Name and Location

The Sidi Bou Said Lighthouse, also known as Ras Qartajamah, is a prominent coastal beacon located in Sidi Bou Said, Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia. The lighthouse's official name in Arabic is منارة سيدي بوسعيد (Manārat Sidi Bou Said), while the French name is Phare de Sidi Bou Saïd. Its coordinates are 36.8726177 N and 10.3489128 E.

2. Construction and History

The exact date of construction for the Sidi Bou Said Lighthouse is unknown, but it is believed to have been built during the late 19th or early 20th century under French colonial administration. The lighthouse has no formal listing as a heritage site, although the surrounding district of Sidi Bou Said is protected as part of the Carthage archaeological zone.

3. Architecture and Materials

The tower of the Sidi Bou Said Lighthouse is a simple cylindrical structure rising directly from bedrock, presumed to be made of masonry or reinforced concrete. The focal plane height is 146 meters above sea level, while the structural height of the tower remains unknown.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a flashing white light (Fl W) every 5 seconds, with a flash duration of 0.3 seconds and eclipses of 4.7 seconds. The range of the light is 22 nautical miles. The Admiralty List of Lights reference is E6412, while the NGA Light List can be found under Rheede/Tunisia section.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse grounds are open to pedestrians, but access to the tower itself is restricted due to fencing. Visitors can reach the lighthouse by walking from the center of Sidi Bou Said via Rue Taieb Mhiri or taking a taxi to Place du Phoénix.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers sweeping views of the Mediterranean, the city of Tunis, and the islets off Carthage. The surrounding landscape features steep limestone promontory dotted with Aleppo pines, bougainvillea, and gardens.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local legend, on stormy nights, an elderly keeper once maintained the lighthouse by walking the cliff path by lantern. Additionally, the village of Sidi Bou Said takes its name from a 12th-century Sufi saint, Abou Said.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and remotely monitored by the Office of Merchant Marine and Ports (Office de la Marine Marchande et des Ports), Tunisia. There are no known AIS transponder or radar installations on site.

9. Further Information

For further information, consult the Admiralty List of Lights, Volume E (Mediterranean Sea); the Office de la Marine Marchande et des Ports, Tunis – Lighthouse Division; UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Archaeological Site of Carthage (contextual); and Wikipedia: “Sidi Bou Said” (for village history).