World Heritage Identification Number: 499
World Heritage since: 1988
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇹🇳 Tunisia
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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Kairouan: The Ancient Holy City of Tunisia
Kairouan (Arabic: القيروان, Al-Qayrawān), officially known as Nour Essaf (Arabic: نور الصف, meaning "Light of the Row"), is a historic city located in central Tunisia, serving as the capital of the Kairouan Governorate. Established in 670 AD during the reign of Caliph Mu'awiya I, Kairouan has been a significant center for Sunni Islamic scholarship and Quranic learning since its founding, attracting Muslims from across the globe. In recognition of its historical and cultural significance, Kairouan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Founded in 670, Kairouan flourished under the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century. Despite the transfer of the political capital to Tunis in the 12th century, Kairouan remained the Maghreb's principal holy city. Its rich architectural heritage includes the Great Mosque, with its marble and porphyry columns, and the 9th-century Mosque of the Three Gates.
Encyclopedia Record: Kairouan
Kairouan, also spelled El Qayrawān or Kairwan, is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was founded by the Umayyads around 670, in the period of Caliph Mu'awiya ; this is when it became an important centre for Sunni Islamic scholarship and Quranic learning, attracting Muslims from various parts of the world. The Mosque of Uqba is situated in the city.Additional Site Details
Area: 68.02 hectares
(ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 35.68167 , 10.10389
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Unknown author, Public domain
