Monastir, Tunisia

Monastir, also called Mistīr (Arabic: منستير‎ Monastīr / Mistīr, from the Greek μοναστήριον "hermit's cell, monastery"), is a city on the central coast of Tunisia, in the Sahel area, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Sousse and 162 kilometres (101 miles) south of Tunis. Traditionally a fishing port, Monastir is now a major tourist resort. Its population is about 93,306. It is the capital of Monastir Governorate.

Monastir منستير
Monastir from the ribat's tower
Seal
Monastir from space
Monastir Location in Tunisia
Coordinates: 35°46′10″N 10°49′10″E
Country	Tunisia
Governorate	Monastir
Population  (2014)
• Total	93,306
Time zone	UTC1 (CET)
ZIP code	5000
Area code(s)	73

History

The Ribat in Monastir

Monastir was founded on the ruins of the Punic–Roman city of Ruspina. The city features a well-preserved Ribat of Monastir that was used to scan the sea for hostile ships and as a defence against the attacks of the Byzantine fleet. Several ulema came to stay in the ribat of this peaceful city for contemplation. The ribat was, in the 1970s, also one of the filming locations for both the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth and Monty Python's Life of Brian. There are panoramic views of the city taken from a French naval intelligence airship in 1924.

Transportation

The city is on the electrified, metre-gauge Sahel Metro line with trains serving Sousse and Mahdia. Other services run to Tunis.

Monastir – Habib Bourguiba International Airport has flights from most Western European countries. It is run by Tepe Akfen Ventures Airport Holding (TAV).

Climate

Monastir enjoys a dry Mediterranean climate with hot summers, extremely mild winters, much sunshine and low rainfall year-round. The city sits in the northeast of Tunisia, on its central coast. It is milder than inland areas of Tunisia, forty percent of which is part of the Sahara. In the summer, while humidity is low, the soaring heat can still be hard to handle. The average high temperature of 29 °C (84 °F) in June skips past the 30 °C (86 °F) mark in the middle of the month and rises to 33 °C (91 °F) in July and August.

Climate data for Monastir, Tunisia (1981–2010, extremes 1968–2017)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	27.0 (80.6)	31.1 (88.0)	37.1 (98.8)	37.5 (99.5)	43.6 (110.5)	47.0 (116.6)	46.9 (116.4)	47.0 (116.6)	43.0 (109.4)	39.5 (103.1)	31.7 (89.1)	29.7 (85.5)	47.0 (116.6)
Average high °C (°F)	16.5 (61.7)	17.1 (62.8)	19.1 (66.4)	21.5 (70.7)	25.1 (77.2)	29.1 (84.4)	32.3 (90.1)	32.8 (91.0)	29.7 (85.5)	26.3 (79.3)	21.5 (70.7)	17.8 (64.0)	24.1 (75.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12.3 (54.1)	12.9 (55.2)	14.7 (58.5)	16.9 (62.4)	20.4 (68.7)	24.2 (75.6)	27.1 (80.8)	27.8 (82.0)	25.4 (77.7)	22.2 (72.0)	17.3 (63.1)	13.6 (56.5)	19.6 (67.2)
Average low °C (°F)	8.2 (46.8)	8.7 (47.7)	10.6 (51.1)	12.9 (55.2)	16.3 (61.3)	19.9 (67.8)	22.5 (72.5)	23.6 (74.5)	21.6 (70.9)	18.3 (64.9)	13.2 (55.8)	9.4 (48.9)	15.4 (59.8)
Record low °C (°F)	0.2 (32.4)	0.1 (32.2)	1.9 (35.4)	4.5 (40.1)	8.2 (46.8)	12.4 (54.3)	15.1 (59.2)	14.3 (57.7)	13.9 (57.0)	7.3 (45.1)	0.2 (32.4)	−1.9 (28.6)	−1.9 (28.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	44.6 (1.76)	25.0 (0.98)	30.4 (1.20)	21.1 (0.83)	17.4 (0.69)	4.9 (0.19)	1.6 (0.06)	10.1 (0.40)	46.6 (1.83)	54.6 (2.15)	38.0 (1.50)	45.0 (1.77)	339.3 (13.36)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	5.0	4.2	4.1	4.4	3.0	1.3	0.4	1.2	3.7	4.6	4.1	4.3	40.3
Average relative humidity (%)	70	69	70	69	69	67	65	66	70	71	70	71	69
Mean monthly sunshine hours	167.4	179.2	207.7	228.0	275.9	303.0	337.9	303.8	240.0	210.8	189.0	164.3	2,807
Source: Institut National de la Météorologie (precipitation days/humidity/sun 1961–1990)[1][2][3][note 1]

