Borj El Kebir

Borj El Kebir, also known as Borj El Ghazi Mustapha, is an ancient castle in Houmt El Souk, Tunisia on the island of Djerba. It is the largest and best preserved local castle, and is one of the most visited historical sites on the island.

Etymology
The name Borj El Ghazi Mustapha comes from the Qaid who settled in Djerba in 1559.

Location
The castle is located in the north of Houmt El Souk near the fishing port.

History
It was built in the end of the 14th century over the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Griba, after the deportation of the soldiers of Alfonso V of Aragon on the orders of the hafsid sultan of Tunisia. In 1450, the castle was extended. On 28 July 1881, during the French occupation, French troops settled in the castle.

In 1903, it became a property of the Tunisian authorities who gave it the status of a national historical monument on 15 March 1904 and transformed it into a museum. Restoration started in 1969 and was completed by the early 1980s.

Description
The borj has a rectangular form.

Nowadays, the monument has two mausoleums: Sidi saad, and Ghazi Mustapha, for Ghazi Mustapha Bey.