Gabès

Takapes, the ancient name of Gabès, is a Punic Numidian (Berber) toponym. Later, the prefix "Ta" (meaning "the" in Punic) 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 Gabès.

Gabès is the ancient Tacapae[https://books.google.com/books?id=YnYjGTh88ZQC&pg=PA123 D. L. Bomgardner, Story of the Roman Amphitheatre] (Routledge 2013 {{ISBN|978-1-13470739-3}}), p. 123[https://books.google.com/books?id=rH26vL2CWbkC&pg=PA15 Paul Lachlan MacKendrick, The North African Stones Speak] (UNC Press 2000 {{ISBN|978-0-80784942-2}}), p. 15 or Tacape (Τακάπη in Ancient greek) or Tacapes[http://www.trismegistos.org/place/17132 Trismegistos, "Tacapae"] of the Roman province of Tripolitania.

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 {{Lang|la|Tabula Peutingeriana}} shows Tacape between Macomades and Sabratha.

Tacapae became a Christian bishopric that, no longer being a residential see, is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 980

Three of its bishops are known:Stefano Antonio Morcelli, Africa christiana, Volume I, Brescia 1816, p. 295

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

In the 7th century, the Umayyad Caliphate conquered the region, bringing Islam to Gabès. One of Prophet Muhammad's companions, Abu Lubaba Al'Ansari, settled in the city, contributing to its development as an Islamic center. The following centuries saw a succession of different rulers and dynasties. In 1148, the Zirids sacked Gabès, causing devastation to the city. During the Ottoman period, in 1574, Gabès became part of the Eyalet of Tunis, further cementing its role as a strategic trading hub in the Mediterranean region.

Gabès has been described by notable historians and travelers throughout history. In the 12th century, al-Idrisi praised its thriving economy, dense orchards, and bustling markets. He highlighted the city's production of dates, olives, and leather goods, as well as its strong fortifications.[https://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/نزهة_المشتاق_في_اختراق_الآفاق/الإقليم_الثالث/الجزء_الثاني نزهة المشتاق في اختراق الآفاق - الإقليم الثالث، الجزء الثاني] Muhammad al-Idrisi In the 14th century, al-Tijani depicted Gabès as a city of beauty and abundance, calling it the "paradise of the world" and "Little Damascus" due to its lush greenery and architectural charm. However, he also noted the city's health challenges, attributing frequent epidemics to the oleander trees that affected the water supply.رحلة التجاني، ص 86-89، أبو محمد عبد الله بن محمد بن أحمد التجاني، الدار العربية للكتاب: ليبيا-تونس 1981 In 1862, Victor Guérin described Gabès not as a singular city but as a collection of towns and villages forming a vast oasis, supported by the waters of the Wadi of Gabès.Victor Guérin, Voyage archéologique dans la régence de Tunis, éd. Plon, Paris, 1862, p. 190.

File:Plan_Gabes_1928.jpg

In the late 19th century, Tunisia came under French control, and in 1881, Gabès became part of the French protectorate. This period saw the introduction of modern infrastructure but also economic hardships for the local population. The 20th century brought further turmoil. After the fall of France in 1940, Gabès came under German control during World War II. Later years brought more instability. In 1941, Gabès was the scene of riots against Jewish communities.

In 1943, British forces assisted in retaking Gabès from German control as part of the Mareth Line operations, but this led to severe damage to the city's infrastructure. Reconstruction efforts began in 1945 to restore the city's economic and social life.

Gabès played a role in Tunisia's struggle for independence from France, and after gaining sovereignty in 1956, the city continued to develop while preserving its historical and cultural heritage. Today, Gabès is known for its blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, with its famous oasis being one of the last coastal oases in the world. Its historical significance remains evident in the archaeological remains and the continued traditions that link it to its rich past.File:Plan Gabes 1928.jpg

• University of Gabès

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 in the area and the Gulf of Gabès. In recent years the government has worked on new programs and laws to curb pollution.

File:Façades de la gare de chemin de fer de Gabès.JPG

Gabès – Matmata International Airport serves 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.

Gabès is terminus of a narrow gauge {{RailGauge|1000mm}} 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.

Gabès will be linked soon with the national motorway A1 (Tunis – Ras Ajdir).

Gabès has a hot arid climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), bordering upon a hot semi-arid climate (BSh), characterised by hot summers and pleasant winters. Rainfall is low throughout the year and negligible during the hot summer.

