Matmata ( ar, مطماطة ';
Berber: ⵎⴰⵜⵎⴰⵜⴰ) is a small
Berber speaking town in southern
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
. Some of the local Berber residents live in traditional underground "
troglodyte
A troglodyte is a human cave dweller, from the Greek 'hole, mouse-hole' and 'go in, dive in'.
Troglodyte and derived forms may also refer to:
Historiography
* ''Troglodytae'' or ''Troglodyti'', an ancient group of people from the African Red ...
" structures. In 2004 it had a population of 2,116.
The structures typical for the village are created by
digging
Digging, also referred to as excavation, is the process of using some implement such as claws, hands, manual tools or heavy equipment, to remove material from a solid surface, usually soil, sand or rock on the surface of Earth. Digging is actu ...
a large pit in the ground. Around the perimeter of this pit artificial caves are then dug to be used as rooms, with some homes comprising multiple pits, connected by
trench
A trench is a type of excavation or in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a wider gully, or ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit).
In geology, trenches result from eros ...
-like passageways.
History
![Matmata house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Matmata_house.jpg)
It was not generally known until 1969 that there were regular settlements in this area besides wandering nomadic tribes.
![Matmata, Tunisia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Matmata%2C_Tunisia.JPG)
That year, intensive rains that lasted for 22 days inundated the troglodyte homes and caused many of them to collapse. In order to get help from the authorities, a delegation was sent to the community center of the region in the town of
Gabès
Gabès (, ; ar, قابس, ), also spelled Cabès, Cabes, Kabes, Gabbs and Gaps, is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate in Tunisia. It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Gabès. With a population of 152,921, Gabès is the 6th largest ...
. The visit came as a surprise, but help was provided, and the above-ground settlement of Matmâta was built. However, most of the people continued their lives in re-built underground homes, and only a few of the families moved to the new surface dwellings.
Today, Matmata is a popular tourist attraction, and most of the population lives on tourism and folklore exhibitions in their homes.
In popular culture
![Matmata, cave dwelling](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Matmata%2C_cave_dwelling.jpg)
*The Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata was used in 1976 as a
filming location
A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage. In filmmaking, a location is any place where a film crew wil ...
forth in ''
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'', in which it featured as the home of
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the protagonist of the original film trilogy of the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Portrayed by Mark Hamill, Luke first appeared in ''Star Wars'' (1977), and he returned in ''The ...
, his Aunt Beru Lars and Uncle Owen Lars on the planet
Tatooine
Tatooine () is a fictional desert planet that appears in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. It is a beige-colored, desolate world orbiting a pair of binary stars, and inhabited by human settlers and a variety of other life forms. The planet was first ...
. The hotel is designed as a traditional Berber troglodyte underground building. It was featured again in the 2002 prequel film ''
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones''.
* Two of ''
Call of Duty: Finest Hours missions take place on the outskirts of Matmata, one involving destroying a radio mast, and another a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
fuel depot.
* One of ''
Call of Duty 2
''Call of Duty 2'' is a 2005 first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in most regions of the world. It is the second installment of the ''Call of Duty'' series. Announced by Activision on April 7, ...
s missions and multiplayer maps takes place in Matmâta as part of
North African Campaign.
* Film ', an adaptation of the book from Swiss author
Hans Ruesch
: ''This is about the racing driver, for the Norwegian geologist with a similarly spelled name go to Hans Reusch''
Hans Ruesch (17 May 1913 – 27 August 2007) was a Swiss racing driver, a novelist, and an internationally prominent activist again ...
starring
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born 10 August 1960), known professionally as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish actor and singer. Known for his work in films of several genres, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Antonio Ba ...
and
Freida Pinto
Freida Selena Pinto (born 18 October 1984) is an Indian actress who has appeared mainly in American and British films. Born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, she resolved at a young age to become an actress. As a student at St. Xavier's Colle ...
.
References
External links
A travel report from MatmataThe Real Star Wars?- Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery about Matmata by
Andy Carvin
Andy Carvin is an American blogger and former senior product manager for online communities at National Public Radio (NPR). He accepted a position at First Look Media in February, 2014. Carvin was the founding editor and former coordinator of th ...
Matmata has many of the best examples of troglodyte architecture in the world.Visitors' guide to Hotel Sidi Driss
{{Authority control
Populated places in Gabès Governorate
Berbers in Tunisia
Communes of Tunisia