Squares & Streets in Tunis

Tunis's grand central boulevard, often compared to Paris's Champs-Élysées, stretches 60 meters wide from Place de l'Indépendance to the Tunis Lake causeway. Named after Tunisia's first president and independence leader, this tree-lined avenue features colonial-era architecture, the Municipal Theatre (Art Nouveau style from 1902), government offices, banks, shops, and sidewalk cafés. The broad median planted with ficus trees creates a pleasant promenade. Historic landmarks include the French Embassy (1861), Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul, and the statue of Ibn Khaldoun, Tunisia's famous medieval philosopher. The avenue serves as Tunis's social and commercial heart, buzzing with activity day and night.

The "Sea Gate" (also called Porte de France) stands as a free-standing arch marking the boundary between the old Medina and modern Tunis. This historic gateway once formed part of the city walls that enclosed the Medina. Today, it serves as the symbolic threshold where Avenue de France (extension of Avenue Habib Bourguiba) meets the Medina's labyrinthine alleys. The square around Bab Bhar features a central fountain and bustling activity as locals and tourists pass between old and new Tunis. It's the perfect starting point for Medina exploration.

This significant roundabout marks the western terminus of Avenue Habib Bourguiba and serves as a major civic gathering space. The square is framed by important landmarks: the French Embassy to the south and the Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul to the north. At its center stands a statue of Ibn Khaldoun, the renowned 14th-century Arab historian and philosopher, looking toward the avenue and lake beyond. The square witnessed historic moments during Tunisia's 2011 Jasmine Revolution with demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.