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Matmata ( ar, مطماطة ';
It was not generally known until 1969 that there were regular settlements in this area besides wandering nomadic tribes. 
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. 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.
*The Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata was used in 1976 as a
A travel report from Matmata
The Real Star Wars?
- Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery about Matmata by Andy Carvin
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
Berber
Berber or Berbers may refer to:
Ethnic group
* Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa
* Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages
Places
* Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile
People with the surname
* Ady Berber (1913–196 ...
: ⵎⴰⵜⵎⴰⵜⴰ) is a small Berber
Berber or Berbers may refer to:
Ethnic group
* Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa
* Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages
Places
* Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile
People with the surname
* Ady Berber (1913–196 ...
speaking town in southern Tunisia. 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 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-like passageways.
History
It was not generally known until 1969 that there were regular settlements in this area besides wandering nomadic tribes. 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. 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
*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, his Aunt Beru Lars and Uncle Owen Lars on the planet Tatooine. 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 fuel depot.
* One of '' Call of Duty 2s 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.
References
External links
A travel report from Matmata
The Real Star Wars?
- Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery about Matmata by Andy Carvin
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