Kairouan (Arabic القيروان) (variations include Kairwan, Kayrawan, Al Qayrawan) is a city in Tunisia, about 160 kilometres south of Tunis. In 2003 the city had about 150,000 inhabitants. Founded in about the year 670, the original name was derived from Arabic kairuwân, from Persian Kârawân, meaning "camp", "caravan", or "resting place" (see caravanserai). It is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate, and regarded by Muslims as a holy city.

History

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Kairouan was founded in about the year 670 when the Muslim general Uqba ibn Nafi selected a site in the middle of a dense forest, then infested with wild beasts and reptiles, as the location of a military post. It was to keep in check the Berber hordes and was located far from the sea where it was safe from attack. A city soon developed, with luxuriant gardens and olive groves. Ibn Nafi was killed in battle by the Berbers about fifteen years after the military post was established.

The city was soon recaptured and remained for four centuries a major holy city, the "Mecca of North Africa". In the tenth century, the city was embellished by the Aghlabites who ruled Ifriqiya from there between 800 and 909. It was the capital in the eleventh century, and was famous for its wealth and prosperity.

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Ms Cellania: Tunisia # 5 Kairouan cont. http://bit.ly/2Fbxm1
OpisasOverseas (Opisas) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:28:29 -0000
Ms Cellania: Tunisia # 5 Kairouan cont. http://bit.ly/2Fbxm1
Calling at port in Tunisia this a.m. en route to Kairouan, the 3rd holiest Muslim site after Mecca and Medina. Putting on Sunday best.
MaxAndersonUSA (Maxwell L. Anderson) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:02:11 -0000
Calling at port in Tunisia this a.m. en route to Kairouan, the 3rd holiest Muslim site after Mecca and Medina. Putting on Sunday best.
RT: Ms Cellania: Tunisia # 2 Great Mosque of Kairouan http://bit.ly/3wmb4B http://bit.ly/6OPTH
twinisier (Twinisier) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:05:07 -0000
RT: Ms Cellania: Tunisia # 2 Great Mosque of Kairouan http://bit.ly/3wmb4B http://bit.ly/6OPTH
Ms Cellania: Tunisia # 2 Great Mosque of Kairouan http://bit.ly/3wmb4B
OpisasOverseas (Opisas) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:56:44 -0000
Ms Cellania: Tunisia # 2 Great Mosque of Kairouan http://bit.ly/3wmb4B
reiseaktuell: Tunis und Kairouan: Gegensätzlicher können Städte kaum sein. http://bit.ly/TgK8E http://bit.ly/12I2Y2
news_tourismus (News Tourismus) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:48:55 -0000
reiseaktuell: Tunis und Kairouan: Gegensätzlicher können Städte kaum sein. http://bit.ly/TgK8E http://bit.ly/12I2Y2
Tunis und Kairouan: Gegensätzlicher können Städte kaum sein. http://bit.ly/TgK8E
reiseaktuell (REISE-aktuell) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:23:37 -0000
Tunis und Kairouan: Gegensätzlicher können Städte kaum sein. http://bit.ly/TgK8E

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