{{Weather box

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|location = Gabès (1991–2020, extremes 1950–present)

|Jan record high C = 29.3

|Feb record high C = 33.9

|Mar record high C = 41.0

|Apr record high C = 38.2

|May record high C = 43.6

|Jun record high C = 46.5

|Jul record high C = 49.1

|Aug record high C = 46.6

|Sep record high C = 44.2

|Oct record high C = 40.9

|Nov record high C = 35.0

|Dec record high C = 31.2

|year record high C = 46.7

|Jan high C = 17.1

|Feb high C = 18.2

|Mar high C = 20.2

|Apr high C = 22.6

|May high C = 25.6

|Jun high C = 28.4

|Jul high C = 31.4

|Aug high C = 32.5

|Sep high C = 30.5

|Oct high C = 27.5

|Nov high C = 22.8

|Dec high C = 18.3

|year high C = 24.6

|Jan mean C = 12.6

|Feb mean C = 13.4

|Mar mean C = 15.8

|Apr mean C = 18.5

|May mean C = 21.9

|Jun mean C = 25.1

|Jul mean C = 27.8

|Aug mean C = 28.8

|Sep mean C = 26.8

|Oct mean C = 23.3

|Nov mean C = 18.2

|Dec mean C = 13.9

|year mean C = 20.5

|Jan low C = 8.1

|Feb low C = 8.6

|Mar low C = 11.5

|Apr low C = 14.5

|May low C = 18.3

|Jun low C = 21.8

|Jul low C = 24.2

|Aug low C = 25.1

|Sep low C = 23.2

|Oct low C = 19.1

|Nov low C = 13.6

|Dec low C = 9.4

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = -2.7

|Feb record low C = -2.0

|Mar record low C = 0.9

|Apr record low C = 4.6

|May record low C = 8.2

|Jun record low C = 12.0

|Jul record low C = 15.6

|Aug record low C = 16.8

|Sep record low C = 14.4

|Oct record low C = 6.8

|Nov record low C = 2.6

|Dec record low C = 0.0

|year record low C = -2.7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 24.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 12.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 17.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 16.8

|May precipitation mm = 10.4

|Jun precipitation mm = 1.9

|Jul precipitation mm = 0.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 3.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 30.1

|Oct precipitation mm = 30.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 18.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 23.9

|year precipitation mm = 189.5

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 2.9

|Feb precipitation days = 2.3

|Mar precipitation days = 2.0

|Apr precipitation days = 2.0

|May precipitation days = 1.5

|Jun precipitation days = 0.5

|Jul precipitation days = 0.0

|Aug precipitation days = 0.3

|Sep precipitation days = 2.1

|Oct precipitation days = 3.0

|Nov precipitation days = 2.1

|Dec precipitation days = 2.5

|year precipitation days =

|Jan humidity = 62

|Feb humidity = 59

|Mar humidity = 62

|Apr humidity = 63

|May humidity = 65

|Jun humidity = 66

|Jul humidity = 63

|Aug humidity = 65

|Sep humidity = 66

|Oct humidity = 64

|Nov humidity = 62

|Dec humidity = 64

|year humidity = 63

|Jan sun = 214.1

|Feb sun = 226.8

|Mar sun = 251.9

|Apr sun = 274.1

|May sun = 308.4

|Jun sun = 322.2

|Jul sun = 354.0

|Aug sun = 335.1

|Sep sun = 259.4

|Oct sun = 247.8

|Nov sun = 218.1

|Dec sun = 211.1

|year sun =

|Jand sun = 7.1

|Febd sun = 7.7

|Mard sun = 8.1

|Aprd sun = 8.9

|Mayd sun = 10.1

|Jund sun = 10.7

|Juld sun = 12.0

|Augd sun = 11.4

|Sepd sun = 9.3

|Octd sun = 8.4

|Novd sun = 7.6

|Decd sun = 6.8

|yeard sun = 9.0

|source 1 = Institut National de la Météorologie (humidity 1961–1990, sun 1981-2010){{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191219211209/http://data.transport.tn/dataset/9e1ed3a1-69f5-4ef9-a05e-daa8126fdb7c/resource/acf0d32e-92b3-4247-9281-1b3a1587d23f/download/normales_1981_2010.txt

| archive-date = 19 December 2019

| url = http://data.transport.tn/dataset/9e1ed3a1-69f5-4ef9-a05e-daa8126fdb7c/resource/acf0d32e-92b3-4247-9281-1b3a1587d23f

| title = Les normales climatiques en Tunisie entre 1981 2010

| publisher = Ministère du Transport

| language = fr

| access-date = 4 January 2020}}{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221032155/http://data.transport.tn/dataset/c8d4b465-056c-41e2-a666-05160d19784e/resource/3d38ac83-8a3c-4207-b327-9684131292b3/download/normales_1961_1990.txt

| archive-date = 21 December 2019

| url = http://data.transport.tn/dataset/normales-climatiques-en-tunisie-entre-1961-1990/resource/3d38ac83-8a3c-4207-b327-9684131292b3

