Bizerte

View more Travel videos

Northern Tunisian seaport situated between a large inland lake and the Mediterranean Sea.

Although a settlement had existed on the site of Bizerte since Phoenician times, the town first attained significance in the sixteenth century when an influx of Moorish and Jewish refugees from Roman Catholic Andalusia (Spain) spurred both agricultural and artisanal development. Like other North African seaports, Bizerte served as a base for Barbary corsairs of the Barbary states and their raids against European ships. In retaliation, Spanish forces seized and fortified the city in 1535. Troops of the Ottoman Empire recaptured it briefly in 1572, but definitively only in 1574 when its garrison was sent to defend the more important Spanish positions at Tunis. Throughout the seventeenth century, Bizerte's economy continued to depend almost exclusively on the raiding of its corsairs.

France set up a trading post at Bizerte in 1738 as one of a string of such establishments along the Algerian and Tunisian coasts. Although poor relations between French merchants and the Tunisian government led to the post's temporary closing in 1741 and 1742, it operated until Ali Bey evicted the French in 1770. This, plus French anger over corsair forays staged from Bizerte, led to a naval bombardment that badly damaged the city. A similar attack by a Venetian fleet in 1785 all but destroyed Bizerte. Despite these hostilities, Marseilles merchants continued to import wheat from Bizerte, especially during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. In 1789, a French consulate opened there.

The Tunisian government's renunciation of corsair activity in 1819 hurt Bizerte, but the silting up of the port was an even more serious problem, causing a steady decline in commercial activity in the first half of the nineteenth century. At the same time, however, Tunisia was being drawn into a more extensive relationship with Europe. A telegraph line linking Tunisia with Algeria and France passed through Bizerte in the 1850s, and the city was the starting point for a submarine cable that opened communications with Italy in 1864.

Following the Treaty of Bardo (1881), which established a strong French presence in Tunisia, the canal connecting the lake with the sea was improved. This, and other extensive French public-works projects in Bizerte in the 1880s and 1890s, made its harbor and port facilities among the finest in the Mediterranean. Much of this work revolved around the creation of a French naval base and arsenal, which, by the turn of the twentieth century, were widely regarded as among the largest and most powerful in the Mediterranean. During World War II, this base, and its proximity to the narrow channel between Sicily and Africa joining the eastern and western Mediterranean basins, gave Bizerte great strategic importance. The city was occupied by the Axis immediately following the Anglo - American landings in Morocco and Algeria in 1942. Allied air raids destroyed 70 percent of Bizerte prior to its liberation in the following year, but the canal remained intact and the base became a jumping-off point for the successful Allied invasion of Sicily.

France retained control of the naval facilities at Bizerte after Tunisian independence (1955 - 1956) and refused to accede to demands for their evacuation in 1961. France's attempts to break a blockade of the base led to violent confrontations with hastily mobilized Tunisian civilians and paramilitary units. Tunisia appealed to the United Nations, which called for negotiations on the base's future. Only after lengthy delays did France agree to abandon the installation in late 1963.

In the years since Tunisian independence, Bizerte and other cities around its lake have become major industrial centers, while the port remains the country's primary import - export terminal. The 2002 population was estimated at 527,400.

— KENNETH J. PERKINS

The country code is: 216
The city code is: 2

Bizerte / Benzert Banzart Bizerta
A view from Bizerte port
Bizerte / Benzert Location in Tunisia
Coordinates: 37°16′N 9°52′E / 37.267°N 9.867°E / 37.267; 9.867
Country	Tunisia
Governorate	Bizerte Governorate
Population (2004)
• Total	114,371
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website	http://www.commune-bizerte.gov.tn

Bizerte or Benzert (Arabic: بنزرت Binzart‎, Berber: Benzert, Italian: Biserta), is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 (2009 census).

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Economy 4 Miscellaneous 5 Titular See 6 Sister cities 7 References 8 External links

History

Bizerte is known as the oldest and most European city in Tunisia. It was founded around 1000 BC by Phoenicians from Tyre. It is also known as the last town to remain under French control after the rest of the country won its independence from France.

Initially a small Phoenician harbour, the city came under the influence of Carthage after the defeat of Agathocles during the Punic Wars. The city was then occupied by the Romans, under the name of Hippo Diarrhytus or Hippo Zarrytus.

Bizerte was successively conquered by the Arabs in 647 (who gave the city its current name), by the troops of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire in 1535, and then by the Turks in 1574. The city then became a corsair harbour and struggled against the French and the Venetians.

