First published: 23/08/25.

marc Rouserez 1

Borders of the Roman Empire: Limes of Southern Tunisia

Limes du Sud tunisien (On tentative list)

This Tunisian site on the tentative list is also a multiple site with some accessibility issues. The site's components are: the Bir Oum Ali wall, the Jebel Tebaga wall, the Ksar Ghilane/Tisavar fort, the Ksar Tarcine fort, the Bénia Guedah Esseder fort, and the Bénia bel Recheb fort.

During my preliminary research on Google Map, I had pointed out the wall of Bir Oum Ali, the wall of Jebel Tebaga and the adjoining fort of Bénia Guedah Esseder since Djebel Tebaga is itself part of the site of the indicative list: "The marine Permian of Jebel Tebaga".

Coming from Gafsa to Kebili via the very beautiful P15 and its magnificent oases, we inevitably pass by the remains of the wall of Oum Ali as Zoë has already written, after having passed the deserted checkpoint dozing under the sun that she mentions.

On the other hand, to visit the Jebel Tebaga wall and the fort of Bénia Guedah, which are now nothing more than earthworks, you have to take a track. In Kebili, the owner and manager of the campsite Les Amis du Camping advised me not to go there alone in 42°C heat with a vehicle that is not a 4x4. I followed his good advice and therefore settled for the wall of Oum Ali.

Seen from the road towards Kebili
The Wall of Umm Ali marc Rouserez

I can't tell you how delighted I was when I stopped on the Jebel Pass at the height of the wall, thinking of the Limes I had visited in Germany, 2,000 km away as the crow flies across the Mediterranean Sea! This gives you a small idea of ​​the extent of the Roman Empire! And to think that some claim there was no cultural exchange in ancient times? Quite the contrary, and that's what's fascinating: people traveled so much.

When I set off again, trembling with excitement, towards Kebili and Chott El Jerid, I said to myself in the old-fashioned, joking way: and now on the road to the barbarian countries!

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