Sidi Bou Said

This article is about the city in Tunisia. For the indie-rock band, see Sidi Bou Said (band). For the religious figure after whom this place was named, see Abu Said al-Baji.

Not to be confused with Sidi Bouzid.

Sidi Bou Saïd سيدي بو سعيد
Suburb
View from Café des Délices View from Café des Délices
Coordinates:
Country	File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia
Governorate	Tunis Governorate
Delegation(s)	Carthage
Government
• Mayor	Mohamed Khalil Cherif (Nidaa Tounes)
Population  (2023)
• Total	6,000
Time zone	UTC1 (CET)

Sidi Bou Said (Arabic: سيدي بو سعيد <phonos file="Sidi bous3id.wav">Sīdi Bū Sʻīd</phonos>) is a town in northern Tunisia located about 20 km northeast from the capital, Tunis.

Named after a religious figure who lived there, Abu Said al-Baji, it was previously called Jbel el-Menar. The town itself is a tourist attraction and is known for its extensive use of blue and white. It can be reached by a TGM train, which runs from Tunis to La Marsa.

History

Abu Said Ibn Khalaf Yahya al-Tamimi al-Beji arrived in the village of Jabal el-Menar and established a sanctuary there in either the 12th or 13th century AD. After his death in 1231, he was buried there. In the 18th century, wealthy citizens of Tunis built residences in Sidi Bou Said.

During the 1920s, Rodolphe d'Erlanger introduced the blue-white theme to the town. His home, Ennejma Ezzahra, is now a museum that has a collection of musical instruments, and organizes concerts of classical and Arabic music.

Famous people

Sidi Bou Said has a reputation as a town of artists such as nawwarah and kassouma. Artists who have lived in or visited Sidi Bou Said include famous occultist Aleister Crowley, Paul Klee, Gustave-Henri Jossot, August Macke and Louis Moillet. Tunisian artists in Sidi Bou Said are members of École de Tunis (painting school of Tunis), such as Yahia Turki, Brahim Dhahak and Ammar Farhat. French philosopher Michel Foucault lived there for a number of years while teaching at the Tunis University. French author Andre Gide also had a house in the town.

Former Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was born in Sidi Bou Said, as was Moufida Tlatli, film director, screenwriter, and editor.

Azzedine Alaïa had a house in Sidi Bou Said which is now transformed into an art gallery.

French singer Patrick Bruel sang about Sidi Bou Said, specifically about Café des Délices, in his song Au Café des Délices in his 1999 album Juste Avant.

Gallery

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  Cafe de delice and coast view
• Carthage Palace from Sidi Bou Said
  Carthage Palace from Sidi Bou Said
• Typical street with white walls and blue window shades
  Typical street with white walls and blue window shades
• Café de Nattes and souvenir shops
  Café de Nattes and souvenir shops
• Café des delices at night
  Café des delices at night
• Graffiti in Sidi Bou Said
  Graffiti in Sidi Bou Said
• Gulf of Tunis by night
  Gulf of Tunis by night
• Sidi Bou Said in a cloudy weather
  Sidi Bou Said in a cloudy weather
• Sidi Bou Said road
  Sidi Bou Said road
• Sidi Bou Said at night
  Sidi Bou Said at night
• People and tourists in Sidi Bou Said
  People and tourists in Sidi Bou Said
• Sea and Mountain view from Sidi Bou Said
  Sea and Mountain view from Sidi Bou Said
• TGM in Sidi Bou Said
  TGM in Sidi Bou Said
• File:SidiBouSiid.jpg

External links

• About Sidi Bou Said in general
• Lexicorient (Archive copy)
• File:Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg Sidi Bou Said travel guide from Wikivoyage