sfax

{{Further|Taparura|Thenae}}

Present-day Sfax was founded by the Aghlabids in AD{{nbsp}}849 on the site of the town of Taparura. The modern city has also grown to cover some other ancient settlements, most notably Thenae in its southern suburb of Thyna.

By the end of the 10th century, Sfax had become an independent city-state. The city was conquered by Roger II of Sicily in 1148 and occupied until it was liberated in 1156 after a revolt and taken by the Almohads, and was briefly occupied by European forces again, this time by the Spanish, in the 16th century, before falling into Ottoman hands. Sfax became an integral base of the Barbary piracy, prompting an unsuccessful invasion by Venice in 1185.

Al-Idrisi, in the 12th century, described Sfax as:[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

The city of Sfax is an ancient and thriving city with many markets and extensive buildings. It is surrounded by a stone wall with fortified iron-plated gates. Along its walls, there are well-constructed watchtowers for guarding. Its markets are lively, and its people drink from cisterns. Fine fruits of astonishing variety are brought to it from the city of Gabès in sufficient quantities, making them abundant and inexpensive. A significant amount of fish is caught there, large in size and plentiful in number, mostly captured using enclosures set up in stagnant waters through various clever methods. Its main agricultural products are olives and olive oil, which are of a unique quality not found elsewhere. The city has a harbor in stagnant waters. In summary, it is one of the most distinguished cities, and its inhabitants possess pride and dignity. The great King Roger conquered it in the year 543 AH [1148 CE]. It remains inhabited today, though not as prosperous in architecture, markets, and trade as it was in ancient times.

Abou Yahya Abou Bekr finally re-established Hafsid unity and recaptured Kerkennah from the Christians in 1335. The peace returned to the country was only disturbed by rare episodes, the most lasting of which began with the price of Sfax by the dissident brothers, Ahmed and Abdelmalèk ben Makki.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Towards 1370, following the arrival of Caliph Abdul-Abbas, Sfax returned under the Hafsid era.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

After more than three centuries, which had seen the preponderance of the Hafsids, the conflict between the Turks and the Spaniards precipitated the fall of their dynasty. In 1534, the privateer Barberousse entered Tunis, proclaimed the decline of the Hafsids and effortlessly reunited the towns of the coast, among them the town of Sfax.{{cite web|url=http://www.inp.rnrt.tn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143%3Asfaxar&catid=1%3Asites&Itemid=6&lang=fr|title = Sfax}}

The founder of the new dynasty, Hussein, gave the country unquestionable economic prosperity. In Sfax, the mosque is enlarged, which regains its original extent; the new mihrâb is dated 1758, the work was completed in 1783.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

The ramparts were restored and two large reservoirs were built to supplement the Nasriah cisterns. In 1776, the southern suburb of the city, the Frankish quarter, was built, reserved for Jews and Christians, a major place of maritime trade, but which was also to serve as a buffer against sea attacks, which were still to be feared. The eventuality was not long in coming, the Venetians bombarding Sfax four times in the space of two years (1785–86). A large fort was built during the siege to flank Borj Ennar; it was demolished after the last war.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Around 1830, the Frankish quarter was surrounded by a wall and in 1860 the city had a post office and telegraph. In 1876, the telegraph clerk made a plan of the city and told us about a signal tower built a century earlier and of which we have lost track.

{{See also|French protectorate of Tunisia}}

When the Bey of Tunis signed the Bardo Treaty, in 1881, making Tunisia a protectorate, an insurrection broke out in Sfax. Six ironclads were dispatched from Toulon (Colbert, Friedland, Marengo, Trident, Revanche, Surveillante) to join the French Navy ships in Tunisian waters. In Sfax, three ironclads from the Division of the Levant were already present (Alma, Reine Blanche, La Galissonnière), together with four cannon boats.{{cite book |last=Randier |first=Jean |date=2006 |title=La Royale |publisher=Babouji |isbn=2-35261-022-2 |page=395}} Sfax was bombarded, and on 16 July the city was taken by the French after hard fighting, with seven dead and 32 wounded for the French.{{Sfn | Randier | 2006 | p = 395}}

{{See also|World War II}}

During World War II, the Axis powers used the city as a major base until British forces took it on 10 April 1943. After World War II, Tunisia was returned to France, but gained independence in 1956.

