Delving Deep Into Tunisia's Underground Dwellings of Matmata

The age of information has brought with it an age of forgetting, where most of what’s left of ancient civilisations has either been stolen or destroyed, and it’s difficult to find a place untouched by globalisation. This Amazigh village in Tunisia, though, has hardly fallen victim to the lull of modernity; Matmata is the cultural wonderland of every travel junkie’s wildest dreams.

Built mostly in troglodyte structures, which are underground dwellings made out of sandstone to keep its inhabitants sheltered from the scorching sun and howling winds, the town has managed to preserve an almost secret Berber community that has continuously kept both their language and culture alive and thriving by staying closely connected with one another. So close, in fact, that they can access each others’ homes through hidden underground tunnels.

The people of Matmata give you as authentic of an experience as any by welcoming tourists into their home to help you paint an accurate picture of life in Matmata - for a small donation to the hosts. You can also run wild through the passageways of Dar Taoufik, a traditional Berber home found 11km from Matmata, where you can explore the people’s earthenware pots, and taste their freshly produced olive oil, honey and newly baked Tabouna bread.

Moreover, you can witness the beauty of Amazigh art by taking a short 20-minute drive to Le Musée Berbère de Tamezret, where Mongi Bouras - the founder of the museum - proudly showcases beloved items of Berber origin. Jewellery, clothing, wedding costumes, hand-embroidered footwear (Mongi Bouras’ own creation), and even traditional food - the museum owner is eager to share his culture to whomever is willing to listen.

When we say Amazigh culture is underground we’re not even being cute about it, it’s the kind of sight that inspires otherworldly awe. So otherworldly in fact that Matmata served as the set for the original Star Wars films, specifically the parts that took place on Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine. You can even stay the night at the mighty Jedi's homestead at the Hotel Sidi Driss, with rates starting at EGP 1,169 per night.

One may assume that being the so-called “real life location” of one of the world’s most famous film series would take away from the local culture, yet over the decades the village has managed to persist with their own enduring traditions, which are as deeply rooted as their own homes. Perched at 450m above sea level, the town acts as a stepping stone into the breadth of Tunisian culture, with a magnificent view of the Dahar mountains. It’s also considered the centerpoint of a handful of Southern Tunisian villages, like Gabes, Kebili and Medenine.

At its core, the small town of Matmata serves as both an oasis of serenity and a living ode to Tunisian heritage; one that allows the world to explore the previously unprodded depths of Amazigh culture far beyond the history books.