Dugg Homes: Underground Village of Matmata

Dugg Homes: Underground Village of Matmata
In Tunisia, 450 km south of the capital of Tunis, lies the small but impressive underground village of Matmata, the largest community of troglodytes (people who live in caves) in the world. The name Matmata comes from the Berber tribe that lives in this area of the country.

 

The history of how and why this place was first built is unknown but instead there are many stories regarding its beginnings. One of the most amazing things about Matmata is that although it has been around for at least 1000 years, no one even knew it existed until 1967 when heavy rain flooded the troglodytes homes and they were forced to send a delegation to ask the authorities for help.


Many underground houses collapsed but with the help of the state, new surface residences were built. Now there are only around 100 dug-homes but they are enough to draw in hundreds of tourists from all around the world, every day.