Colbert-Bougault.jpg|The French ironclad Colbert which bombarded Sfax (1881)

Bab Diwan old 01.gif|Bab Diwan (1890)

Colonel Bougrain, du 4e RST, et Léon Beaufils, contrôleur Civil, à Sfax, 1934.jpg|Colonel Bougrain and Léon Beaufils in Sfax (1934)

The British Army in Tunisia 1943 NA1913.jpg|British Army in Tunisia (1943)

Sfax. Les salines. On voit, sur les rails, des trains Decauville chargés d'acheminer le sel vers le port (CPA R. Marcelon n°9 - Coll. Ch. Attard).gif|Les Salines of Sfax (1910)

German prisoners in Sfax POW camp 1946.jpg|German prisoners (1946)

Bab Diwan old 03.jpg|Bab Diwan and Old view of Sfax (1954)

Sfax, Tunisia After An Allied Bombing Raid, June 1943 TR1018.jpg|Street in Sfax after an Allied bombing raid in June 1943

Sfax, Tunisia After An Allied Bombing Raid, June 1943 TR1022.jpg|Train yard in Sfax after an Allied bombing raid in June 1943

Sfax, Tunisia After An Allied Bombing Raid, June 1943 TR1028.jpg|Warehouses near the port of Sfax after an Allied bombing raid in June 1943

Sfax has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Owing to its sheltered location relative to Mediterranean Sea winter storms, Sfax receives half the rainfall of Tunis and less even than the major cities of Libya (Tripoli and Benghazi). Summers, like all of North Africa, are hot and almost rainless, whilst winters are very pleasant with usually only light rain.

{{Weather box

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|width = auto

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

|Jan record high C = 26.8

|Feb record high C = 32.7

|Mar record high C = 36.9

|Apr record high C = 37.2

|May record high C = 41.3

|Jun record high C = 47.8

|Jul record high C = 47.2

|Aug record high C = 46.8

|Sep record high C = 43.5

|Oct record high C = 38.6

|Nov record high C = 34.5

|Dec record high C = 28.7

|year record high C = 47.8

|Jan high C = 17.5

|Feb high C = 18.1

|Mar high C = 20.4

|Apr high C = 22.8

|May high C = 26.3

|Jun high C = 30.2

|Jul high C = 32.8

|Aug high C = 33.4

|Sep high C = 30.5

|Oct high C = 27.3

|Nov high C = 22.6

|Dec high C = 18.7

|year high C = 25.1

|Jan mean C = 12.1

|Feb mean C = 12.7

|Mar mean C = 15.1

|Apr mean C = 17.8

|May mean C = 21.3

|Jun mean C = 25.0

|Jul mean C = 27.6

|Aug mean C = 28.4

|Sep mean C = 26.1

|Oct mean C = 22.6

|Nov mean C = 17.4

|Dec mean C = 13.4

|year mean C = 20.0

|Jan low C = 6.8

|Feb low C = 7.2

|Mar low C = 9.8

|Apr low C = 12.7

|May low C = 16.3

|Jun low C = 19.9

|Jul low C = 22.4

|Aug low C = 23.3

|Sep low C = 21.7

|Oct low C = 17.9

|Nov low C = 12.2

|Dec low C = 8.2

|year low C = 14.9

|Jan record low C = -2.3

|Feb record low C = -1.2

|Mar record low C = -1.0

|Apr record low C = 2.0

|May record low C = 6.1

|Jun record low C = 10.6

|Jul record low C = 13.6

|Aug record low C = 13.2

|Sep record low C = 11.2

|Oct record low C = 5.2

|Nov record low C = 2.0

|Dec record low C = -1.0

|year record low C = -2.3

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 23.9

|Feb precipitation mm = 15.3

|Mar precipitation mm = 27.5

|Apr precipitation mm = 17.3

|May precipitation mm = 13.7

|Jun precipitation mm = 6.1

|Jul precipitation mm = 1.0

|Aug precipitation mm = 6.3

|Sep precipitation mm = 33.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 24.8

|Nov precipitation mm = 21.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 26.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 2.8

