Djerba is marked with a high density of mosques which assumed multi-dimensional functions in the lives of the islanders for centuries. In fact, a part from their vocation as places of cult, the mosques used to receive students, helped the needy, and served as places where disputes were settled... During wars or invasions they are quickly transformed into shelters where people take refuge to defend themselves. Every mosque in Djerba is unique and different. Some of the most famous are cited below:
Bou Messouer or Ejjâmaa El kébîr MosqueThis mosque is situated in the north of the island. It is the oldest and one of the most important mosques in Djerba. It dates back to the Xth Century. This edifice played an important religious and educational role and contributed to the training of many leading theological figures supporting the Wahbiya El Ibadhiya.
The mosque is composed of different architectural units including a prayer room, a courtyard with a portico, an ablutions room, a teachers and students room, and external mihrabs indicating the direction of Mecca.
The Fadhloun MosqueThis monument is situated near Khazroun, in the south-east of the island. It probably dates back to the XIVth Century.
It is composed of a prayer room, a courtyard, an ablutions room, a Quranic school, internal annexes, a bakery, and a mill.
The welhi MosqueThis mosque is situated in Wed Zebib in the south of the island. It dates back to the XIVth Century as attested by certain historical sources.
It is composed of different architectural units including a prayer room, a courtyard with a portico, an ablutions room, and a buried part representing a praying space.
Tejdît MosqueIt is situated in Fatou, in the north of the island, not far from the coast. It dates back to the period before the year 1497-1498. The defensive characteristics of its architecture provide information on the fortified mosques which used to play an important role in the defensive system of that time.
This mosque is composed of different architectural units including a prayer room, a courtyard, a Quranic school, an ablutions room, and other annexes.
Moghzèl MosqueIt is situated in Bni Maaguel, in the south of the island, not far from the coast. It considered among the fortified mosques which constitute the back base of the second defensive line. It dates back to the beginning of the XVIIth Century.
This mosque is composed of different architectural units including a prayer room, Mesjed. There is a five-step staircase at the southern extremity of the main façade. A minaret ornamented with a lantern rises up at its north-eastern angle. It has a conic form and is supported with small columns of masonry. In addition to this architectural unit, the monument includes traces of an ablutions room and a service room that occupies a rectangular area from the east to the west, which is parallel to the northern extremity of the façade and the prayer room.
Sidi Yâtî MosqueThis monument is situated on the south-western coast of the island, in the El Fahmine locality, not far from Guallela. The man after whom the mosque is named was among the distinguished personalities of the Xth Century.
The monument is composed of important architectural units including a prayer room, a courtyard with a portico, a funerary room with the saint’s tomb, and other annexes.
Sîdî Brahîm Eljomnî Mosque
It is situated at the centre of Houmet Essoug. Originally, it was a Maliki school that dates back to 1675 according to certain historical sources. It was specially built in honour of Sheikh Ibrahim Eljomni within a strategy adopted by the Muradi, then the Husseinid central power to promote Malikism on the island and provide important support to its emblematic figures.
The monument is composed of important architectural units including a prayer room, a room with porticos, an ablutions room, a funerary room, a Quranic school, and a students room.
El Bassi Mosque
This monument is situated deep in the countryside in the Waleg village. Originally, it was a big Ibadi medersa that dates back to the XVIIIth Century. It was built during the Husseinid period and it presents a marked Ottoman architectural style. Actually, it is the headquarters of a project that is still underway and it is going to shelter “The Cultural Centre of the Djerba Mosques.”
The monument is composed of important architectural units including a prayer room, a courtyard with porticos, an ablutions and sanitary fittings room, a house for the Sheikh, a Quranic school, a library, rooms for the students, and many annexes.
Jamaa Ettrok
It is situated at the centre of Houmet Essoug. Originally, it was a Hanafi school that dates back to the end of the XVIth Century according to certain historical sources. Actually, it is Maliki and underwent many modifications while preserving its Ottoman aspect.
The monument is composed of diverse units including a prayer room, an ablutions room, an independent minaret, and annexes.
Sîdî Abdel kader
It is a zaouia that is situated at the centre of Houmet Essoug. It was built for the Kaderit Maliki sect. the monument was constructed following the official style of the XVIIIth Century under Turkish influence.
The monument is composed of a patio surrounded with galleries on the four sides and a mausoleum with a cupola that has an independent entrance today. The prayer room was transformed into a youth club and the zaouia is actually the headquarters of the Association of the Preservation of Djerba,
AASIDJE .
Jamaa El Outa
It is a small buried monument situated in the countryside, deep in the olive tree forest, not far from the road between Mahboubine and El Kantara. Only two cupolas and a vaulted entrance are visible from the outside. The remaining of the monument is completely buried. It is an original Ibadi place of cult with an apparent defensive aspect which is actually Maliki. Its construction date is between the XIth and the XIIIth Century.
Jamaa Magmag or Ben Biane MosqueIt is an Ibadi place of cult situated in the countryside not far from Erriadh commune near Hara Esghira. It dates back to the end of the Xth Century. Its importance does not lie in its origin or grandeur but in the fact that it encloses the Ghar magmag. This is a cave that is completely dug in the rock. The Azzaba used to meet there and write down their encyclopaedia.
The most famous Djerbian fortifications are Borj El Ghazi Mustapha or Borj El Kebir in Houmet Essoug, near its ancient centre, which was constructed in the XVth Century by the Muslims, Borj Ejmejem (The cranes tower)which is a pyramidal pile of Christians’ bones was made by the Ottomans during the battle of 1560 and that survived till 1846, Borj Jlij, Borj Ajim, Borj El ‘Aghreb or Borj Thrig Ejjmèl, and Borj El Gastil, constructed by Roger de Lauria in 1289, near ancient Méninx.
Among the historical monuments with economic character, we can cite some weaving workshops that can be spotted and visited on the main roads of the island and some underground oil mills including that of fsili which is open to the public in Midoun. The existence of some big houses or palaces like that of Ben Ayyed, which dates back to the XVIIth Century, can also be noted. Many components of the palace have, for the most part, collapsed
The majority of the historical monuments of the island are cultural. They are mainly mosques, the two Catholic and Orthodox churches of Houmet Essoug, and some Jewish synagogues including the most famous, the Ghriba, which is the object of the pilgrimage of Jews from all over the world.