✨ Must-see
🏛️ Monument
Sidi Bou Mendel Mosque
Whitewashed sanctuary from the 18th century. Sober architecture typical of Sahel marabouts.
💡 Tip: Exterior visit. Modest clothing recommended.
Hergla, a whitewashed fishing village 20 km north of Sousse, retains the authenticity that large seaside resorts have lost.
Hergla, a whitewashed fishing village 20 km north of Sousse, retains the authenticity that large seaside resorts have lost. Its narrow streets adorned with bougainvilleas, the Sidi Bou Mendel Mosque, panoramic cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean and traditional reed-weaving workshops (rush) make it a charming and peaceful destination.
Hergla (ancient Horrea Caelia) was a Roman grain warehouse in the 3rd century AD ("horrea" means "granary" in Latin). The city prospered through olive oil and maritime trade. In the 7th century, Arab conquest transformed the region.
Under the Aghlabides, Hergla became a fishing port and relay on the coastal route. In the 18th century, the marabout Sidi Bou Mendel was buried there and his sanctuary attracted pilgrims. Under French protectorate and after independence, Hergla remained a discreet village of fishermen and craftspeople (traditional rush-weaving, still practised today). Tourism has remained limited thanks to its distance from mass-market beaches.
5 must-see sites selected by our local team.
Whitewashed sanctuary from the 18th century. Sober architecture typical of Sahel marabouts.
Cliffs 30 m high overlooking the sea. Views of the Kuriat Islands. Magical sunset.
Traditional reed wickerwork workshops: baskets, fish traps, hats. Ancient craftsmanship.
2 km of peaceful fine sand. Clear waters, uncrowded.
Cultural centre hosting an international animation film festival every year.
Journey through the eras that shaped Hergla.
Sanctuary of saint Sidi Bou Mendel, revered marabout of the Sahel. Modest architecture: square minaret, domed prayer hall, courtyard with fountain.
Ancient Roman granaries for wheat exported to Rome. A few foundations remain near the village centre.
Animation film festival.
Car: 2h45. Bus from Sousse: 30 min, 2 DT.
Village on foot. Taxis for beaches.
Half day: clifftop walk + village + fish lunch. Can combine with Sousse in 1 day.
To escape the crowds of Sousse-Hammamet, see an authentic village, eat fresh fish, enjoy a sunset over the cliffs.
Our local team designs your ideal Hergla programme. Private car or group place, cheapest on the market.