South-East · Tunisia
Gabès
The world's only seaside oasis — 300,000 palms meeting the Mediterranean.
Gabès is unique on the planet: a maritime oasis where palm groves grow right down to the seashore. Date palms shelter pomegranates, which shelter vegetables, in the famous three-tier oasis cultivation.
The city itself is industrial and mid-size, but the surrounding oases of Chenini and Jara, and the inland oasis village of Matmata with its troglodyte houses, are exceptional.
Matmata's underground homes were used as Luke Skywalker's house in the original Star Wars — the Hotel Sidi Driss is still there, still a working hotel.