Ksar Ghilane
Ksar Ghilane also known as Henchir Tébournouk is a Tunisian oasis, archaeological site and town of Tataouine Governorate located at 33° 00′ 31″ N, 9° 36′ 59″ E.
Location
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Ksar Ghilane (قصر غيلان) is an oasis of southern Tunisia located on the eastern limit of the Grand Erg Oriental. Renowned for being the most southerly of the Tunisian oases and one of the gates of the Tunisian Sahara desert, the oasis is fed by a source of hot water in which one can bathe and which would have thermal virtues. Ksar Ghilane has long been difficult to reach: it is now connected by an asphalt road to Douz (80 kilometers to the north) or Matmata, which can be used by all-terrain vehicles or private or rental cars.
Economy
It serves as a refuge for some fifty families of nomads living from the exploitation of the date palm, the raising of goats and sheep and an increasingly important tourist activity. Several activities are proposed: quad biking, motorcycling, horseback riding or camel trekking on dromedaries. Tourists can enjoy the sandy landscapes while enjoying the relative freshness of the oasis and the comfort of swimming in a hot spring.
There are three camp sites with Berber tents and a luxury hotel with about 60 air-conditioned tents, a guest house and a ranch with private rooms for overnight stays. Some cafes and a restaurant are installed around the spring in addition to those of the camps.
History
As its name suggests (ksar is an Arabic word meaning "castle"), it has ruins dating from the Roman Empire, Tisavar, was located on the limes that follows the edge of the desert. The Tunisian government proposed it on 17 February 2012 for a future classification on the UNESCO World Heritage List.[1]
In 1906 large holdings of phosphates and iron were found in the area prompting the construction of a railway.
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During World War 2 the town was involved in the battle of Tunisia, One kilometer to the east a stele, the column of General Leclerc, records the passage of the French army in 1943 during the battle of Ksar Ghilane.[2] It bears the following inscription:
"Here, from February 23 to March 10, 1943, General Leclerc and Force L, coming from Chad, successfully supported the assault of the enemy forces, inflicting severe losses on them.
In 2001, the television show The Amazing Race 1 went through the town, and in 2011 the Saharun road race went through the town.
In 2010 the Ksar Ghilane 002 meteorite fell near the town.