About This Museum
Discover the Wetlands Museum, an iconic site located in Ghar El Melh in the governorate of Bizerte. It was created as part of the project “Wetlands in Tunisia: A Habitat for Humans and Nature” and inaugurated on April 25, 2013. Nicknamed “Dar El B’hira,” this museum is ideally situated near the old port of Ghar-El-Melh. It is housed in two rooms of the ancient Ottoman fort Borj Elloutani, built in 1659.
The Wetland Museum, ecosystems, migratory birds, and pirate history
The first room immerses visitors in the rich diversity of Tunisian wetlands. This captivating exhibition highlights the importance of these habitats for the ecosystem. It features informative panels and maps illustrating the global distribution of wetlands, migratory bird pathways, and the abundance of fish and other species that thrive here. Children can also explore a model of the irrigation system of Ibn Chabbat’s oases, paying tribute to this ingenious Tunisian hydraulic heritage.
In the second room, the museum reveals the secrets of the Ghar El Melh lagoon, a Ramsar-listed site since 2007. It is filled with unique wildlife, flora, and cultural activities. You will discover the history of the region, famous for its corsair activities in the Mediterranean during the 15th and 16th centuries. A small room, set up as a mini pirate ship, invites visitors-especially young ones-to an immersive experience with sound and light effects. Visitors will also learn that Ghar El Melh once hosted the fleet of the Beys of Tunisia, adding a fascinating historical layer to this journey. Ultimately, the Wetlands Museum of Ghar El Melh is a tribute to Tunisia’s unique ecosystems and the vibrant history of this remarkable region.
The Wetland Museum in Photos
Where to Find The Wetland Museum
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Wetland Museum is a small museum opened in 2013 inside the Borj Elloutani, a 17th-century Ottoman fort (built 1659) in the town of Ghar El Melh on the northern Tunisian coast. It is dedicated to the ecology and cultural heritage of the Lake Ghar El Melh lagoon, a Ramsar-designated wetland since 2007.
The museum's two rooms cover the ecology of the Ghar El Melh lagoon - its bird life, fish species, and seasonal cycles - as well as the maritime history of the site, which was an important Ottoman pirate base and later a French naval outpost. A highlight is a mini pirate ship experience recreating the old port atmosphere.
Ghar El Melh (Porto Farina in Italian and Spanish sources) was one of the most active Ottoman corsair bases on the Tunisian coast in the 17th and 18th centuries. The English admiral Robert Blake bombarded the port in 1655 in one of the first naval bombardments of a shore position in history.
The Ghar El Melh lagoon is an important stopover for migratory birds on the Africa-Europe flyway. Flamingos, herons, egrets, and numerous wader species can be observed, particularly in spring and autumn. The lagoon also supports traditional fishing communities.
Ghar El Melh is about 60 km north of Tunis on the Cap Bon side of the Bizerte lagoon complex. A hire car is most practical. The drive from Tunis takes about one hour through attractive coastal scenery via Raoued and Kalaat el Andalous.
Yes. The Ruins of Sidi Mechreg, the beaches of Ghar El Melh, the old salt works, and the town of Bizerte are all within easy reach for a day's itinerary along the northern coast.