With the occupation of Tunisia in 1880, France gained control of Bizerte and built a large naval harbour in the city.

In 1924, after the French government officially recognised the Soviet Union (USSR), the western military fleet of White Russia that had been kept in the port of Bizerte was returned to the Soviet government. The ships never moved from the port and finally were sold there as scrap metal.

During the Second World War, Bizerte was occupied by the German Army and was retaken by American troops on 7 May 1943. During the fighting between the Allied forces and the German Army, many of the city inhabitants fled to the countryside or Tunis. The city had suffered significant damage during the battle.^[1]

Due to Bizerte's strategic location on the Mediterranean, France wanted to retain its naval base there. France accordingly kept control of the city even after Tunisia gained its independence in 1956. The city was blockaded in 1961 by the Tunisian Army and Navy, and then attacked. France responded by dropping 7,000 paratroopers and sending in three warships. The three day battle resulted in 700 dead and 1,200 wounded amongst the Tunisians (who included civilian volunteers) at the cost of 24 dead and 100 wounded amongst the French forces.

The French military finally abandoned Bizerte on 15 October 1963.

Geography

Bizerte is located on the north coast of Tunisia, 66 km north of Tunis and 15 km away from Cap Blanc, the northernmost point in Africa. The city is on the Mediterranean coast and is close to both Sardinia and Sicily.

Economy

Bizerte's economy is very diverse. There are several military bases and year-round tourism. As a tourist centre the region is however not as popular as the eastern coast of Tunisia. There is manufacturing (textile, auto parts, cookware), fishing, fruits and vegetables, and wheat.

Bizerte is especially well known for the great beaches, like Sidi Salem, La Grotte ,Rasenjela or Al Rimel.

Miscellaneous

Bizerte is noted for its beautiful forests, beaches and scenery.^{[citation needed]}

The port of Bizerte is now being developed into a significant Mediterranean yachting marina that will open in December 2010. The superyacht section of the marina will be called Goga Superyacht Marina, and will have berths for yachts of up to 110m in length. It is expected that this will give a significant boost to the local economy as the yacht owners and also the hundreds of professional crew will become year-round consumers. The service industries supplying the yachts will gradually develop and bring additional employment.^[2]

Titular See

Hippo Diarrhytus is a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1989-2002 it was held by Mgr. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, then by Mgr. Jose Paala Salazar, O.P. in 2002-2004 and by Mrg. Manfred Grothe since October 14, 2004. The city and see of Hippo Diarrhytus should not be confused with those of Hippo Regius where Saint Augustine of Hippo was the bishop.

Sister cities

• Tangiers, Morocco
• Port Said, Egypt
• Annaba, Algeria
• Kalamata, Greece
• Palermo, Italy

References

1. ^ http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/bizerte/bizerte-fm.htm
2. ^ Goga Superyacht Marina

External links

• "Bizerte.Org"
• "Encyclopedia of the Orient"
• "Hippo Diarrhytus" in the Catholic Encyclopedia

Coordinates: 37°16′N 9°52′E / 37.267°N 9.867°E / 37.267; 9.867

v d e Phoenician cities and colonies Algeria Hippo Regius Ikosium Guelma Iol Rus Icada Rus Azuz Iom Honaine Pomoria Cirta Rus Ucurru Rus Aghoun Rus Ipir Qart Ina Siga Timgad Lambese Djémila Uzinaza Cuicul Altava Igligili Imonium Sitifis Auzia Rapidum Portus Magnus Tipaza Cyprus Kition Italy Karalis Lilybaeum Motya Nora Olbia Panormus Solki Soluntum Tharros Lebanon Amia Ampi Arqa Baalbek Berut Botrys Gebal Sarepta Sur Sydon Tripolis Libya Leptis Magna Oea Sabratha Malta Gozo Mauritania Cerne Morocco Arambys Caricus Murus Lixus Tingis Portugal Olissipona Ossonoba Spain Abdera Abyla Akra Leuke Gadir Herna Ibossim Mahón Malaca Onoba Qart Hadašt Rusadir Sexi Syria Amrit Arwad Safita Ugarit Tunisia Carthage Hadrumetum Hippo Diarrhytos Kerkouane Leptis Parva Thanae Thapsus Utica Turkey Myriandrus Phoenicus Gibraltar

