| Official Name: | Tozeur |
| Other Name: | Tūzir |
| Native Name: | |
| Nickname: | Pearl of the Desert |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Flag Size: | 115px |
| Pushpin Map: | Tunisia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Tunisia |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Tunisia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Governorate |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tozeur Governorate |
| Subdivision Type2: | Delegation(s) |
| Subdivision Name2: | Tozeur |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Abdelaati Bey (Independent) |
| Leader Title1: | Abdelaati Bey |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Total: | 41370 |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Coordinates: | 33.9167°N 16°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 2200 |
| Website: | http://www.commune-tozeur.gov.tn/ |
| Population Demonym: | Arabic: توزري(ة) Tūzri(ya) French: Tozeurois(e) |
Tozeur (Arabic: توزر|{{audio|help=no|Tozir.wav|Tūzir; Berber languages: ⵜⵓⵣⴻⵔ|Tuzər) is a city in southwest Tunisia. The city is located northwest of Chott el Djerid, in between this Chott and the smaller Chott el Gharsa. It is the capital of Tozeur Governorate. It was the site of the ancient city and former bishopric Tusuros, which remains a Latin Catholic titular see.
During the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire and in the Vandal Kingdom, Tozeur was the site of Tusuros, in the Roman province of Byzacena (originally part of Africa Proconsularis).
At this time it was the seat of a suffragan bishopric, called Tusuros.[1]
Located in the Sahel hinterland of the Byzacena coastline, close to the towns of Aquae and Nefta and south of Capsa and Ad Turres, Roman Tursuros became an important center of Donatism.
The bishopric ceased to function following the seventh-century arrival of Islam. The remains of an ancient church are visible in the foundations of an old mosque of Tozeur.
Four bishops (two canonical, two schismatic Donatist heretics) are historically documented
It was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin titular bishopric of Tusuros (Latin) / Tusuro (Curiate Italian) / Tusuritan(us) (Latin adjective) of the Roman Catholic Church.[3]
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank:
Tozeur has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) typical of the northern edge of the Sahara. The annual average rainfall is 80.8mm, and the annual mean temperature (day and night) is 22.2C, making the city both hot and dry year-round. The weather is usually settled and sunny throughout the year. Summers are extremely hot, with daily highs often exceeding 45C in the shade, and the sirocco may push temperatures close to 50C. During winters, it can sometimes freeze at night and just before the sunrise, as the temperature may drop below 0C.
With hundreds of thousands of palm trees, Tozeur is a large oasis. Dates are exported from Tozeur. In ancient times, before the advent of motorized vehicles, the oasis was important for the transportation through the Sahara, which took place in caravans. The name of the city in antiquity was Tusuros, it was an important Roman outpost. The medina (old city) of Tozeur, contains traditional architecture, fashion and workmanship.
Tozeur, in common with the surrounding Jerid region, is noted for its yellow/brownish brickwork as well as its patterns in geometric designs which form the facades of most buildings in the old city and the new tourist zone.
The old town of Ouled El Hadef (also known as Medina of Tozeur) is an example of the local brickwork which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tozeur and was a home for Jews too.
Tozeur has a football club who plays in the First Professional Federation of Football in Tunisia, the team is called LPS Tozeur. In 2010–2011 season the club almost made it to the First Professional Federation of Football.
Although still the largest part of the local economy, dates and farming are becoming less appealing to the young, who are more often employed in tourism. Tourism is heavily developed and promoted, and Tozeur is considered a center of "desert tourism" (Arabic: السياحة الصحراوية|link=no). The annual "International Festival of Oases" (Arabic: المهرجان الدولي للواحات بتوزر|link=no) takes place in the town in November and December each year.The government initiated two large-scale projects:
The region around Tozeur is seeing a large influx of unemployed workers and their families from the once rich phosphate region of Metlaoui, Gafsa and Om Laarayes in hope of work in the tourism sector. The phosphate mines are no longer productive and thousands of workers were laid off after the government sold them to European investors.
Overall the region, and Tozeur in particular, is going through a tough time. The region is embracing the unstable tourism economy and shying away from its traditional agricultural based economy. During the first Gulf War the sector suffered with a loss of large number of workers and an increase in unemployment. The same happened during 11 September 2001 attacks and the Iraq War.
The city is served by buses, taxis, railway, louage (shared or group taxi), and Tozeur–Nefta International Airport with national and international services from London, Paris, Rome and few other European countries (international flight services are mostly during the summer tourism season). Tozeur lies on the edge of the Sahara desert. Tourism activity is higher in the fall and winter months with Douz Festival among others in late December
Tozeur was used as a filming location for the Star Wars saga and Raiders of the Lost Ark (specifically Sidi Bouhlel canyon outside the town and the salt-flats of nearby Nefta). Lucasfilm also built an entire set a few kilometers north-west of Tozeur in the middle of the desert. This set acted as Mos Espa in . The buildings are still there and can be visited.The English Patient (9 Oscars) with Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas was partially filmed outside Tozeur.
In May 1984 the Italian singers Alice and Franco Battiato represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I treni di Tozeur" ("The Trains of Tozeur"), whose lyrics contain several references to Tozeur, the historic train Le Lézard rouge and Tunisian history in general. This song became a chart hit throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia.