Attraction
Bardo National Museum
Tunisia's oldest and most important museum, set in a former beylical palace and home to one of the world's great collections of Roman mosaics.
Tourbet el Bey
The eighteenth-century mausoleum of the Husainid beys in the southern medina, the largest funerary monument in Tunis, reopened in 2023 after restoration.
At a glance
- Type
- Royal mausoleum
- Area
- Medina, Tunis, Tunisia
Good to know
- Ticket office
- Restored interiors
Why we recommend it
Tourbet el Bey is the burial place of the Husainid beys, the dynasty that ruled Tunisia under the Ottomans and later the French protectorate, and it is the largest funerary monument in Tunis. It was built by Ali II ibn Hussein, who reigned from 1759 to 1782, and the infobox date for its completion is 1777. It stands in the south-western part of the medina, in a quieter residential quarter away from the main souks.
From the street, look up at the domes covered in green, scale-shaped tiles and the ochre sandstone façade with pilasters and Italian-style details, an unusual combination that reflects the taste of the beylical court. Inside, eight funerary chambers with cupolas are arranged around two patios. The porticos rest on Carrara marble pillars, the walls are lined with ceramic tiles from Naples and from the local Qallaline workshops, and the ceilings carry carved stucco in geometric and plant designs.
The most impressive space is the Chamber of the Beys, a square hall with a central cupola where thirteen reigning beys are buried, including Ali II and Ahmad I. The walls are covered with polychrome marble inlay up to 2.5 metres high, and the tombs are marble chests decorated in relief. Members of the ruling family, their wives and several ministers, among them Slimane Kahia and Mustapha Khaznadar, are buried in other rooms.
The monument reopened on 24 February 2023 after eleven years of closure and restoration, so the interiors are in better condition than they have been for decades. Allow forty-five minutes to an hour, and take your time in the patios. The building suits travellers interested in architecture, decorative arts and Tunisian history; younger children may find it less engaging than the souks. There is a ticket office at the entrance, and the rooms are mostly on one level, although the medina lanes leading to it are uneven.
Tourbet el Bey is a ten to fifteen minute walk south of the Zitouna Mosque, and it pairs naturally with Dar Ben Abdallah, the house museum nearby. Together they make a good afternoon in the southern medina after a morning in the souks.
Tourbet el Bey FAQs
Who is buried at Tourbet el Bey?
Most of the Husainid beys, including thirteen reigning rulers in the Chamber of the Beys, along with family members and some ministers.
When was it built?
It was built under Ali II ibn Hussein, who reigned from 1759 to 1782, with 1777 given as its completion date.
Is Tourbet el Bey open to visitors?
Yes. It reopened on 24 February 2023 after eleven years of closure and restoration, and has a ticket office.
How long does a visit take?
Around forty-five minutes to an hour.
What should I look out for?
The green tiled domes, the Carrara marble pillars, the Neapolitan and Qallaline tiles and the marble inlay in the Chamber of the Beys.
Where is it in the medina?
In the south-western part of the medina, a ten to fifteen minute walk from the Zitouna Mosque.
What is nearby?
Dar Ben Abdallah, a palace that now houses a museum of traditional life, is close by.