Houmt Souk

A fishing port, a market and several clearly dated stories make Houmt Souk interesting from different perspectives. The town combines a culinary starting point with Djerba’s historical heritage: its themes span various periods, from Ghazi Mustapha Fort and the Zaouia of Sidi Zitouni to the development of its museums. When choosing your destination, you can already consider whether you are mainly interested in the market and local cuisine, or in architectural history, island traditions and history.

Market and cuisine in Houmt Souk

A fishing port is one of Houmt Souk’s defining features. The market adds a culinary dimension: visitors can buy a sea bream there and eat it grilled with salad at a small nearby restaurant. This places a maritime feature of the town and a specific dining experience alongside each other as distinct interests. The market takes place on Mondays and Thursdays. If you want to plan around a market day, check the days locally before your trip. For travelers who want to include local cuisine in their plans, the market is a concrete starting point; the history of the fort and museums offers another direction.

Museums and the history of the Zaouia

The history of the museums spans two stages. The former Museum of Folk Art and Traditions was established in 1969 in the oratory, the Zaouia of Sidi Zitouni, in Houmt Souk in the north of the island of Djerba. The new Museum of Djerba’s Traditional Heritage opened in December 2008, replacing the former museum, and is located nearby. The museum’s exhibition covers the island’s geographic setting and the economic activities associated with it, as well as ceremonial rituals and the beliefs connected to them. In this way, themes of everyday island life are linked with ceremonial and religious contexts.

The Zaouia itself also has its own history: Hmida Ben Ayyed, then governor of the island, had it built at the end of the 18th century to honor Sheikh Abu Bakr Ezzitouni’s achievements in jurisprudence and in consolidating the Maliki school of thought on Djerba. The oratory is therefore both a former museum site and a building with a specific historical dedication.

Chronologically, the sites described here are widely separated: the fort was built in 1425, the Zaouia was built at the end of the 18th century, the former museum was established in 1969, and the new museum opened in December 2008. This sequence places the different sites and stories in their own historical contexts.

Ghazi Mustapha Fort and the history of Djerba

Ghazi Mustapha Fort is in Houmt Souk, near the main port of the island of Djerba. It was built in 1425 during the Hafsid era under the auspices of Abu Fares Abdelaziz. Another historical episode is associated with Borj Ghazi Mustapha in Houmt Souk: the Turkish corsair Dragut fought the Spanish there. The year it was built and the account of this battle offer two concrete points of interest for anyone interested in the history of the place. Together with the stories of the museums and the Zaouia, they reveal a side of Houmt Souk distinct from the market’s culinary appeal.

Choose a holiday apartment based on your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start with the subjects that interest you most on Djerba. The market and local cuisine offer a culinary starting point; the fort, Zaouia and museum are associated with different historical and cultural stories.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bani Kheddache, Mellita, Houmt Arbah, Mezran, Bedouine, Mezraya.

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