Great Mosque of Kairouan

The Great Mosque of Kairouan, often called the Mosque of Uqba, is a major early Islamic monument in Kairouan, Tunisia, originally founded in the 7th century and substantially rebuilt in the 9th century during the Aghlabid era.

The complex includes a large hypostyle prayer hall, a broad open courtyard with arcades, and a prominent square minaret - features that influenced mosque architecture across North Africa. Many original elements and reused Roman and Byzantine columns are visible throughout the site.

The mosque was first established in the 7th century by Muslim forces in Ifriqiya and was later reconstructed and expanded by Aghlabid rulers in the 9th century, giving the building much of the form seen today. It has served as a regional religious centre and a model for later North African mosques.

Located within the old medina of Kairouan in central Tunisia, the mosque sits in the historic heart of the city and is a short walk from other heritage monuments in the medina.

• Age and Rebuilding: Founded in the 7th century and substantially rebuilt in the 9th century under the Aghlabids, the mosque is among the oldest surviving Islamic monumental complexes in North Africa.
• Visitor Access and Dress: Non-Muslim visitors can view much of the complex outside of prayer times; modest dress is expected when visiting the courtyard and adjoining areas.

What to See#

• Prayer Hall: A large hypostyle prayer hall composed of aisles and rows of columns that dates mainly from Aghlabid-era reconstructions.
• Courtyard: A central courtyard (sahn) used for circulation and congregation, surrounded by arcaded galleries and original porticoes.
• Minaret and Towers: A square-shaped minaret rising above the mosque complex, with construction phases dating to the early Islamic and Aghlabid periods.

The Great Mosque (Uqba Mosque) is in the heart of Kairouan’s medina. Within Kairouan the mosque is a short walk from the city’s main streets and from the local bus/taxi stops (typically 5-10 minutes on foot from the town centre). From Tunis it is reached by road inland-by taking the A1 motorway south and then the national roads into Kairouan; the drive is on the order of a couple of hours by car (roughly 150-160 km depending on the route).

• Remember the Great Mosque of Kairouan is an active place of worship and a UNESCO site - check local opening hours and avoid Friday midday prayers when access is restricted for visitors.
• Visit in the cooler morning hours when the courtyard and hypostyle prayer hall are less crowded, and hire a local guide from Kairouan to explain the site's archaeological features and historic inscriptions.