The old center of Houmt Souk forms the historic heart of Djerba, with origins dating back to Roman times, when the settlement was known as Gerba—giving the island its name and producing two Roman emperors. As Djerba’s only true town and administrative center, Houmt Souk literally means “market town,” reflecting its enduring role as the island’s commercial hub. The historical center follows the traditional Djerbian style, with thick, whitewashed walls and semi-circular domes (menzels) replacing pitched roofs.
The medina’s urban fabric evolved in layers: narrow, winding streets, vaulted covered markets, and domed houses define its medieval core, while the 13th–16th centuries added military architecture such as Borj El Kebir, with its massive, undecorated walls. During the 15th–17th centuries, a network of caravanserais (funduqs) transformed Houmt Souk into an international trading hub, where merchants from the Sahara, Turkey, and Europe could store goods and lodge overnight—these multi-story buildings, arranged around arcaded courtyards, combined sleeping quarters, stables, and warehouses, and many now serve as boutique hotels and restaurants. Urban planning followed a guild-based principle, with clearly zoned markets such as the jewelry souk, tanners’ market, and weavers’ market—a division that survives today.
Later eras added Ottoman-period mosques with cylindrical or octagonal minarets, marble and calligraphic decoration, and colonial-era buildings such as the post office and the Church of Saint Joseph, with large windows and symmetrical façades. During the 19th century, Jewish communities thrived in Houmt Souk, contributing to its renowned silversmithing and jewelry-making traditions, a legacy still visible today. The medina remains renowned for its mosques—three of which are listed as historic monuments—as well as its old port and fish market. Today, new hotels and villas follow the “Djerba Heritage Code,” echoing traditional forms—arches, domes, and the white-and-blue color scheme—to preserve the island’s architectural identity.