|Feb precipitation days = 2.5

|Mar precipitation days = 3.3

|Apr precipitation days = 2.6

|May precipitation days = 1.7

|Jun precipitation days = 0.8

|Jul precipitation days = 0.1

|Aug precipitation days = 0.9

|Sep precipitation days = 3.1

|Oct precipitation days = 2.9

|Nov precipitation days = 2.5

|Dec precipitation days = 2.9

|year precipitation days = 26.3

|Jan humidity = 65

|Feb humidity = 63

|Mar humidity = 63

|Apr humidity = 63

|May humidity = 62

|Jun humidity = 60

|Jul humidity = 59

|Aug humidity = 63

|Sep humidity = 65

|Oct humidity = 66

|Nov humidity = 65

|Dec humidity = 66

|year humidity = 63

|Jan sun = 191.8

|Feb sun = 202.7

|Mar sun = 231.2

|Apr sun = 251.6

|May sun = 306.6

|Jun sun = 338.1

|Jul sun = 369.8

|Aug sun = 335.8

|Sep sun = 254.3

|Oct sun = 225.4

|Nov sun = 208.4

|Dec sun = 193.2

|year sun =

|Jand sun = 6.4

|Febd sun = 7.2

|Mard sun = 7.7

|Aprd sun = 8.6

|Mayd sun = 10.0

|Jund sun = 11.1

|Juld sun = 12.2

|Augd sun = 11.2

|Sepd sun = 9.1

|Octd sun = 7.8

|Novd sun = 7.0

|Decd sun = 6.3

|yeard sun = 8.7

|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 = 26 December 2019}}{{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 = 26 December 2019}}{{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 = 26 December 2019}}{{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 Sfax is 45050111.{{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=26 December 2019}}}}

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

| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-I/TS/60750.TXT

| title = Sfax Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 24 January 2015}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Tunisia/CSV/Sfax_60750.csv

| title = Climate Normals 1991-2020

| website = NOAA.gov

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 18 September 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=60750&ano=2022&mes=12&day=15&hora=12&min=0&ndays=30|title=60750: Sfax El-Maou (Tunisia)|author= |date=14 December 2022 |website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET|access-date=15 December 2022 }}

}}

The topography of the governorate of Sfax tilts regularly from the west to the coast and local presents small hills and mountain ranges in the form of elongated draâs.

File:Sfax 10.76028E 34.74052N.png

Sfax is characterized by a monotonous, low and slightly uneven relief. The altitude y rarely exceed 250 m, especially in the center-west of the governorate (Draâ Lahirech, 269 m; Djebel Chebka, 255 m). Most of the study site extends over wide plains not exceeding the 150 m above sea level, including a low coastal strip about 15 km wide and having an average altitude of 20 m.[http://www.mehat.gov.tn/fileadmin/user_upload/Amenagement_Territoire/AtlasSfaxFr.pdf#page=16 Atlas du Gouvernorat de Sfax: Page 16 (In French)]

The monotonous character, low and not very rugged of the topography largely determined the characteristics hydrographic in the governorate of Sfax. Indeed, the rivers are numerous, shallow and rarely reaches the sea. The hills and small mountain ranges of the center-west present a hydrographic hairline dense and relatively deep compared to the coastal strip. Like a few exoreic rivers (wadi Agareb, wadi Laâchech, wadi El Maleh), most of the Wadis are endorheic, leading to closed depressions of the sebkhas and garâas type. Depending on their morpho-structural conditions, these closed depressions take the form of basins synclinal (Menzel Chaker and Hancha regions) or the form of sebkhas and garâas (Noual, Bou Jmal, Mchiguigue, Karafita... etc.).[http://www.mehat.gov.tn/fileadmin/user_upload/Amenagement_Territoire/AtlasSfaxFr.pdf#page=17 Atlas du Gouvernorat de Sfax: Page 17 (In French)]

Whether in the city center or between the radial roads, there are large, popular neighborhoods in Sfax, most of which are:

• Hay El Rabdh
• Hay El Habib
• Hay El Bahri
• Hay Bourguiba
• Hay El Badrani
• Hay Ennasr
• Hay El Maez
• Hay Thyna

Sadok Guermazi.jpg|Sadok Ghermazi

Abdelmajid chaker2.JPG|Abdelmajid Chaker

Mohamed Chaker.jpg|Mohamed Chaker

File:Sfax Municipality 2018.svg

The current mayor of the city is Mounir Elloumi (belonging to Ennahdha), elected in the 2018 Tunisian local elections[http://www.isie.tn/elections/elections-municipales-2018/resultats-preliminaires/ Résultats préliminaires (Instance supérieure indépendante pour les élections)].

