GREAT TOUR OF STAR WARS IN TUNISIA

Tataouine and the surrounding ksour strongly inspired George Lucas for his films. Even, the name of the city, Tataouine served as inspiration for the name of the desert planet of Star Wars, the Tatouin planet.

 

Tataouine did not serve as a filming location for the first trilogy and very little used for the trilogy of the 2000s. The shooting of the films was spread over different places in southern Tunisia. Around Tozeur, around Tataouine and even on Djerba Island.

 

The Ksar Medenine and Ksar Ouled Soltane authentic decors for Star Wars

Ksar Medenine is located in the city, and like Ksar Hadada, it served as a backdrop for the slave quarters of Mos Espa. Two scenes were shot there: The arrival at Anakin in the storm and the departure of Anakin with Qui-Gon and his farewell to Shmi.

 

Ksar Ouled Soltane

This fortified Berber village was transformed by Georges Lucas into a slave district of Tatooin.

This ksar is one of the best preserved in the country and still not very touristy.

 

Ksar Hadada

This ksar also served as a setting for the slave district, it is here that was filmed the scene where Qui-Gon Jinn contacts Obi-Wan to ask him to analyze the rate of midchlorians in the blood collected from Anakin , as well as the scene where Shmi talks about his son admitting he has no father.

 

Matmata: The house of Uncle Owen.

Matmata is a village famous for its troglodyte dwellings. They are extremely rudimentary dwellings and at the same time particularly beautiful. These can be underground or dug out habitats on the mountainside.

This type of construction to the same rock allows to live in a cool space in spite of the external heat.

In Matmata, the Hotel Sidi Driss served as a backdrop for Uncle Owen's house in 1976 and 2000.

the hotel, Sidi Driss welcomes fans for a simple visit

The hotel is divided into 5 courtyards, the fifth with the evocative name of "Star Wars Courtyard": this is where the Lars dining room and the main courtyard of the house were filmed. The painted ceiling of the dining room was restored for the filming of episode II (14 years after the shooting of episode IV!) And is still in perfect condition: it's like being in the movie!

 

Sidi Bouhlel

This canyon has mainly served as a backdrop for the Jundland Desert: This is where Luke and C3PO find R2D2 before being attacked by the men of the sands, the Tuskens, and rescue by Uncle Ben.

In episode I, it is from the cliffs of this canyon that pull the Tuskens ambushed during the race of pods.

The Canyon is really beautiful, just as a natural landscape, it is well worth the detour

 

Chott el-Gharsa

Chott el-Gharsa, with this whole district of Mos Espa, Tatooin village where Anakin works in episode I.

The decor was created entirely for the saga, in the middle of the sand desert. In episode I, we see Qui-Gon Jinn, Padme and Jar Jar wander the streets and Jar Jar be tempted by the tip of the tongue with food displays from the Mos Espa market. In episode II, we find these scenery during Anakin's visit to Watoo.