Bab Diwan

Bab Diwan or Bab Bhar (Door of the sea) is one of the gates of the medina of Sfax. It is located in the southern facade of the old city between Bab Kasbah on the western corner and Bab Borj Ennar on the east. Bab Diwan got its name during the Hafsid era from the Arabic word Diwan that refers to the customs administration, as Sfax had intense economical and commercial relations with other cities. Also, it is frequently called Bab Bhar as it opens on the sea. In the beginning, Bab Bhar was a normal gate for passengers with the same form as Bab Jebli in the northern facade of the Medina. Yet, considering its geographical localization that made it more exposed to attacks, the gate benefited during the 17th century from improvements being made to the defenses of Sfax and got more fortified. The access to the inside of the city through this entrance was difficult, and before the 20th century modifications, every passenger taking it to enter the city had to turn right and walk through a narrow alley inside the wall for about 30 meters before turning left and reaching the inside. This design was set up for security reasons because even if the outer gate could be battered open, the invaders would have been vulnerable to attack from above as they worked on the inner gate, at which they would have very little room for manoeuvre for their equipment. Originally, the gate was the only one in Sfax facing the sea. Later, three other such gates were added over the years in order to adapt to the development of the community inside the city. The oldest entrance in Bab Bhar is part of a wall section that projects out from the main line of the wall. It is composed of two doors: an outer one (currently the one located in the west of the facade) and an internal one facing Ajouzine Mosque. To reach the inside of the city, passengers have to go through the external door and two sheds: one in the east and the second in the south. These sheds that were originally payment points for the customs, are currently occupied by merchants. In April 1885, the municipality built added a minaret with a clock, but it was destroyed later during the bombing ra

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