Tozeur


Tozeur is an oasis and a city in south west Tunisia. The city is located north-west of Chott el Djerid, in between this Chott and the smaller Chott el Gharsa. It is the capital of the Tozeur Governorate. It was the site of Ancient city and former bishopric Tusuros, which remains a Latin Catholic titular see.

History

During the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire and in the Vandal Kingdom, Tozeur was the site of Tusuros, in the Roman province of Byzacena.

Bishopric

At this time it was the seat of a suffragan bishopric, called Tusuros.
Located in the Sahel hinterland of the Byzacena coastline, close to the towns of Aquae and Nefta and south of Capsa and Ad Turres, Roman Tursuros became an important center of Donatism.
The Bishopric ceased to function following the seventh century the arrival of Islam The remains of an ancient church are visible in the foundations of an old mosque of Tozeur.
Four bishops are historically documented
It was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin titular bishopric of Tusuros / Tusuro / Tusuritan of the Roman Catholic Church.
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal rank:
  1. Joseph Leo Cardijn , Founder of the international Young Christian Workers then without prelature; later created Cardinal-Deacon of S. Michele Arcangelo
  2. Giovanni Benelli as papal diplomat : Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Senegal, Apostolic Delegate to Western Africa and Roman Curia official : Substitute for General Affairs of Secretariat of State ; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Firenze , created Cardinal-Priest of S. Prisca
  3. Thomas Cajetan Kelly as Auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Washington ; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Louisville , died 2011
  4. Paul Lanneau, first as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels , then as emeritus.
  5. Bishop-elect Amilton Manoel da Silva, Passionists as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Curitiba .

    Geography

Climate

Tozeur has a hot desert climate typical of the northern edge of the Sahara Desert. The annual average rainfall amount reaches 80.8 mm, and the annual mean temperature reaches 22.2 °C, both making the city hot and dry year-round. The weather is usually settled and sunny throughout the year. Summers are extremely hot with daily highs often exceeding 45 °C in the shade, and the sirocco may push temperatures above 50 °C. During winters, it can sometimes freeze at night and just before the sunrise, as the temperature may drop below 0 °C.

Modern town

With hundreds of thousands of palm trees, Tozeur is a large oasis. Dates are exported from Tozeur. In ancient times, before the advent of motorized vehicles, the oasis was important for the transportation through the Sahara, which took place in caravans. The name of the city in antiquity was Tusuros, it was an important Roman outpost. The medina of Tozeur, contains traditional architecture, fashion and workmanship.

Architecture

Tozeur, in common with the surrounding Jerid region, is noted for its yellow/brownish brickwork as well as its patterns in geometric designs which form the façades of most buildings in the old city and the new tourist zone.
The old town of Ouled El Hwadef is an example of the local brickwork. Mandated by the local government, the narrow streets, walls and façades were decorated with bricks, which took more than 10 years to complete.

Sport

Tozeur has a football club who plays in the First Professional Federation of Football in Tunisia, the team is called LPS Tozeur. In 2010/2011 season the club almost made it to the First Professional Federation of Football.

Economy

Overview

Although still the largest part of the local economy, dates and farming are becoming less appealing to the young, who are more often employed in tourism. Tourism is heavily developed and promoted, and Tozeur is considered a center of "desert tourism". The annual "International Festival of Oases" takes place in the town in November and December each year.
The government initiated two large-scale projects:
  1. Tapping of deep aquifers by wells. This led to the depletion of most natural springs and abandonment of the traditional irrigation canals. Tozeur's oasis has been irrigated based on an open surface canal system designed in the 13th century by engineer Ibn Chabbat. This traditional irrigation system is currently being replaced by a system of concrete pipes. Water that was traditionally free to farmers is now being sold to offset the cost of these projects and pipes.
  2. The second part of these local projects is the initiation of new oases around town. These oases' productivity is very low and their future highly unstable. This situation is slowly leading to the decay of the old oases with productivity plummeting and the health and future of the oases questionable.
The region around Tozeur is seeing a large influx of unemployed workers and their families from the once rich phosphate region of Metlaoui, Gafsa and Oum Lerrayess in hope of work in the tourism sector. The phosphate mines are no longer productive and thousands of workers were laid off after the government sold them to European investors.
Overall the region, and Tozeur in particular, is going through a tough time. The region is embracing the unstable tourism economy and shying away from its traditional agricultural based economy. During the first Gulf War the sector suffered with a loss of large number of workers and an increase in unemployment. The same happened during September 11, 2001 attacks and the Iraq War.

Transport

The city is served by buses, taxis, railway, louage, and Tozeur–Nefta International Airport with national and international services from London, Paris, Rome and few other European countries. Tozeur lies on the edge of the Sahara desert. Tourism activity is higher in the fall and winter months with Douz Festival among others in late December

People from Tozeur

The people of Tozeur have an unparalleled attachment to knowledge and science. This love for science is associated with high human values, including generosity, communicative enthusiasm, wisdom and humility.

Popular culture

Tozeur was used as a filming location for the Star Wars saga and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Lucasfilm also built an entire set a few kilometers north-west of Tozeur in the middle of the desert. This set acted as Mos Espa in . The buildings are still there and can be visited.
The English Patient with Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas was partially filmed outside Tozeur.
In May 1984 the Italian singers Alice and Franco Battiato represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I treni di Tozeur", whose lyrics contain several references to Tozeur, the historic train Le Lézard rouge and Tunisian history in general. This song became a chart hit throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia.