The Press — In the Golden Silence of the Desert, the Winds of Tozeur Once Again Tell the Story of a Place Like No Other: Ong Jemel, the Mythical Setting of Star Wars
Restored stone by stone, this legendary site is preparing to become one of the highlights of the Tunisian Sahara, attracting travelers, dreamers, and film enthusiasts to the dunes of the imagination.
As part of a vast program to enhance the cinematic and tourist heritage of southern Tunisia, the restoration and rehabilitation work on the famous Star Wars film set at Ong Jemel, near Tozeur, has been relaunched. Damaged by strong winds and desert erosion, this iconic site, which served as the backdrop for one of the most mythical sagas in world cinema, is today regaining its former glory thanks to a budget of 132,000 dinars mobilized by the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, with a contribution from the Tozeur Regional Council.
The work, which began two weeks ago, involves renovating the deteriorated structures, repainting the facades, restoring the doors and windows, and rearranging the interior spaces to preserve the authenticity of the setting and improve its reception. This operation is part of the dynamic preparation for a particularly promising Saharan season, where Tozeur is imposing itself more than ever as a flagship destination of the Tunisian desert.
The Ong Jemel site, now maintained and enhanced, is a living symbol of the union between culture, cinema, and desert. It attracts thousands of visitors each year, curious to discover the landscapes of Star Wars and fascinated by the magic of the Sahara. In the long term, this restoration should make Ong Jemel an essential reference point for Saharan tourism, capable of hosting cultural, sporting, and artistic events of great magnitude. For film enthusiasts as well as desert adventurers, a visit to Tozeur is never complete without a stop at this mythical place where reality blends with legend.
