Kasbah of Béja
The Kasbah of Béja is an ancient fortress in Béja, Tunisia. It sits on a hill about 305 meters high, giving a view over the city and the plains. The fortress began in the 2nd century BC when the Carthaginians built the first citadel to protect Vaga, an important farming town. After Carthage fell, Numidian king Jugurtha used Béja as his seat. In 109 BC the Romans took control and destroyed the fortress. They rebuilt it in 14 BC, adding a garrison, walls, and 22 towers. The Vandals later destroyed it, and the Byzantines rebuilt it after the Vandal War under Emperor Justinian I. After the Muslim conquest, the fort became known as the Kasbah and served as the center for northern rulers. The Aghlabids expanded it further. In 943 Béja was attacked by Kharijite rebels led by Abu Yazid and damaged; Fatimid caliph al-Mansur restored it in 946. In the 16th century Ahmed III strengthened the fortress with cannons. The Ottomans added a southern flanking tower and a Janissary garrison. In 1677 Ali I Bey supported the garrison with 500 Spahis. When France controlled Tunisia, the Kasbah became a Gendarmerie barracks from 1888 until independence in 1957. After independence it became a cultural center, but today it is in poor condition. Restoration work began in 2005 but paused for lack of funding.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:37 (CET).