NAME: From the French " monastère", or " monastery").
LOCATION AND ACCESS: 165 km south-east of Tunis, 24 km east of Sousse, 80 km east of Kairouan. Railway station at Sousse. Skanès -Monastir international airport, tel. 261-314.

DIALING CODE: 03.
ACCOMMODATION: See Hotels Listing.

RESTAURANTS: Le Grill, le Chandelier, le Central, la Rosa, le Captain, Calypso Panorama King's, Le Rempart. See also Restaurants Listing.

AMENITIES: Post office, various shops, pharmacies, hospital, coach station, service stations, car hire (Hertz, airport post n:8, tel. 261-314), numerous travel agents, congress building, banks.

TOURIST INFORMATION: Commissariat regional au tourisme in Skanès (tel. 461 205 or 089, 462894), at airport (tel. 4630216).

Monastir, 9th century walls and an imposing Ribat tower over a modern resort complex and the result is amazingly harmonious. Monastir captures that blend of the traditional and modern that characterizes Tunisia. A marina nestled in the shade of the walls provides a enjoyable promenade as does the long avenue that offers the bluest of Mediterranean seas on one side and open air terraces of Hotels, restaurants and coffee houses from where you can enjoy the view.

The "monastery" after which the town was named, was built by an Islamic religious order in 797 to defend the town from roaming nomadic tribes and Byzantine warships. The fortress houses a lovely museum of Islamic art and artifacts.