The Ksar of Metameur

The Ksar of Metameur is a historic site in Tunisia. A Ksar is a type of fortified village found in the North African countries of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. The Ksar of Metameur is located near the city of Tozeur and is considered to be one of the best examples of Berber architecture in Tunisia. It is made up of several small houses and granaries built around a central courtyard, and the entire site is surrounded by high walls with watchtowers. The Ksar is thought to date back to the 16th or 17th century, and it has been well-preserved, allowing visitors to get a good sense of what life was like for the Berber people who lived there in the past.

The Ksar of Metameur (alternatively: Om Ettamr, Oum El Tamer, Oum Tameur), positioned 6 km northwest of the city of Medenine in the semi-arid plain accessible to the center of the Jeffara, was founded in the 18th century. AD by a local marabout named Sidi Ahmed Lahjel who took up residence in a nearby hermit cave. Sidi Ahmed Lahjel was the grandson of Sidi Ali Ben Abid, traditional founder of the city of Medenine.

Metameur is a village in southern Tunisia located near Medenine.
Metameur was founded around the 14th century1.
The ksar has ghorfas, especially intended for habitation, of the same model as those of Medenine. They gather around a place where, during a conflict, the cattle were gathered.
Arab tribal descendants of Sidi Ahmed Lahjel and Amazigh tribal descendants of his followers established the village near his cave. Although some scholars skeptically suggest that ksar structures may have existed in Metameur as early as the 14th century CE, the first archaeological confirmation of ksour in the village dates back to the 18th century.
All the ksour built in Métameur, classified as “second generation” ksour of the plains, have not survived to the present day.
Metameur includes ghorfas, especially intended for habitation, of the same model as those of Medenine. They gather around a place where, during a conflict, the cattle were gathered.

The Ksar of Metameur in pictures

Le Ksar de Metameur
Le Ksar de Metameur

The Ksar of Metameur in video

Oum El Tamer on the map

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