| title = Données normales climatiques 1961-1990

| publisher = Ministère du Transport

| language = fr

| access-date = 4 January 2020}}{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221032448/http://data.transport.tn/dataset/b19bf5d3-5f47-43a3-befc-80a4f4f1d267/resource/0f4ff280-9f86-4e4f-bc18-29df886c2a30/download/extremes.txt

| archive-date = 21 December 2019

| url = http://data.transport.tn/dataset/extremes-climatiques-en-tunisie/resource/0f4ff280-9f86-4e4f-bc18-29df886c2a30

| title = Les extrêmes climatiques en Tunisie

| publisher = Ministère du Transport

| language = fr

| access-date = 4 January 2020}}{{cite web | url = https://www.meteo.tn/index.php/donnees-climatiques | title = Période ensoleillée 1981-2010 climatiques en Tunisie | publisher = Ministère du Transport | language = fr | access-date = 26 December 2019}}{{refn|group=note|name=Station ID|The Station ID for Gabès is 46565111.{{cite web |url=http://data.transport.tn/dataset/reseau-des-stations-meteorologiques-synoptiques/resource/9d68c101-4789-4e6a-bdff-8952d727c0c1 |title=Réseau des stations météorologiques synoptiques de la Tunisie |publisher=Ministère du Transport |language=fr |access-date=4 January 2020}}}}

|source 2 = NOAA (humidity and daily sun 1961–1990){{cite web

| url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-I/TS/60765.TXT| title=Gabès Climate Normals 1961–1990| website= NOAA| access-date=January 24, 2015}}{{cite web| url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Tunisia/CSV/Gabes_60705.csv

| title=Climate Normals 1991-2020| website= NOAA| access-date=18 September 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=60765&ano=2021&mes=8&day=1&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |title=60765: Gabes (Tunisia) |author= |date= 31 July 2021|website=OGIMET |access-date= 1 August 2021|quote=}}

}}

Gabès hosts a variety of cultural events that celebrate both its traditions and contemporary arts. One of the city's most notable cultural events is the Gabès Cinéma Fen, an annual film festival that brings together filmmakers, artists, and cinephiles from across the globe. This festival is a vibrant platform for showcasing innovative and thought-provoking films, with a particular focus on regional cinema. Additionally, Gabès is home to the Bibliothèque régionale de Gabès, a key institution in promoting intellectual and cultural exchange. The library offers a wide range of resources and frequently hosts cultural events, workshops, and educational programs for the local community.

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).

The most visited place in Gabès is the town Matmata.

The streets of Gabès come alive at night during Ramadan, where souks are open on the streets and parties happen almost every day in the night during Ramadan.

Among the city's historical and religious landmarks, the Mosque of Sidi Boulbaba and The Mouradi school are the most notable. Also, The Zaouia of Sidi Ahmed Toujani, which is associated with the Tijani Sufi order and remains a center for spiritual gatherings.

This Oasis of Gabès was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on May 28, 2008, in the Cultural category.[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5386/ Oasis de Gabès - UNESCO World Heritage Centre]

ميناء الصيد بقابس.JPG

Phare de Gabès - Mai 2014.jpg

كورنيش-- قابس.JPG|Korniche of Gabès

Palmeraie gabès2.jpg

Rond-point Bab Bhar - Gabès - 2016.jpg|Bab Bhar

Gabes.jpg

• Gladys Adda, activist, was born here in 1921{{cite book|author1=Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.|author2=Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong|author3=Mr. Steven J. Niven|title=Dictionary of African Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA89|date=2 February 2012|publisher=OUP USA|isbn=978-0-19-538207-5|pages=89–90}}
• Juliette Bessis, Tunisian historian, was born here (1925–2017)
• 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)

{{Portal|Africa}}

• Gabès Governorate, one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia
• Gulf of Gabès
• University of Gabès, a public university
• List of cities in Tunisia

{{Reflist}}

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.commune-gabes.gov.tn/ar/ Gabès official website]
• [http://lexicorient.com/tunisia/gabes.htm "Gabès: Oasis on the Sea" from Lexicorient] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030170117/http://lexicorient.com/tunisia/gabes.htm |date=2012-10-30 }}
• [http://www.commune-gabes.gov.tn/ar/historique.php Historical images of Gabès]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZiuvOs91V4 Footage of Gabes in 1912 (YouTube)]

{{Communes of Tunisia}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabes}}

Category:Cities in Tunisia

Category:Oases of Tunisia

Category:Communes of Tunisia

Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Tunisia

Tacapae

Category:Populated places in Gabès Governorate

Category:World Heritage Tentative List