The palm groves of Tozeur can be explored on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. Museums, film history and regional dishes add further highlights to the trip. Those who want to spend time outdoors can choose between a walk and a carriage ride; those interested in the local culture can visit a range of collections and an original film set.

Palm Groves and Historic Cityscapes

The wider Tozeur travel area includes the oases of Tozeur and Nefta, together home to several hundred thousand palm trees. The city’s history is also linked to travel through the region: Tozeur was an important stop along the routes of major caravans.

The old quarters of Tozeur and Nefta give the wider travel area its own architectural character. Alleys and cul-de-sacs wind between tall walls of pale bricks; long, vaulted passageways open onto small squares lined with relief-decorated façades. Small bricks made from a mixture of clay and sand are characteristic of Jerid architecture. They give the towns an ochre desert hue. As you walk through the old quarters, you can take in both the layout of the alleys and the brickwork.

Museums, Film History and Parks

Things to do in Tozeur include visiting the Dar Chraïet Museum and the Eden Palm theme park. The private Dar Chraïet Museum is located a few hundred metres from the city’s palm grove. It displays costumes and valuable artefacts; the collection also includes jewellery and traditional ceramics. A gallery of contemporary paintings honours the poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabbi. The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions is a separate institution that exhibits everyday objects.

Mos Espa is also part of the area’s film history: it is an original Star Wars film set in Tozeur. Chak Wak Park was established in Tozeur and brings together dinosaurs and the history of religions. The site covers five hectares and includes animals, statues, small museums, caves and huts. Before making specific plans to visit museums or parks, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information.

Dishes from Tozeur and the Jerid

Tozeur is known as the capital of dates. Notable varieties include the red, sweet Allig and the soft, translucent Deglet Nour. Another dish to try is Rfiss: a date dumpling seasoned with a little salted butter. Camel steak is also recommended as an unusual dish.

Several restaurants along a road by the palm grove serve regional Jerid cuisine as well as Italian food and international dishes. The cuisine of the Jerid in the wider Tozeur travel area also goes beyond the city’s dishes: Chakhchoukha consists of lamb cooked in sauce and served with traditional semolina bread called mtabga. Barkoukech is a type of couscous with large grains, garnished with meat and small dried fish. These descriptions give an impression of the variety of ingredients and preparation methods found in the regional cuisine.

The Wider Tozeur Travel Area

The wider Tozeur travel area includes Chott El Jerid, an extensive salt depression between the Cherb mountain range to the north and the desert to the south. It covers 586,187 hectares. The wetland is considered difficult to access. A single road, about 80 kilometres long, crosses it, linking Tozeur in the northwest with the Kebili region, also called “Nefiaoua,” in the southeast.

The landscape of Chott El Jerid is home to the wildlife and vegetation typical of pre-Saharan areas. Dghoumes National Park lies on the northern edge. It is part of a Ramsar site and is home to steppe flora and fauna. The wider travel area thus features both an extensive salt depression and a protected steppe landscape.

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