Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Gabès

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Country
  
Tunisia


Governor
  
Gabes

Gabes in the past, History of Gabes

Colleges and Universities
  
University of Gabes, University of Gabes, City Center, University of Gabes, Omar Khattab

Gabes tunisie tunisia 1912


Gabès (Tunisian Arabic: ڨابس Gābis), also spelled Cabès, Cabes, Kabes, Gabbs and Gaps, is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate in Tunisia. It lies on the coast of the Gulf of Gabès. With a population of 130,984, it is the 6th largest Tunisian city.

Contents

Map of Gabès

Gabes between oasis sea


Etymology

Gabes Tourist places in Gabes

Takapes, the ancient name of Gabes, is a Numidian (Berber) toponym. Later, the prefix "Ta" (meaning "to" in Berber) was dropped, and the place became known as Kapes. As in Arabic the sound /p/ is unknown, Kapes became known as Kabes, and later known as Gabes.

Roman period

Gabes Tourist places in Gabes

Gabès is the ancient Tacapae or Tacape (Τακάπη in Ancient greek) or Tacapes of the Roman province of Tripolitania.

Gabès looklexcomeoslidesgabes05jpg

Strabo refers to this city as an important entrepot of the Lesser Syrtis. Pliny (18.22) remarks that the waters of a copious fountain at Tacape were divided among the cultivators according to a system where each had the use of the water during a certain interval of time.

The Tabula Peutingeriana shows Tacape between Marcomades and Sabratha.

Bishopric

Tacapae became a Christian bishopric that, no longer being a residential see, is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.

Three of its bishops are known:

  • Dulcitius, legate of the bishops of Tripolitana to the Council of Carthage (403) and present at the Conference of Carthage in 411;
  • Servilius, exiled by Huneric in 484;
  • Caius or Gallus, legate of the bishops of his province to the Council of Carthage in 525.
  • After the Roman and Christian period

  • 7th century: The Umayyad Caliphate conquest. Muhammed's companion Sidi Abou Loobaba Al'Ansarey settles in Gabès.
  • 1574: Gabès becomes part of the Eyalet of Tunis after the Ottoman conquest.
  • 1881: Gabès comes under a French protectorate.
  • 1940: Following the Fall of France, Gabès comes under German control.
  • 1943: Gabès returns to French control with the help of the British (in the Mareth Line). The operation results in serious damage to the city infrastructure and in the defeat of Hitler for the first time in history.
  • 1945: The rebuilding of Gabès starts.
  • 1956: Gabès reverts to Tunisian control with the independence of Tunisia from the French.
  • Education

  • University of Gabès (science university, engineering school...)
  • Economy

    Gabès is one of the biggest industrial cities in Tunisia. Most industries are chemical oriented, this is why the city offers one of the best chemistry degrees in Africa from the University of Gabès. The main industries are:

  • Cement
  • Chemical products
  • Brick Factories
  • Oil refinery
  • The fast-growing numbers of factories has resulted in fairly serious pollution of the area and of the Gulf of Gabès. In recent years the government is working on new programs and laws to decrease the amount of pollution.

    Transport

    Gabès – Matmata International Airport is in the city.

    Gabès will soon be upgraded with one light rail system under the number 7 that will run from the railway station to the port of Gabès. Featuring rolling stock made by Alstom, Gabès will receive 15 new train sets.

    Railways

    Gabès is terminus of a narrow gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in) branch railway from the capital, and is the nearest railway station to the Libyan border at Ras Ajdir. Gabès has also one of the biggest ports in Tunisia; it is used usually to ship the mineral products from the city of Gafsa.

    Roads

    Gabès will be linked soon with the national motorway A4 (Tunis - Ras Ajdir)

    Climate

    Gabès has a semi-arid climate, characterized by a hot and dry season and a cool and arid season.

    Overview

    Gabès is famous for its traditional Souqs in Jarah; it is known also for its attractive beach and the unusual seaside oasis (Gabès is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea). The best parts of the beach are in the south of the city (Road to Djerba). The best one is the Lemawa or Lemaya beach. The government is planning to build a tourist zone there in the coming years. Gabès has a unique feature in the world, in this city you find the mountain, the sea, the oasis and the desert. The streets of Gabès come alive at night during Ramadan, where sook's (shops) are open on the streets and parties happen almost everyday in the night during Ramadan. The most visited place in Gabès is the town Matmata.

    Place to visit:

  • The traditional souks.
  • The Kornich.
  • Sidi Boulbaba.
  • The Mouradi school.
  • Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Toujani.
  • World Heritage Status

    This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on May 28, 2008, in the Cultural category.

    Notable people

  • Gladys Adda, activist, was born here in 1921
  • Silvan Shalom, Israeli politician, former minister and Knesset member
  • Tahar Haddad , Writer, Feminist advocator, activist,reformer (1899-1935)
  • Mohamed Ali El Hammi , one of the founding fathers of Tunisian syndicalism, an activist (1890-1928)
  • References

    Gabès Wikipedia