Two Ksour in Tataouine, southern Tunisia

Tataouine, located in Southern Tunisia.
It's a small town belonging to the Sahara Desert, but it's a well-known spot for those in the know.
Some of you might find the name familiar.
Yes, Tataouine is the place that inspired the name of the fictional planet Tatooine in the Star Wars series.
Southern Tunisia has several Star Wars filming locations, making it a must-visit sacred site for fans.
One of them is a short drive from Tataouine,30to the Ksar Ouled Soltane.

Ksar Ouled Sultan

A ksar is a collective dwelling of the Berber people.
It includes various facilities supporting communal living, such as residences, granaries, kitchens, and meeting places.
Ksar Ouled Soltane is already in ruins, but its peculiar dwellings in this otherworldly place were used as slave quarters in Star Wars Episode1.

The atmosphere of the movie is intact, and it feels like Anakin or Jar Jar might pop out of a hole at any moment.
To combat the harsh heat and wind, sturdy earth was used, and the entrances are made small.
This results in a unique structure resembling a beehive.
Before coming to Tataouine, I stayed at a hotel that was a former ksar of the same shape, and inside it was so cool that it was cold without a blanket.

The standards for installing stairs and corridors are unclear, and in some rooms, it's hard to figure out how to get there.
It's a maze-like building, making me want to play hide and seek!
 

The Sky Ksar, Chenini

There are many ksars around Tataouine, but the most magnificent is Chenini.
This ksar was built on a mountain to prepare for enemy attacks.

While the Sultan had a cute appearance like something out of a picture book, Chenini is robust, with a castle-like atmosphere reminiscent of a video game world.
Climbing the gentle slope allows you to explore the interior of the settlement.

As you walk, you can see laundry, camels, and people.
People still live in Chenini today, and currently, about50The household lives there.
there are mosques and small shops.

You don't see young people; it's mostly grandparents.
It might be close to what is called a 'marginal village' in Japan.

The ksars are a splendid fusion of natural and architectural beauty, with plenty of sights to see everywhere.
Some ksars have already become ruins, but there are still ksars like Chenini that connect the past and present.
It was a valuable experience to touch upon a traditional lifestyle whose continuation is uncertain.