fort of Hammamet was built in the 15th century on the site of a 12th-century fort. Its square ground plan and single entrance, reached through angled passages, give it a distinctive architectural form. Its recorded uses are also varied: it served as a warehouse, prison and barracks for the French army, and was attacked by the Knights of Malta. The fort’s design and history can be considered together without compressing different periods into a single narrative. For a trip focused on historic sites, the fort offers a tangible starting point for exploring Hammamet’s past.

Pupput south of the city: Roman history and mosaics

The Roman city of Pupput lies south of Hammamet, in the Souk el-Abiod area, between Wadi Temad to the north and Wadi Moussa to the south. The archaeological park covers about four hectares. Its documented features include a residential area by the sea and two bath complexes. This gives an idea of the site’s variety, while individual buildings reveal particular details.

The House of the Figured Peristyle dates from the 4th or 5th century. Its features include a mosaic floor and small private baths. Another building, Satyr and Nymph, dates to the second half of the 4th century. Its mosaic depicts a satyr challenging a nymph. Pupput can thus be explored at different scales: the park as a larger site, a residential house with a mosaic floor and baths, and a building with a specific pictorial motif. Visitors interested in archaeological remains will find several distinct points of interest here.

Plan your stay around your interests

Your preferred focus can be a useful starting point when choosing a holiday rental: would you like to focus on Hammamet’s cultural history, with its cultural centre and fort, or also include the Roman remains at Pupput to the south? Taxis can be hailed in and around Hammamet. Choose your accommodation and plan your trip around the subjects that interest you most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Yasmine Hammamet.

Go to the main travel overview: Hammamet.