Cave houses
In the mountain.
Skander zarrad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Skander zarrad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Skander zarrad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Skander zarrad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nassima Chahboun — CC BY-SA 4.0
Douiret is an abandoned Berber hilltop village in Tataouine Governorate, southern Tunisia, near a modern village of the same name, about 17 km southwest of Tataouine in a straight line and about 22 km by road, in rugged mountain country. Douiret was a fortified granary, or ksar, built on the hilltop for protection from raids, like other Berber ksour in North Africa. Its history is traced to a founding ancestor who moved to the area more than six hundred years ago. It is a regular stop on southern Tunisia's ksar trail, along with Chenini, Ksar Ouled Soltane and Ksar Hadada. The abandoned village is topped by its citadel, with cave houses dug into the mountain below, lined up in a winding row along the cliff edge in earthy stone colours. A path of about three kilometres runs past abandoned dwellings, mostly in ruins, with a striking white mosque, known as the Palm Tree Mosque, halfway along. Visitors walk the path among the cave houses and climb to the citadel for views over the valley and mountains. A few houses have been restored as a showcase and a small inn for visitors; wear good shoes, and the sun is strong by day.
In the mountain.
Views.
Striking white.
Douiret, Tataouine Governorate, Tunisia
One and a half to three hours.
Chenini and Ksar Hadada.