Guermessa
قرماسة
A deserted Berber village spread across two hilltops, with cave dwellings arranged along the rock strata and a hilltop fortress with wide views. Tourists are few.
Guermessa lies about 20 km northwest of Tataouine. The old village was built on two connected peaks. The Berbers carved rows of cave houses and granaries into the rock, and the summit still holds the ruins of a fortress and a mosque. Residents moved down to a new village in the 20th century, leaving the old village largely empty. Far fewer tourists come here than to Chenini, which makes it feel even more primitive. You can climb to the summit along a gravel path in about 40 minutes. The light is best toward evening, when the rolling Dahar mountains glow. The surface is loose, so wear non-slip shoes and bring plenty of water.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Chenini
- Mosque of the Seven Sleepers
- Ghomrassen
- Douiret
- Ksar Hadada
- Ksar Ouled Debbab
- Tataouine Market
- Ksar Beni Barka