Discovering el Kef

Heir to ancient Sicca Venria and to mediaeval Shaqbanaria , the modern city of Kef is a synthesis of ancient North Africa and Mediterranean civilisations and constitutes a rich and vibrant cultural conservatory .In a view of the many advantages of its situation and its site, the town and its surroundings were stelled from a very early age by prehistoric peoples and many sites and deposits are to be found in the Mellegue Wadi valley.

Kasbah:

©Bechir Jendoubi

This monumental fortified complexe is the successor of all the fortification work undertaken since the city's foundation. At present it is composed of two quite separate fortresses :The little fort, built in 1601, lies on the western side of the rock, its square layout consists of towers at the four corners,With in the centre a courtyard on wich several bar-back rooms open. the postern is on the northern side. The large fort , laying somewhat to the East, was built and extended in several stages in the mind XVIIth century, in 1736 and 1807. It includes a vast courtyard surrounded by large barrack rooms, a mosque , a sraya and rooms on the eastern side,a tower on the North Western side and another coupled sraya on the south eastern side. Between the two forts, one notices the cisterns at the entrance and one the left, and to the right the prisons. The main entrance of the large fort used to have a draw-brigde
From the top of al Kasbah one can admire a fine view over the city, its close and more distant surroundings, right to the western boarder on the distant horizon

Sidi Bou Makhlouf :

©Bechir Jendoubi

 very fine mausoleum covered by an ensemble of original and harmonious ribbed cupolas and surmounted by an elegant octagonal minaret. The decoration inside is very rich with glazed ceramic tiles, finely carved stucco, ornamented wood constituting the main decoration . The foundation of this Zawia goes to the beginning of the XVIIth century and it contains the tomb of Sidi Abdallah Bou Makhlouf from Fes and those of his descendants. The Zawia also serves as the headquarters of the aissaouias confraternity, originally from Meknes

all these information are taken from the brochure "El Kef an ancient Numidian city"