File:Tunisie Gouvernorat de Sfax.svg

The Governorate of Sfax has 16 municipalities:

{{#section:Template:Table of Tunisian municipalities|sfax}}

{{historical populations

|1993|714900

|2006|881000

|2007|893000

|2008|905000

|2009|906129

|2010|916190

|2011|926363

|2012|936647

|2013|947046

|2014|958100

|2015|971300

|2016|983300

|2017|995300

|2019|1013021

| align = right

}}

In 2019, the population of Sfax has reached 1,013,021 inhabitants. The urban population represents 63.7% of the population.{{cite web |url=https://knoema.fr/atlas/Tunisie/Sfax/Population-totale |title=Sfax Population totale, 1990–2021 |publisher=Knoema.fr |date=13 July 2022 |accessdate=2022-08-31}} In 2014 the Males represent 50.2% of the population structure with a population of 140,752. As to the Females, they represent 49.1% with a population of 139,814.{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/tunisia/mun/admin/sfax/3411__sfax/|title=Sfax (Municipality, Tunisia) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location}}

{{See also|Medina of Sfax}}

The Medina represents one of the most important quarters of Sfax. it plays a touristic and historical role of the city. It was built by Aghlabid prince Abu Abbass Muhammad between 849 and 851. The medina is home to about 113,000 residents and is dominated by the Great Mosque of Sfax.

{{See also|Gates of Sfax}}

File:Sfax.jpg

Apart from Borj Ennar and three other towers that disappeared, the walls of the medina kept the same original architecture since 1306.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfax1881-1956.com/Origines/origines.htm|title=Les origines|website=sfax1881-1956.com|access-date=10 January 2018}} These are 2,750 meters long and have 34 dungeons. Their height varies between seven and eleven meters.

Originally, the medina had only two doors: Bab Jebli, also known as Bab Dhahraoui (northern door), and Bab Diwan or Bab Bahr (the sea door). Yet, in the 20th century and because of the economic development and the huge increase of the population, new doors had to be created to reduce the flow from these two main doors such as Bab El Ksar and Bab Jebli Jedid.{{cite web|url=http://www.lesitesfaxien.net/sfax/sfax-autrefois/quartiers-de-sfax/6-les-portes-de-la-medina|title=Les portes de la Médina|last=Bensalah|first=Moncef|website=lesitesfaxien.net|language=fr-fr|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-date=16 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016014204/http://www.lesitesfaxien.net/sfax/sfax-autrefois/quartiers-de-sfax/6-les-portes-de-la-medina|url-status=usurped}}

{{See also|Kasbah of Sfax}}

File:Tour observation casbah sfax.jpg

Like most of the other medinas of Tunisia, Sfax has its own kasbah. It is a desert fortress, located in the southwestern corner of the medina. It was used for different purposes throughout history, first, a control tower built by the Aghlabids on the coast, then the seat of the municipal government, and then the main army barracks. Its construction was preceded by the deployment of the wall and the medina quarter. Today it is served as a museum of traditional architecture.{{cite web|url=http://www.patrimoinedetunisie.com.tn/eng/monuments/kasbah_sfax.php|title=Kasbah of Sfax|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018050149/http://www.patrimoinedetunisie.com.tn/eng/monuments/kasbah_sfax.php|archive-date=2011-10-18|last=|first=|date=|website=patrimoinedetunisie.com.tn |access-date=}}

Also here are the Sidi Amar Kammoun Mausoleum, Sidi Ali Ennouri Mausoleum, Sidi Belhassen Karray Mausoleum, El Ajouzine Mosque, Bouchouaicha Mosque, Driba Mosque and Sidi Elyes Mosque.

