The old port of Bizerte, the 17th century fortress (the Casbah) and the small Sidi-el Henni fort form a pleasant and coherent architectural complex reminding us of Bizerte's commercial and military importance.

The fort, known as the Fort of Spain, was planned by the Turk Eulj Ali in 1570-73 to strengthen the city's defences against the growing Spanish threat. Following the in­stitution of the French protectorate (1861), Bizerte be­came one of the most powerful naval bases in the Mediterranean and played an important role in both of the World Wars. Evacuated in 1963, today the city is only a peaceful resort that hosts an increasing number of tourists, especially Tunisians