Ksar Ouled Soltane

Multi-level ghorfas, as seen at Ksar Ouled Soltane in southern Tunisia.

Ksar Ouled Soltane (Arabic: قصر أولاد سلطان ‎) is a fortified granary, or ksar, located in the Tataouine district in southern Tunisia. The ksar is spread out over two courtyards, each of which has a perimeter of multi-story vaulted granary cellars, or ghorfas. Like other ksour (plural of ksar) created by North African Berber communities, Ksar Ouled Soltane is located on a hilltop, to help protect it from raiding parties in previous centuries.

Ksar Ouled Soltane is now a tourist destination, with visitors coming to see its well-preserved granary vaults. It was also featured in the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in some of the scenes used to represent the slave quarters of Mos Espa, where the character Anakin Skywalker lived as a boy.

source: Lonely Planet Tunisia, 3rd edition

Notes

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    Coordinates: 32°47′19″N 10°30′54″E / 32.788492°N 10.515037°E / 32.788492; 10.515037


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