The city hall of Sfax is in the center of the modern city and opens on Habib Bourguiba Street in parallel with the main entrance of the historic city. The Municipal Palace draws attention to the magnificence and beauty of its exterior architecture and its interior decorations and masterpieces. This unique landmark was designed by French architect Rafael Guy, who blended the Arab-Moriscan character with the European character

The project of the construction of the Palace of the scourge began at the beginning of the twentieth century, where the municipality issued a tender for this purpose in the newspaper Adebash Svaxian on 30 June 1904 and began construction works in late 1905 and ended in 1906

In 1912, he began to expand gradually until around 1943

After the Second World War, the town hall was completed in 1955.{{cite web|url=http://municipalite.asmhost.net/en/city-hall|title = City Hall | Commune de Sfax}}

Sfax,façades de l’immeuble.jpg

Sfaxcentre.jpg

Hotel de ville de Sfax.jpg

Town hall of Sfax.jpg

Place de Magdebourg - Demi-Finale de CAN 2019 14.jpg

{{wide image|Vue panoramique du centre ville de Sfax.JPG|1000px|View of Sfax from the Kasbah}}

File:Dar Jallouli Patio.jpg

The city of Sfax includes an archaeological museum, located in the municipal building and is open during the hours of municipal services, which includes a collection of ancient archaeological discoveries in the city and in the close sites, including the ancient city Thanae (Thyna); its collections include pieces dating from prehistoric, Roman and Islamic. Sfax also contains a museum of arts and traditions located in the medina called Dar Jallouli.[http://www.medcities.org/web/sfax See Culture]

File:المعهد العالي للاعلامية و الملتيميديا بصفاقس.JPG

Sfax concentrates the main educational institutions of the south of the Sahel:

The University of Sfax includes:

• ENIS (École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax) issued a number of well-known scientists and industrialists.[http://www.enis.rnu.tn/ enis.rnu.tn]
• ESCS (École Supérieure de Commerce de Sfax) issued a number of managers, Economy and Management researchers and young entrepreneurs.[http://www.escs.rnu.tn/ escs.rnu.tn]
• FLSHS (Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Sfax) issued a number of renowned poets and prose writers.[http://www.flshs.rnu.tn/ flshs.rnu.tn]
• Sfax Faculty of Medicine (Faculté de Médecine de Sfax).[http://www.fmsf.rnu.tn/ fmsf.rnu.tn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405000723/http://www.fmsf.rnu.tn/ |date=5 April 2007 }}
• ISAAS (Institut Supérieur d'Administration des Affaires de Sfax)[http://www.isaas.rnu.tn/ isaas.rnu.tn]
• FSEGS (Faculté des Sciences Économiques et de Gestion de Sfax).[http://www.fsegs.rnu.tn/ fsegs.rnu.tn]
• FSS (Faculty of Science Sfax) .{{cite web |url=http://www.fss.rnu.tn/ |title=Home |website=fss.rnu.tn}}
• ISIMS (Institut Supérieur d'Informatique et de Multimédia de Sfax).[http://www.isimsf.rnu.tn/ isimsf.rnu.tn]
• FDS (Faculté de Droit de Sfax)[http://www.fdsf.rnu.tn/ fdsf.rnu.tn]
• ISAMS (Institut Supérieur des Arts et Métiers de Sfax)
• IHEC (Institut des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Sfax)

The North American Private University{{Cite news|url=https://www.netacad.com/fr/node/5968|title=North American Private University|newspaper=Networking Academy |date=12 April 2018}} was founded in 2012 and brings together three institutes:

• The International Institute of Technology (IIT)
• The International School of Architecture (ISA, a department of IIT)
• The International School of Business (ISB)

File:20200106 Théâtre Sfax.jpg

The city had a municipal theater between 1903 and 1942 built by the architect Raphaël Guy according to a neo-Moorish architecture, in line with the seat of the municipality and the Ramdanetru palace. It was bombarded during campaign of Tunisia which nevertheless targeted the commercial port much further south of the city and during which the Frankish quarter was completely razed.

File:Sfax, Maison de France.JPG

The city of Sfax organizes the International Festival of Sfax, a summer event which welcomes artists from various countries.[https://tunisie.co/article/14351/sortir/festivals/festival-international-sfax-42eme-edition-540713 « Le festival international de Sfax revient pour sa 42e édition », Tunisie.co, 24 juillet 2020].

The French Institute of Sfax, commonly Maison de France (French House), is a space of meeting, reflection, and creation open to all and also of expression, whose goal is to support and supervise the activities of the civil city and its artists. It was opened the 16 June 2006.

