Resort Hammamet in Tunisia
Hammamemet – the most famous resort of Tunisia, which Europeans know since the beginning of the 20th century. In fact, the city is engaged only by the service of tourists, the rest of the sectors of the economy are not developed here.
Hammamemet is a small city with a population of about 75,000 people (one of the streets in the photo on the right), although in the summer season comes here from 60 to 90 thousand tunisians to work, they work in hotels, restaurants and other tourist infrastructure facilities.
Hammamet on Tunisia map
In detail about the location on the map of all Tunisian resorts we told in the article "Map of Tunisia with resorts".
The city is at the base of the Cap-Bon Peninsula ("Cape Bon"). This peninsula almost none of the Russians knows, but in the world he is well known. It was here that in 1943 the fighting of World War II in North Africa ended. The British and Americans were tested by the Germans and Italians and eventually drove them on Cap Bon Peninsula.
Here, on May 13, 1943, 250,000 soldiers and officers of the Army of Italy and Wehrmacht capitulated. For the Western Front, this victory was very important, as important as for the Eastern Front, the capitulation of the Paulus Army under Stalingrad. It was on the Cap-Bon Peninsula that the offensive of allies on Sicily and further into continental italy.
Hammamet is located in Vilayte (province) Nabul and is the largest city in the province, but is not the capital. The status of the capital belongs to the city of the raider. The city of Nabel and Hammamet border with each other and create a unified city agglomeration with the number of residents – 185,000 people.
The name "Hammamet" is translated from Arabic as a "bathing place", and it is not specified, meaning bathing in the sea or hike in a bath. The origin of the name is not known to us, whether here in the Middle Ages bathed in the sea, or the city was famous for the baths. Rather, the second, because at this place was once a prosperous Roman city, from which large baths were probably used in the Middle Ages.
A bit of history
Like the vast majority of the cities of Tunisia, Hammamet was founded by the Phoenicians. They founded here a trade deposit, which later became the city and joined the Carthage state.
Punic warcares between Rome and Carthage ended the defeat and the complete destruction of the latter. The city on the site of modern Hammamet entered the Rome republic and got the name "Papit". The city has evolved and between 185 and 192 received the second name "Colonia Aurelia Commoda" in honor of the emperor Commoda, well-known readers on the film "Gladiator".
Development of the city Papit occurred due to its successful location at the intersection of two roads: the first – from Carthage in Leptis Magna (modern Libya), the second – from the fertile fields of Pasta Majis to the coast.
Unfortunately, watch the ruins of the papitet now problematic. What remains from the city, lies under the foundations of hotels, archaeologists lead only focal excavations. Specialists of the National Institute of Heritage Tunisia have only general ideas about the terms of the city, while we found the water supply system, water tanks, baths and several villas.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the territory of modern Tunisia is experiencing three conquests in a row at once – at the beginning of the vandals, then Byzantines, then Arabs. Most cities simply stop exist, and paws among them.
Arab settlement in this place arises presumably in 8 or 9th century. Under the title "Hammamet", the city first mentions Arabic geographer El Idrissi in the 12th century. He mentions the fortress that served to protect against robber raids. It was not a city yet, and the coastal cashpost to 1186-1187, when the army was destroyed with the Balearic Islands.
In the 13th century, the fort restored, and the mosque and the city appear around it. Known notes of travelers from Morocco, where Hammamet is mentioned as a "small city with white walls". In the 13th and 6th centuries, the city develops, despite the constant raids of Catalan and Pisa pirates. At this time, a large mosque is built, Kasba (Citadel) and medina walls (in the photo on the right).
In the 16th century Hammamet suffers (like the whole country) from the rivalry of two powers, fighting for the Mediterranean – Spain and the Ottoman Empire. Hammamet tried to maintain neutrality, for which his robust and Turks, and Spaniards. The war ended in favor of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks became the owners of Hammamet in 1574, from now on, the city is managed by a Turkish governor, and Kasbe is a garrison of Yanychar.
The garrison and the authority of the Turkish authorities did not save from trouble, pirates launched, and in 1602 and 1605 the Order of the Knights-Hospitallers arranged two big hikes, during which Hammamet suffered.
