Monastir, Tunisia

Government

Monastir (. Arabic المنستير, DMG al - Munastīr of ancient Greek: μοναστήριον monastérion; cf. Monastery / Münster) is a coastal city in Tunisia with 71 546 inhabitants ( census 2004) and capital of the province of the same name. It is located in the south of the Gulf of Hammamet, 20 km east of Sousse and 162 km south of Tunis.

History

Monastir and Sousse, Kairouan is one next to the first, founded in Ifriqiya Arab settlements and was built on the ruins of the ancient Phoenician- Roman city Ruspina. The fortress of Monastir ( Ribat ) was built on the orders of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid in the year 796 as a protection against attacks by the Byzantine fleets in the Mediterranean and was with the Ribat of Sousse as the most important fortress along the Tunisian coast ( Sahel ). Local Historical News of the early 10th century, according to the stay was in this Ribat - known as al -Qasr al - Kabīr = the Big Fort - especially meritorious: a three-day postal service in Monastir each guaranteed a place in paradise. The fort was thus among the fighters and ascetics alike as a kind of pilgrimage and meditation for religious occasions such as Ashoura and the fasting month of Ramadan.

Upstairs of the southeastern wing of a small mosque was accommodated with a mihrab. Today, these rooms are used as a museum with exhibits from the region and from Kairouan.

Today, Monastir is an important university town with, for example, a faculty of medicine. One-fifth of its population are students. With Sousse and Sfax, the city developed its port to the terminal of the olive oil trade. Since the mid-60s it is one of the major centers of tourism industry in Tunisia.

Sons and daughters of the town

Monastir is the birthplace of former Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, in whose honor a mosque ( Jami ' Burqîba ) and a mausoleum (Turbat al Burqîba ) were built, and whose former palace is situated on the road to Monastir airport, which also bears his name.

  • Abdelwahab Abdallah ( born 1940 ), politician
  • Oualid Ben- Amor (born 1976 ), handball players
  • Bouthoul Gaston (1896-1980), sociologist
  • Adli Lachheb (* 1987), football player
  • Amel Majri (* 1993), football player
  • Jawhar Mnari (born 1976 ), football player
  • Mohamed Mzali (1925-2010), politician
  • Hedi Nouira (1911-1993), politician

Twinning

  • Muenster

Traffic

The Monastir International Airport is located 8 kilometers from the city center. Monastir is also integrated into the network of the national railway SNCFT.

Trivia

The Ribat of Monastir from 1978 to 1979, large parts of the movie were filmed Life of Brian the British comedian group Monty Python.

Guberniya Monastir Governorate DIN 31635 Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport
579039
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