The small village of Tunis (‘izbat Tunis) is located in the oasis of Fayoum , on the way to Wadi Rayan. Located on a hill facing a large salt water lake, the village overlooks a stunning view of the edge of the desert on the other side of the lake. It is one of the most beautiful places in Egypt.

Until recently, the village of Tunis was an unknown farming and fishing community on the southern shore of Lake Qaroun. Though it looked like thousands of average Egyptian Villages, Tunis has its own charm; very small, extremely beautiful and surprisingly peaceful. It was late 1960s when a Swiss female potter – called Evelyn Porret – visited Fayoum with her Egyptian friends. No sooner had she come across Tunis than she decided to build her own country house and pottery workshop there.

The house was built in a domed- ceiling design, using environment-friendly building materials. It apparently was inspired by the designs of Hassan Fathi, dean of contemporary Egyptian architects. Being a masterwork of eco architecture, the potter’s house encouraged others to build their houses in Tunis following the same pattern.

She started her pottery studio in her new country house. At the very beginning, the village children would come – out of curiosity- to see what is going on. Some of them appeared very interested in Evelyn’s work, which encouraged her to help them unearth their talents. Consequently, she established a pottery school in 1988.

Today, the students of the Swiss lady, as some like to call it, represent a new generation of independent potters who reflect the interaction of man and his surroundings, each of them has his own studio and display  his / her pottery works in local and international exhibitions .

Gradually, the ordinary village turned into a reputable center of a modern pottery and an open air museum of both eco and traditional rural buildings, which attracted investors and entrepreneurs who began to provide the village with different facilities   to meet the incessant demand on the place. The most important of such facilities are some eco-lodges, a horse-riding center, a guesthouse, in addition to guidance services for bird-watching and Safari.

Perhaps when Evelyn decided to settle in Tunis more than 30 years ago, she didn’t know then that she would change the future and destiny of a small and unknown village called Tunis.

Fayoum Art Center:

Fayoum Art Center is a Non Profit Organization founded by Egyptian artist, Mohamed Abla in 2006, inspired by the beautiful nature of Tunis, Mohamed Abla , an Egyptian painter and cartoonist, built a house in Tunis including a studio. Then, he established, in cooperation with his friend artists and intellectuals, an art center and a caricature museum, the first of its kind in the Middle East which holds a vast collection of caricatures by artists such as Saroukhan, George El Bahgoury and Ahmed Toughan. The museum has informative panels that describe the exhibits. 

Entrance Fees : 50  EGP  per person.

Guided tours inside the museum or large groups are with appointment…for inquiries contact us

Tunis Village Annual Handicrafts Festival

Tunis pottery festival is an annual event which takes place every autumn and brings together gifted artists-potters from Tunis, Cairo and other parts of Egypt, traditional artisans from rural villages, as well as creative potters from other countries. The festival offers participants a unique opportunity to explore the importance and value of different forms of pottery, learn from peers in a cross-cultural environment, create and experiment together, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Egyptian potters and pottery today.

as well as a wide range of activities from Bird watching to Horse Riding

Explore Fayoum with Fayoumer!

As to provide the Fayoum visitors with an ultimate Fayoum experience. Explore Fayoum founder, Mahmoud a.k.a Fayoumer, a local specialist  guide and a researcher based in Fayoum Governorate will take you on curated tours to explore fabulous Fayoum in different thematic itineraries to ensure an ultimate Fayoum experience. Mahmoud/Fayoumer is featured on the National Geographic article about Fayoum , as well as Moon Guidebook. He is Lonely Planet’s Fayoum only specialist local guide. He will share with you his knowledge of the area and his interesting Fayoum stories. Read more info about Fayoumer’s itineraries Here.

Horse Riding Lovers

Les Chevaux Du Lac is a great Place for horseback riding in and around the Stunning Tunis Village. the center is  offering all kinds of horseback riding – for adults or kids, for well-riders or beginners.

Mohamed Saleh is the owner of Les Chevaux du Lac and he organizes everything.

Contact us  for more info and prices

 Bird Watching trips in Fayoum

Since 2008 Ahmed, local bird watching guide has been guiding and organizing bird watching trips throughout the Fayoum region.

Go Bird Watching with Ahmed : Contact us

Recommended Lodges & Private Stays in Tunis Village:

Tunis Village has a variety of lodges and Private villas, we decided to provide for our visitors  some recommended private places to stay in Tunis Village.

Hamlet of Gold House:

Nestled just a few meters east of the Fayoum Pottery School in Tunis Village, the Hamlet of Gold house stands on the historic site of the local Gold Market that once connected Tunis Village with Abbadiya Village. This was where gold merchants and locals gathered to trade precious treasures, weaving stories of commerce and community into the fabric of the area.

Today, the house blends history with charm, offering a unique retreat. It features two floors:

• The ground floor serves as the owner’s residence (although he primarily resides in Cairo).
• The upper floor, reserved for guests, offers breathtaking views of lush farmlands and the serene expanse of Lake Qaroun.

The guest space is designed for comfort and style, complete with a private entrance, two cozy bedrooms, a beautifully furnished living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a modern washroom. The House of Gold is the perfect getaway for those seeking tranquility and a touch of heritage. Contact Us for booking

Hoopoe Lodge by Ibis:

Hoopoe lodge is a tranquil lodge located in Tunis village and overlooking Lake Qaroun. The lodge offers chalets and double and single rooms. Guests of the lodge will enjoy food prepared at the adjacent Ibis restaurant and cooking school as well as pottery activities at Mahmoud Youssef workshop and gallery. Contact Us for rates and booking

Ibis Cooking School & Restaurant:

Located at Mahmoud Youssef Pottery Atelier. Ibis cooking School & Restaurant bring you a complete experience of all senses set in a scenic environment by blending the art of cooking with the art of pottery and by doing so,  we develop the next generation of skilled chefs and potters.

The cooking school is still in the process of getting funding to establish the training kitchen, but hopefully the cooking school will open summer 2019. The restaurant is operational already since the pottery festival in November 2018.

*For more information on booking cooking classes, please contact us