It has more than 40,000 visitors per year, and more than 50 cultural events. There is also a library that makes more than 20,000 documents available to the public.[https://annuaire.tunisie.co/portfolios/639/maison-france-sfax-224517 Maison de France of Sfax]

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Economy of Sfax by sector

|label1 = Agriculture

|value1 = 25.3

|color1 = #617C58

|label2 = Industry

|value2 = 24.4

|color2 = #1589FF

|label3 = Services and others

|value3 = 50.3

|color3 = #FAEBD7

}}

Sfax is the second-most important industrial city in Tunisia. Sfax's most important industries are leather, wool, olive and almond cultivation, and fishing. Sfax is known for many traditional crafts industries such as construction, traditional handicrafts, carpentry, blacksmithing, as well as handcrafting of gold and silver.[http://www.medcities.org/web/sfax See Economy]

Agriculture, especially olive cultivation, despite all these changes occupies an important place in the regional economy. Agricultural land occupies almost the entire area of the region (90%). The city produces on average 40% of the olive oil and 30% of the almonds of Tunisia, which makes it the first national producer. Another component of the Sfaxian economy is the exploitation of petroleum: the Miskar natural gas field covers a total area of 352 km2 and has a capacity of 22.7 billion m³. On there exploit 1.18 million tons per year.

The working population is divided between three sectors: agriculture and fishing (25.3%), services (25.6%), and manufacturing industries (24.4%).

Statistics of the Sfaxian economy by sectors and field:{{cite web|url=http://www.tunisieindustrie.nat.tn/fr/doc.asp?docid=602&mcat=13&mrub=105 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623003156/http://www.tunisieindustrie.nat.tn/fr/doc.asp?docid=602&mcat=13&mrub=105 |archive-date=2018-06-23|title=Gouvernorat de Sfax |publisher=Tunisieindustrie.nat.tn |date=17 January 2017 |accessdate=2022-08-31}}

• Cultivable land (S.A.U): 639,000 ha
• Irrigated Areas: 12,300 ha
• Forests and pastures: 118,000 ha

• Coastal fishing: 6,500 tonnes
• Trawl fishing: 13,000 tonnes
• Tuna fishing: 2,700 tonnes
• Fire fishing: 1,140 tonnes
• Sponge and mussel peach: 417 tonnes

• Oil: 1,2 millions m3
• Gas: 1,7 milliards m3

File:Aéroport Sfax Thyna.JPG]]

{{Main|A1 motorway (Tunisia)}}

The A1 motorway connects Sfax with Tunis and also with Gabès that was inaugurated in 2017.{{cite web | url=https://tunisieauto.tn/tunisie-auto-lautoroute-sfax-gabes-enfin-operationnelle | title=Autoroute Tunisie : Sfax-Gabès enfin opérationnelle | date=29 August 2017 }}

• Motorways:

• A1: (Tunis, Gabès, Bouhajla, M'saken)
• Projects:{{cite web | url=https://africanmanager.com/equipement-de-grands-projets-routiers-en-2022/ | title=Equipement: De grands projets routiers en 2022 | date=6 January 2022 }}
• National roads: (Kerkennah, Sidi Bouzid, Tataouine)

A narrow-gauge railway system of SNCFT offers passenger services to Tunis and delivers phosphates and iron ore for export.

{{Main|Sfax–Thyna International Airport}}

Sfax is served by Sfax–Thyna International Airport and Syphax Airlines has regularly scheduled flights to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Tripoli International Airport, and charter flights to Jeddah Airport for the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Founded in 1961, Radio Sfax broadcasts 20 hours a day{{Cite book|title=International Afro mass media: a reference guide|last=Jeter|first=James Phillip|author2=Rampal, Kuldip R. |author3=Cambridge, Vibert C. |author4= Pratt, Cornelius B. |year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|location=Westport, CT|page=130|isbn=0-313-28400-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uLenDhrLQ8oC&pg=PA130 |access-date=1 January 2011}} on MW 720 kHz/105.21 MHz.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotunis.com/sfax.html|title=Radio Sfax, official site|author=Radio Tunis|year=2010|publisher=Radiodiffusion Television Tunisienne|access-date=1 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821063436/http://www.radiotunis.com/sfax.html|archive-date=21 August 2010}}

