A must-visit site in Tunisia is Oudhna (from its ancient name Uthina, also spelled Oudna), whose vastness lends itself well to the use of a bicycle.
Situated in the heart of the countryside some thirty kilometers south of Tunis, this vast site of several dozen hectares stands out for the wealth of monuments and traces of antiquity still visible, and for their state of preservation. You'll be able to appreciate the particularly well-preserved Amphitheatre of impressive size, or imagine the original majesty of the Capitol, built overlooking the city from the height of the columns still in place.
Children will love climbing up and around the amphitheatre's tiers, and can improvise hide-and-seek gamesin its underground rooms - thrills guaranteed! You can almost hear the roar of the lions locked in the cages, and the footsteps of the gladiators who once animated these halls .
In between are the remains of wealthy villas, their floors adorned with delicately patterned mosaics still in place. the thermal baths a little further on, and a theater still under excavation.
The bike allows you to move quickly from one site to another, and to take advantage of the small paths paths in and around the site.
Historical landmarks
Probably of Berber-Punic origin, it dominated a fertile agricultural plain stretching from Djebel Ressas and Djebel Boukornine to the Oued Méliane.
Founded towards the end of the 1st century BC, Oudna was initially populated by a colony of veterans of the 13th Roman Legion (at the entrance to the site, a stone engraved with an "XIII" in Roman numerals reminds visitors of the town's history).
It reached its apogee in the 2nd century AD, under the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Remains of Islamic ceramics show that the site was occupied by Arabs in medieval times. They werecontent to occupy the existing ancient monuments, without constructing any new buildings. The site is one of the largest in Tunisia, although its sheersize means that it hasyet to be excavated .
Visible monuments
The Capitol, mentioned in the introduction, is considered to be the largest in Roman Africa. It was built on the highest point of the city so as to be visible from afar, and can be seen assoon as you arrive in Oudna.
It is the city's main temple and was dedicated to the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno and Minerva). Minerva), and opened onto a forum. The most imposing was dedicated to
One of its columns, topped by a capital , can still be seen, giving an idea of the size of the building. The capitol had two other lower levels, which can also be accessed.
The amphitheatre was partially dug out of a hill to save materials . With a capacity of around 16,000 spectators, it is one of the three largest in Tunisia ,after Carthage and El Jem.
The remains of the pillars of an aqueduct belonging to a vast water collection network, located on a hill to the south of the city , can be seen. Water was stored in cisterns for use in thermal baths and homes. This aqueduct led to a distribution basin and then to the great forum cistern , which supplied the entire city . It'sinteresting to note that Uthina was independent for its water supply, despite the nearby presence of the Zaghouan aqueduct, which led to Carthage.
The large public baths, of comparable prestige to those in Carthage or Bulla Regia, were of course designed for bathing, leisure and sports. There were two levels: the first floor with hot and cold rooms, and the lower level with service rooms and cisterns.
The house of the Laberii or Ikarios, one of the most beautiful in Uthina, boasts two magnificent mosaic pavements with figurative motifs, which are well worth admiring and photographing . Nearbyare the Baths of the Fishermen's Lovers , with theirwell-preserved latrines (communal public toilets), floor mosaics with geometric motifs that stand out from the previous ones, and figurative mosaics on the walls, evoking fishing scenes, which inspired the name given to these baths.
The tour continues with the remains of the House of Industrius, named after the name on the mosaic in the Atrium, and ends with the Theatre, a monument that has not yet beenexcavated, and whose stage can be seen (here, theater enthusiasts can improvise as actors ofyesteryear) as well as the location of the stands.
What to do near Oudna?
Here too, as in Tebourba for example, gastronomy is not to be outdone.
On weekends, it's possible to dine close to the site, at the Elixir Bio estate, which offers a breathtaking view of the Djebel Ressas and Djebel Boukornine mountains. Children can discover the organic vegetable garden, as well as the farm's animals, subject to the availability of on-site availability.
On the way back to Tunis, you can also stop off at the Tarenti farm in Fouchana, 10 km north of Oudhna. The farm can be visited by young and old alike, and you can discover its breeding of Tarentaise cows with their gentle gaze and delicious milk, taste the famous Tarenti cheeses and stock up on the succulent cheese specialities that the farm offers for sale, so that cheese lovers are spoilt for choice. But of course, the ultimate experience is the restaurant!
Lemon Tour organizes guided tours and teambuilding at both farms.
Not equipped for long-distance rides? No problem!
Of course, getting to Oudna by bike directly from Tunis is hardly an option . So don't hesitate to check out Lemon Tour's equipment rental offers, which include bike racks that can be attached to the rear of your vehicle, allowing you to transport up to 4 bikes at adistance from your place of residence. Very simple to install (LLT will assist you, of course), you can also in your vehicle for the duration of your trip.
For the little ones who aren't yet old enough to ride, you can also rent trailers that attach to the back of the bikes. rent trailers that attach to the back of the bikes.
So you're all set for adventure!
