Matmata, Tunisia Explained

Matmata (Arabic: مطماطة ; Berber: ⵎⴰⵜⵎⴰⵜⴰ) is a small Berber speaking town in southern Tunisia. Some of the local Berber residents live in traditional underground "troglodyte" structures. In 2004 it had a population of 2,116.^[1]

The structures typical for the village are created by digging a large pit in the ground. Around the perimeter of this pit artificial caves are then dug to be used as rooms, with some homes comprising multiple pits, connected by trench-like passageways.

History

It was not generally known until 1969 that there were regular settlements in this area besides wandering nomadic tribes. That year, intensive rains that lasted for 22 days inundated the troglodyte homes and caused many of them to collapse. In order to get help from the authorities, a delegation was sent to the community center of the region in the town of Gabès. The visit came as a surprise, but help was provided, and the above-ground settlement of Matmâta was built. However, most of the people continued their lives in re-built underground homes, and only a few of the families moved to the new surface dwellings.

Today, Matmata is a popular tourist attraction, and most of the population lives on tourism and folklore exhibitions in their homes.

In popular culture

• The Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata was used in 1976 as a filming location in , in which it was featured as the home of Luke Skywalker, his Aunt Beru Lars and Uncle Owen Lars on the planet Tatooine. The hotel is designed as a traditional Berber troglodyte underground building. It was featured again in the 2002 prequel film .^{[2] [3]}
• Two of s missions take place on the outskirts of Matmata, one involving destroying a radio mast, and another a German fuel depot.
• One of Call of Duty 2s missions and multiplayer maps takes place in Matmâta as part of North African Campaign.
• Film French: La soif noire, an adaptation of the book from Swiss author Hans Ruesch starring Antonio Banderas and Freida Pinto.^[4]

External links

• A travel report from Matmata
• The Real Star Wars? - Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery about Matmata by Andy Carvin
• Matmata has many of the best examples of troglodyte architecture in the world.
• Visitors' guide to Hotel Sidi Driss

33.5426°N 9.9668°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Recensement de 2004 (Institut national de la statistique) . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035422/http://www.ins.nat.tn/fr/rgph2.1.commune.php?code_modalite=24451&Code_indicateur=0301007&Submit3=Envoyer . dead . 2015-09-24 . Ins.nat.tn . 2013-09-01 .
2. News: Carvin . Andy . The real Star Wars? . ASAP . Associated Press . 22 March 2012 . 25 January 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111013093231/http://asap.ap.org/stories/319404.s . 13 October 2011 .
3. Book: Tunisia. 2001. Rough Guides. London. 9781858287485. Daniel Jacobs and Peter Morris. 6th . 319. Jedi Stomping Ground.
4. News: La Presse de Tunisie . Matmata accueille bientôt une grosse production . fr . September 24, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722075520/http://www.lapresse.tn/23092010/12878/matmata-accueille-bientot-une-grosse-production.html . July 22, 2011 .