STAR WARS RECCE SITE FOUND IN SEDOUIKECH

13 May 2022

In partnership with DMO Djerba, Galaxy Tours CEO (Davin Anderson) discovered on 13 May 2022 a “lost” Star Wars recce site on the Tunisian island of Djerba. The search to identify Bouregba Mosque as a franchise recce site—the second such discovery on the same day—spanned more than two years.

Site: Bouregba Mosque
Location: Sedouikech (town center)
GPS: 33.746187, 10.920452
Description: Ibadi mosque complex complete with historic wool workshop and cemetery (19th century CE)
Potential set concepts: Mos Eisley Cantina (exterior), Tosche Station (exterior)

The recce photo that led to this discovery was taken by John Barry (production designer) during the mid-November 1975 Star Wars location scout in Tunisia. Barry’s photo appears to have been taken from inside a vehicle, suggesting only a pass-by stop at the Bouregba Mosque complex. The focus of the photo seems to be the wool workshop situated between the mosque and cemetery, which matches the interest given to the Hanout el-Aouina building in Houmt Souk during the same recce. The unique design of both buildings—characteristic of Djerban wool workshops—consists of (1) matching front and rear pentagon-shaped facades with parallel vertical walls, (2) one entrance access (front facade), (3) a triangular concave roof with five ghorfa-like vaults on each side, and (4) five window openings paired with (5) five external buttresses on each side. Full information about this site will be published on galaxytours.com in the future.

Galaxy Tours: Twin Suns Expeditions now include the Bouregba Mosque complex as part of our exclusive Star Wars tour itineraries.