There is also:

• Al Qalam TV
• Diwan FM{{cite web|title=La Haica accorde des licences à Al-Janoubia TV et 6 radios|url=http://www.kapitalis.com/medias/28950-la-haica-accorde-des-licences-a-al-janoubia-tv-et-6-radios.html|website=kapitalis.com|language=fr|date=21 April 2015|access-date=11 May 2020|publication-date=}}
• Chams El-Janoub, hebdomadaire arabophone{{cite web|title=Chams El-Janoub|url=https://news.chamseljanoub.tn/|website=news.chamseljanoub.tn|language=ar|access-date=3 November 2020|publication-date=}}
• La Gazette du Sud, mensuel francophone{{cite web|title=La Gazette du Sud|url=https://news.lagazettedusud.tn/|website=news.lagazettedusud.tn|language=fr|access-date=3 November 2020|publication-date=}}

Sfax has three sports clubs, for football, volleyball and basketball: CS Sfaxien, Sfax Railway Sport, Stade Sportif Sfaxien:

• Ahmed Abbes, mathematician
• Ali Abdi, professional footballer
• Max Azria, fashion designer
• Mamdouh Bahri, artist, composer, jazz guitarist, and teacher
• Hédi Bouraoui, poet and writer
• Nouri Bouzid, film director
• Hamdi Braa, basketball player
• Mohamed Charfi, academic, politician, jurist, and scholar
• Eoin Colfer, Irish author; worked in Sfax in the 1990s and set several of his books there
• Aymen Dahmen, professional footballer
• Moncef Dhouib, director and screenwriter
• Luciano Di Napoli (Sfax born), Italian pianist and conductor
• Tom Dixon, industrial designer
• Serge Dumont, business executive
• Mohamed Fourati, surgeon
• Mohamed Gouaida, footballer
• Farhat Hached, trade union leader assassinated by the French government
• Mohamed Jamoussi, artist, poet, composer, and famous singer
• Claude Kayat, Franco-Swedish writer and dramatist
• Mounir Laroussi, scientist, inventor
• Christian Lauba, composer
• Ali Maâloul, professional footballer
• Abdessalem Mseddi, former Minister of Higher Education, linguist, and writer
• Georges Perec, writer
• Hatem Trabelsi, former football player
• Saber Rebaï, Tunisian pan-Arab singer and composer
• Majida Boulila, Militant
• Mounir Lazzez, UFC Fighter

{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa#Tunisia|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Tunisia}}

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2015}}

Sfax is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Grenoble, France{{cite web|author=Jérôme Steffenino, Marguerite Masson |url=http://www.grenoble.fr/103-jumelages-et-cooperations.htm|title=Ville de Grenoble –Coopérations et villes jumelles |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704185527/http://www.grenoble.fr/103-jumelages-et-cooperations.htm |archive-date=2011-07-04 |publisher=Grenoble.fr |access-date=16 May 2013}}
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Makhachkala, Russia
• {{flagicon|GER}} Marburg, Germany{{cite web|url=http://www.marburg.de/detail/11753 |title=Universitätsstadt Marburg Partnerstädte |publisher=marburg.de |access-date=20 March 2011}}
• {{flagicon|SEN}} Dakar, Senegal
• {{flagicon|DZA}} Oran, Algeria
• {{flagicon|MAR}} Safi, Morocco

Avenue Habib Bourguiba Sfax 02.jpg

Immeuble Frikha.JPG

Vue du rue haffouz et jardin dakar sfax.jpg

Hôtel de ville Sfax.JPG

Place de l'église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Sfax 03.jpg

Bab diwan by night 3.jpg

{{Portal|Africa}}

• Fossa regia
• Sfax War Cemetery
• Sufax, a possible etymon of Sfax
• Transport in Tunisia

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Sfax}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20121210181529/http://www.sfaxonline.com/ Sfaxonline.com]}}
• [http://www.histoiredesfax.com/ Histoiredesfax.com]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140928091026/http://www.css.org.tn/ CSS.org.tn]

{{Communes of Tunisia}}

{{Arab Capital of Culture}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Tunisia

Category:Communes of Tunisia

Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Tunisia

Category:Populated places established in the 9th century

Category:Populated places in Sfax Governorate