Inside the ramparts of Monastir

Situated on a peninsula some twenty kilometres south-east of Sousse, Monastir is the administrative capital of the eponymous governorate. Where does the name Monastir come from? No need to look too far: this town was founded by a community of monks, who settled in a monastery. After the conquest, the Muslims surprisingly kept this Christian name... Closer to home, it is also the birthplace of the first president Habib Bourguiba. It's easy to see why he gave his name to Monastir airport, as well as to the mosque built in his honour in 1963, culminating in a mausoleum built during his lifetime, in which he is buried.

Monastir's must-see attraction is of course the Ribat, an imposing fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Founded in 796, this fortified citadel, surrounded by different levels of ramparts, is one of the most imposing monuments in Tunisia. A setting worthy of Game of Thrones! Access to the nador, the monks' watchtower, offers a superb view of the Mediterranean. Ribat" was the name given, in the early Muslim era, to these fortresses that kept watch for enemy attacks from a high watchtower. A chain of ribats stretched along the coast of North Africa, the most famous of which even gave its name to the capital of Morocco: Rabat!