The development of the region was helped by the influx of refugees from Andalusia in the 17th century, the influx of the new labor gave impetus to the development of agriculture. In 1727, Hussein Ler Bay himself arrives in the city – the ruler of Tunisia and the founder of the Husainide dynasty. He allocated funds for the construction of a new mosque, repairing a large mosque and medina walls, giving another impetus to the development of the city.
However, Hammamemet never remained rather a large fishing village than the city, until the French won in 1881, the French Protectorate period began.
The French noticed the magnificent beaches of Hammamet (on the photo on the left) and a pleasant climate. The city becomes a popular resort. Interesting fact that then it was a winter resort! That is, the French (those who could afford it) in the summer lived in France, and in Tunisia came only for the winter.
Since then, Hammamemet is one of the main tourist centers of Tunisia, the scale of tourist business is comparable only with Sousse and El Cantaui or Djerby.
Old Hammamet and Yasmin Hammamet
The coast near the city is divided into two parts. The first – east of the medina to the city of the raid is considered part of Hammamet, the second – to the south-west of the medina called "Yasmin Hammamet" and is officially considered a separate tourist area.
In our reviews on JJ-Tours.RU We consider these zones with two separate resorts. On this page, we speak exactly old Hammamet, and read our big article about Yammin "Spa Zone Yasmin Hammamet".
The biggest resort in Tunisia?
On many tourist sites can be found about Hammamet phrases: "The largest resort" or "the largest tourist destination of Tunisia", but is it?
Answer this question is difficult, since Tunisians lead tourist statistics very specific. Tunisia’s Ministry of Tourism maintains statistics for Hammamet resorts and raid together, as they are in one Vilayte (province) of the country. Statistics for the Yasmin Hammamet resort are carried out separately.
Hammamet and raid resorts – this is 45 thousand seats in hotels. It is believed that about 38 thousand places in Hammamet. Yasmin is 19 thousand places.
If you consider only Hammamet (without Yasmine), then he is not the first in Tunisia, and not even the second, inferior to Sousse and El Cantaui. And the first is the island of Djerba, where more than 50 thousand seats in hotels.
If you combine Hammamet and Yasmin, then the answer is "yes", really, Hammamemet is the largest resort of Tunisia (64 thousand seats in hotels).
Tourism in Hammamete
Beaches are the main advantage of Hammamet, which provided the resort of world glory. Soft fine sand, crystal blue water, always smooth entrance to water and a pleasant bottom of the sea.
Most hotels in the first line have direct access to the beach, without a road or embankment, unlike hotels in Yamina, where hotels in the first line are separated by a highway. Most but not all! We recommend watching a photo to make sure that the hotel is interested in this is the situation.
The second advantage of rest in Hammamet is an abundance of local attractions to which you can quickly and cheap on the local taxi, paying within 10 Tunisian dinars. Details about these places Talk at the end of the article.
The third advantage is a developed travel infrastructure, there are a lot of souvenir shops, sightseeing bureaus, water centers, rental locations, restaurants and cafes.
The most famous restaurant is called "Le Barberousse", it is located in Medina. Crown dishes: prawns with pineapples, couscous with lamb or tuna and bricks with a variety of fillings. Le Barberousse serves wine, we recall that for the sale of alcohol in Tunisia requires a special license that is not from each restaurant.
Hammamemet is the main center of thalassotherapy in Tunisia (read the review of "thalassotherapy in Tunisia"), including those famous for the whole world: Bio Azur Thalasso, Radisson Blu Thalasso and Bio Rivage Thalasso.
Tourists come here and in the winter months when the sea for swimming is too cold. First, to play at the local golf courses, secondly, for thalassotherapy procedures, thirdly, for excursions to historical sights, because in winter there is no exhausting heat, and watch Carthage, El Jam, Dugga or Umu is much more pleasant.
And now about the shortcomings
Thalassotherapy is popular in Europe. Despite the reputation of Lzhenauki, thalassotherapy prescribe European doctors to their patients. In Europe, the procedures are expensive, in Tunisia is cheap.