Economy

Nouvelair has its head office in Monastir in the Dkhila Tourist Zone,[5][6] near the Hôtel Sahara Beach.[7]

Education

The city of Monastir has:

• Five Junior High Schools of basic education: Ali-Bourguiba, Moufida-Bourguiba Imtiez, Salem-Bchir and a pioneer junior high school ;
• Four High Schools: Fatouma-Bourguiba, Hedi-Khefacha, Bourguiba and a Pioneer high school (open since the school year 2003-2004).

Monastir is also a university city, incorporating the University of Monastir which was founded on September 2, 2004[8] and covers the governorates of Monastir and Mahdia. The university of Monastir includes sixteen faculty departments, of which ten are located in Monastir:

• Faculty of science
• Faculty of medicine
• Faculty of dental medicine
• Faculty of pharmacy
• The National Engineering School of Monastir
• The Higher School of science and technologies of health
• The Higher Institutes of Biotechnology, Computer Science and Mathematics and Fashion Trades
• The Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies

The student population of Monastir exceeded 27,000 in 2007–2008, making the city one of the largest in terms of university studies along with Tunis, Sfax and Sousse.

Notable people

Tunisian ex-president Habib Bourguiba was born in Monastir, and his mausoleum is located in the city. Many other famous politicians are also from Monastir:

• Mohamed Mzali, prime minister of Tunisia from 1980–1986
• Hedi Amara Nouira, prime minister of Tunisia from 1970–1980

Among other notable people:

• Jawhar Mnari, footballer, born in Monastir and winner of DFB-Pokal (2006/2007).
• Hamza Younés, footballer

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Tunisia

Twin towns – Sister cities

Monastir is twinned with:

• Münster, Germany[9]

and cooperates with

• Saint-Étienne, France

Gallery

Great Mosque of Monastir Al-Qurayyah beach Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum Cemetery Sidi el-Mézeri Streets in the old city Street shops

Neighbouring area

Monastir's northeastern territories lead into a place called Route de la Falaise, through which one can reach its most notable suburb, Skanes, which is 6 miles (9.7 kilometres) from Monastir's town centre. Hugging Tunisia's coastline, Skanes is a holiday resort known mostly for its professional golf courses; white, sandy beaches; clear blue sea; and hotels that fuse Moorish architecture with modern designs. It is frequented throughout the summer by tourists from around the world. They also come for the medina, where it is possible to sample fresh Tunisian cooking and bargain for local goods.

References

1. "Les normales climatiques en Tunisie entre 1981 2010" (in French). Ministère du Transport. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
2. "Données normales climatiques 1961-1990" (in French). Ministère du Transport. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
3. "Les extrêmes climatiques en Tunisie" (in French). Ministère du Transport. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
4. "Réseau des stations météorologiques synoptiques de la Tunisie" (in French). Ministère du Transport. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
5. "Réclamations, Suggestions." Nouvelair. Retrieved on 1 July 2010. "Nos Coordonnées Adresse : Zone Touristique Dkhila – 5065 – Monastir – Tunisie."
6. "Après le vol." Nouvelair. Retrieved on 1 July 2010.
7. Jacobs, Daniel and Peter Morris. The Rough Guide to Tunisia. Rough Guides, 2001. 215. Retrieved from Google Books on 1 July 2010. ISBN 1-85828-748-0, ISBN 978-1-85828-748-5.
8. "History : university of monastir". www.um.rnu.tn. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
9. "Portrait of Münster: Die Partnerstädte". Stadt Münster. Archived from the original on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2013-08-07.

Notes

1. The Station ID for Monastir is 340404111.[4]

External links

• (in French) USMonastir.com, official web site of the local multi-sports team
• Photo gallery of the city of Monastir by French naval intelligence in 1924.