Moknine is a town in the Tunisian Sahel, surrounded by vast fields of olive trees and positioned between the tourist centres of Sousse (35 km), Monastir (20 km), and Mahdia (25 km). It is known throughout Tunisia as the centre of Sahel pottery.
The pottery tradition here goes back centuries, sustained by abundant local clay deposits and a natural fuel called grig, made from non-olive wood. Pottery was once used in every domain of daily life — for storing food, cooling water, and cooking. While everyday use has faded, the decorative tradition remains strong, and the potters' workshops in and around Moknine are the principal source of the ornamental ceramics you will see across the Sahel. Prices here are lower and quality higher than in the tourist shops of the coastal resorts.