El Kef, Tunisian town
El Kef is built on the south side of Mount Jebel Dyr, nestled against the mountains of the High Atlas in northwest Tunisia. The old medina rises on the hilltop with narrow streets and stone houses, while newer areas are laid out in a grid pattern and display layers of architectural styles from different periods.
El Kef began as an ancient Numidian city long before Roman arrival and was conquered around 241 BC, later by Byzantines and then the Islamic world after 680 AD. It served as a center of Arab-Islamic culture between 688 and 689 AD, later came under Ottoman rule from the 1600s to the 1800s, and eventually became part of French Tunisia during colonial times.
El Kef has been home to different religious communities for centuries, and their presence is still visible in the city today. The old synagogue called Ghriba stands alongside mosques, while the tomb of Sidi Bou Makhlouf, an important Sufi saint, remains a place where people come to seek spiritual connection and guidance.
The city sits at a considerable elevation with cool winters and pleasant springs, so visitors should pack appropriate clothing depending on the season. Local transport like taxis and buses connects the city, and the railway allows travel to Tunis and other nearby towns.
The Plateau of Jugurtha nearby rises about 1200 meters high and carries legends of the ancient Numidian king Jugurtha and Roman battles fought there. The plateau also holds ancient water reservoirs and fossil remains of sea creatures including sharks, showing the region was once underwater.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
