Ennejma Ezzahra ("Star of Venus"), sometimes spelled Nejma Ezzohara, also The Palace of the Baron d'Erlanger is a historical palace at

Sidi Bou Said Sidi Bou Said ( ar, سيدي بو سعيد ') is a town in northern Tunisia located about 20 km from the capital, Tunis. Named for a religious figure who lived there, Abu Said al-Baji, it was previously called Jabal el-Menar. The town it ...

, in northern

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

, built from 1912 - 1922 by Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger (1872–1932) as his home in Tunisia. It is considered to be an outstanding example of Arab-Islamic architecture in Tunisia and was built historic elements by craftsmen from Tunisia. After the independence of Tunisia in 19, it was the first museum to be opened in the country.

History and present use as a centre for musical history

Since 1991, it houses the ' (Centre for Arabic and Mediterranean Music), a museum and institution for the promotion of the country's musical heritage. Furthermore, it acts as a regular concert venue, and has a collection of historical musical instruments, books, recordings and other objects relating to the

music of Tunisia Tunisia is a North African country with a predominantly Arabic-speaking population. The country is best known for malouf, a kind of music imported from Andalusia after the Spanish immigration in the 15th century. Though in its modern form, malou ...

. Many recordings of the centre's historical phonographic archives can be accessed and listened to on their phonoteque website. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the building was occupied and looted by the German military, and further damage was done, when allied troops were billeted there later in the war. Some years after the death of his son Leo Alfred Frédéric d'Erlanger (1898–1978), Leo's widow, Baroness Edwina d'Erlanger (née Prue; died 1994), sold it to the Tunisian government, and it is now preserved as a museum, with many of its original furnishings, including paintings by the Baron, and a treasure-chest reputedly once owned by

Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman I ( ota, سليمان اول, Süleyman-ı Evvel; tr, I. Süleyman; 6 November 14946 September 1566), commonly known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and Suleiman the Lawgiver ( ota, قانونى سلطان سليمان, Ḳ� ...

Filming location

The palace has also been used for filming, including the making of the movie '' Justine'', based on

Lawrence Durrell Lawrence George Durrell (; 27 February 1912 – 7 November 1990) was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer. He was the eldest brother of naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell. Born in India to British colonial pare ...

's novel of that name.

References

External links

Official website of the centre (in English)
* ' {{authority control Museums in Tunisia Houses completed in 1922 Music museums Music organisations based in Tunisia Tunisian culture

History and present use as a centre for musical history

Filming location

See also

References

External links