Tataouine — Ksour & the Real Tatooine
Tataouine gave its name to Star Wars' Tatooine — and the surrounding desert is dotted with the fortified Berber granaries, the ksour, that inspired and hosted the films. It's the heartland of southern Tunisia's Berber culture.
The Ksour
The region around Tataouine is famous for its ksour — fortified granaries built from stacked vaulted cells called ghorfas. Ksar Ouled Soltane and Ksar Hadada are the most spectacular, and both featured in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
Things to Do
- Ksar Ouled Soltane — the most beautiful ksar, with multi-story ghorfas.
- Chenini & Douiret — dramatic hilltop Berber villages nearby.
- Star Wars sites — walk the slave-quarter sets of Mos Espa.
- Tataouine market — a lively local souk.
Best Time to Visit
October to April brings comfortable temperatures for exploring the ksour and villages. Summer is very hot in this part of the south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. George Lucas named the planet Tatooine after the city of Tataouine in southern Tunisia, where he filmed in the surrounding ksour and Berber villages.
Tataouine is known for its fortified Berber ksour — stacked granaries called ghorfas — and for being the namesake and a filming area of Star Wars' Tatooine.
Tataouine is reached by road from Djerba (about 2 hours) or Medenine. It's usually visited on a 2 or 3-day desert circuit that also includes Chenini and Ksar Ghilane.