v d e Communes of Tunisia Ariana Governorate Aryanah (seat) Ettadhamen-Mnihla Kalâat el-Andalous Raoued Sidi Thabet La Soukra Béja Governorate Béja (seat) El Maâgoula Goubellat Medjez el-Bab Nefza Téboursouk Testour Zahret Mediou Ben Arous Governorate Ben Arous (seat) Bou Mhel el-Bassatine El Mourouj Ezzahra Hammam Chott Hammam Lif Khalidia Mégrine Mohamedia-Fouchana Mornag Rades Bizerte Governorate Bizerte (seat) Aousja El Alia Ghar El Melh Mateur Menzel Bourguiba Menzel Jemil Menzel Abderrahmane Metline Raf Raf Ras Jebel Sejenane Tinja Gabes Governorate Gabes (seat) Chenini Nahal El Hamma Ghannouch Mareth Matmata Métouia Nouvelle Matmata Oudhref Zarat Gafsa Governorate Gafsa (seat) El Guettar El Ksar Mdhila Métlaoui Moulares Redeyef Sened Jendouba Governorate Jendouba (seat) Ain Draham Beni M'Tir Bou Salem Fernana Ghardimaou Oued Melliz Tabarka Kairouan Governorate Kairouan (seat) Ain Djeloula Alaâ Bou Hajla Chebika Echrarda Oueslatia Haffouz Hajeb El Ayoun Menzel Mehiri Nasrallah Sbikha Kébili Governorate Kébili (seat) Douz El Golâa Djemna Souk Lahad Kef Governorate Le Kef (seat) Dahmani Jérissa El Ksour Kalaat Senan Kalâat Khasba Menzel Salem Nebeur Sakiet Sidi Youssef Sers Tajerouine Touiref Mahdia Governorate Mahdia (seat) Bou Merdes Chebba Chorbane El Bradâa El Jem Essouassi Hebira Hiboun Kerker Ksour Essef Mellouleche Ouled Chamekh Rejiche Sidi Alouane Manouba Governorate La Manouba (seat) Borj El Amri Den Den Douar Hicher Djedeida El Battan Oued Ellil Mornaguia Tebourba Médenine Governorate Médenine (seat) Ajim Ben Gardane Beni Khedache Houmt Souk Midoun Zarzis Monastir Governorate Monastir (seat) Amiret El Fhoul Amiret El Hojjaj Amiret Touazra Bekalta Bembla Beni Hassen Bennane Bouhjar Cherahil El Masdour Ghenada Jemmal Khniss Ksar Hellal Ksibet el-Médiouni Lamta Menzel Ennour Menzel Farsi Menzel Hayet Menzel Kamel Moknine Ouerdanin Nabeul Governorate Nabeul (seat) Azmour Béni Khalled Béni Khiar Bou Argoub Dar Allouch Dar Chaabane El Haouaria El Maâmoura El Mida Grombalia Hammam Ghezeze Hammamet Kélibia Kerkouane Korba Korbous Menzel Bouzelfa Menzel Horr Menzel Temime Soliman Somâa Takelsa Tazerka Zaouiet Djedidi Sfax Governorate Sfax (seat) Agareb Bir Ali Ben Khélifa Bir Salah Chihia El Ain Graiba Gremda Jebiniana Kerkennah El Hencha Mahres Menzel Chaker Sakiet Eddaier Sakiet Ezzit Skhira Thyna Sidi Bouzid Governorate Sidi Bouzid (seat) Bir El Hafey Cebbala Ouled Asker Jilma Menzel Bouzaiane Meknassy Mezzouna Ouled Haffouz Regueb Sidi Ali Ben Aoun Siliana Governorate Siliana (seat) Bargou Bou Arada El Aroussa El Krib Gaâfour Kesra Makthar Rouhia Sidi Bou Rouis Sousse Governorate Sousse (seat) Akouda Bouficha Enfida Ezzouhour Hammam Sousse Hergla Kalâa Kebira Kalâa Seghira Kondar Ksibet Thrayet Messaadine M'saken Sidi Bou Ali Sidi El Hani Zaouiet Sousse Tataouine Governorate Tataouine (seat) Bir Lahmar Dehiba Ghomrassen Remada Tozeur Governorate Tozeur (seat) Degache El Hamma du Jérid Nefta Tamerza Tunis Governorate Tunis (seat) Carthage La Goulette La Marsa Le Bardo Le Kram Sidi Bou Said Sidi Hassine Zaghouan Governorate Zaghouan (seat) El Fahs Djebel Oust Bir Mcherga Nadhour Zriba

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)