It happens that our tourists go to Hammamet in a beautiful mood, plan to swim in the sea and the pool, drink and eat, go to the disco, that is, spend rest actively. Arriving to the hotel, they understand what they were in the "Nursing House for French and German Pensioners". The pool is overflowing in place by the elderly French, all the sun beds are occupied by the elderly Germans, and they lie on them from dawn to sunset, disco and "not smelled", and in the restaurant the long line of old people, 20 minutes choosing a dish in a buffet.
Fearfully? But this is not our fantasy, in such situations the Russians fell many times. Why did it happen? And just the hotel has concluded a profitable contract with one of the European clinics.
We can give only one advice. Carefully learn the hotel reviews, and the reviews of those people who were in this hotel are this season.
Next drawback – Hammamet does not have its international airport. Tourists have to get from Enfida Airport (60 km, bus ride), or from Monastir Airport (115 km, two hours ride by bus, on the photo on the left). Be careful when buying a tour, pay attention to the arrival airport, preference give the tour with an enfida arrival.
And the third drawback is a purely tourist city, and the idea "with a foreigner need to get a full" here is the basic in the mindwork of local residents. Prices for Tunisian souvenirs and gifts are 20-30% higher than in the whole country, in restaurants will have to pay 25-50% more for the same dish. Here are more addition traders than in other resorts. About how to lead themselves with them, read in our article "Where and how to buy in Tunisia".
Weather and season
Beach season in Hammamet lasts from mid-April to the end of October – just like on other resorts of Tunisia.
Rain will not deliver big inconvenience. According to statistics, only 370 millimeters of precipitation falls for the year, and most of them fall on the winter months, in the resort season – 150 millimeters.
In the photo on the right sidewalk after the rain, it was in May. As can be seen in the photo, the rain just looked a little asphalt, not scary.
However, in the rains on the Mediterranean coast in Tunisia there is one unpleasant feature. Rains are always accompanied by a very strong wind to 20 meters per second.
The average temperature maximum in the afternoon in May – 23 degrees, in June – 27, in July and August – 31, in September – 29, in October – 25. Heat in Hammamet is easily transferred thanks to a pleasant cool breeze. Read the details in our article "Season and weather in Tunisian resorts".
sights
Medina and Kasba
The old town, protected by the walls, erected back in the 15th century, and the fortress guarding the bay is almost a millennium. Read in detail in our article "Kasba and Medina Hammamet".
Villa Sebastiana
In the 20s of the twentieth century, Romanian millionaire George (George) Sebastian built a luxury villa for winter holidays here. This event is considered a swivel, the city has become popular with Europeans in the winter resort. This villa is now open for tourists. Read in detail in our article "House Sebastian in Hammamet".
Aquapark "Flipper"
Middle size (according to Tunisia) water park. There are no record-free in length or height of the slide, but there is a very cheap entrance. Read in our review "Water Park Entertainment Flipper".
Excavations of the city Papit
This attraction is not considered very important, so we have no separate article about it. Ancient city PAPTER has long been cleared of building materials. Now in its place there are hotels and houses, it is impossible to fully utter excavations. However, some sites were available to archaeologists. Now one place of excavations is open for tourists. We admit honestly, there is nothing to look at.
Where to shop
Hammamet has one shop Carrefour Market (Carfur Market), he is located on Abu Dhabi Avenue (Avenue Abu-Dhabi). Magasine General is near Medina. Trade in the city is mainly in small shops.
The largest tourist market is inside the medina. Souvenir benches are scattered through the territory of the part of the city, which adjies to the tourist area.
Important advice
– By Hammamet, it is most convenient to move on taxi, the benefit of the price of traveling low. Official rates, see our article "Taxi in Tunisia – Prices and Rules";
– You can go to Abu Dhabi Avenue (RR28) and sit on the minibus (Luzh). So you can get to the raid (east) or to Medina Hammamet (west). Fare price – 1 dinar with man. Read our article "Luga (minibus) in Tunisia";
– To successfully add holiday time in Hammamet and save, read our analytical reviews "When cheaper to fly to Tunisia" and "in Tunisia without a trip".
