Tourbet El Bey Mausoleum
The Tourbet El Bey Mausoleum is a historical site located in the city of Tunis, Tunisia. It is a memorial dedicated to the leaders of the Husainid dynasty and serves as a place of worship for its followers. The mausoleum is known for its architectural style, which blends elements of Andalusian and ottoman designs, and for its intricate tilework and calligraphy. The site is considered a significant cultural and religious landmark in Tunisia and attracts tourists and visitors from around the world.
The Mausoleum Tourbet El Bey is the necropolis of the reigning princes of the Husseinite dynasty and their families. This dynasty ruled Tunisia from 1705 to 1957.
The monument dates from the second half of the 18th century. Imposing, irregular quadrangular in shape, it is pierced on the outside with rectangular windows. Its terrace was decorated with domes, the main ones of which were covered with round green tiles in the shape of scales.
Access is through a monumental door leading to a large hall whose decoration shows a clear Italian influence. This will be confirmed inside the monument while blending with the Ottoman style which appears in the main room where the reigning princes were buried and which itself is a distant reflection of the plan of Saint Sophia, in Turkey.
A patio covered with slabs and dotted with graves separates the hall from the main room and gives access to other rooms, some of which communicate with each other. There, lie the relatives and relatives of the sovereigns, the male deceased being recognizable by the hairstyle carved in marble and surmounting the epitaph and the women being indicated by simple plaques.
The ceilings, sometimes in the shape of a vault, sometimes developed into a cupola, are embellished with geometric and vegetal decorations chiseled in the stucco, sometimes polychrome. The walls are usually lined with ceramic tiles.
Situation:
-Tunis
To see
– Medina
Opening time:
– From 16/09 to 31/05:
– From 01/06 to 15/09:
Entrance fees:
– 0 dinars
Remarks:
– Closed for restoration.
Amenities:
– Bathroom
– Shop
– Cafeteria
Tourbet El Bey Mausoleum in Video
Where to Find Tourbet El Bey Mausoleum
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before visiting
Tourbet el Bey is the royal mausoleum of the Husainid dynasty (1705-1957), the ruling family of Tunisia for two and a half centuries. Located in the heart of the Tunis medina, it is the largest mausoleum in the medina and houses the tombs of Husainid beys, their wives, and children.
The mausoleum was built in the second half of the 18th century under the Husainid beys. Its architecture blends Andalusian, Ottoman, and Italian decorative influences, reflecting the cosmopolitan character of the Tunisian ruling court.
The building combines the typical Tunisian medina palace style with a characteristic octagonal domed mausoleum chamber. Interiors feature fine zellij tilework, carved stucco, painted wooden ceilings, and Italian marble, creating a rich and layered aesthetic.
Tourbet el Bey has been closed for restoration. Visitors are advised to check current opening status before planning a visit, as restoration works have been ongoing.
The mausoleum is located in the southern part of the Tunis medina, in the quarter called Tourbet el Bey, accessible on foot from the Casbah mosque and Place du Gouvernement.
The mausoleum is a direct architectural record of the Husainid dynasty that governed Tunisia from 1705 until independence in 1957. It also illustrates the cultural synthesis of Tunisian, Ottoman, Andalusian, and European influences that shaped elite culture in pre-modern Tunisia.
