Bizerta – Russian History of Tunisia

Bizerta is the most Russian corner of Tunisia: this northern port city in 1920 received the remains of the Russian Imperial Navy. Until 2009, the elder of the Russian diaspora, Anastasia Shirinskaya, lived in Bizerte. We will visit her house-museum, learn about the fate of Russian sailors, worship their graves in a Christian cemetery and go under the roaring vaults of an Orthodox church, which houses not only ancient icons, but also the St. Andrew’s flag.

Our way lies in the extreme north of Tunisia - to the port city of Bizerta. In 1920-1921, ships of the Russian Imperial Navy entered the wide harbor of Bizerta, and life began in exile for almost 6,000 sailors and their families.

The tour begins at the house-museum of Anastasia Shirinskaya, an elder of the Russian diaspora in Tunisia. A 12-year-old girl, she arrived in Bizerta with her father, a senior lieutenant of the fleet, commander of the destroyer "Hot". Almost the same age of the century - Shirinskaya lived 97 years! - she painstakingly preserved documents, photographs, household items and interior from the ships of the Russian squadron. Her collection, as well as numerous personal photos, are presented in the house-museum of Anastasia Shirinskaya, opened in 2009. The Russian spirit is wonderfully preserved here!

Next to the museum is the temple of Alexander Nevsky, the successor to the small ship church, built by the Russian diaspora in 1956. Incredible look blue heads against the background of the African landscape! Inside are ancient icons, commemorative plaques from squadron ships and many other reminders of the lives of sailors.

Bizerta Christian Cemetery is the resting place of the first Russian emigrants who could not withstand separation from their homeland in the 1920s, and Anastasia Alexandrovna herself, who died in 2009. “Do not say with longing, ‘There are none,’ but with gratitude: ‘There were!’” – Shirinskaya’s favorite saying is immortalized on the tombstone.

Next, we will get acquainted with the French and Arabic appearance of the city - walk along the picturesque old fish port, climb the hill to the Spanish fort and drive along the promenade "cornices", along which there are ancient French villas, cozy restaurants with sea views and hotels. And then we'll go back.

Dear tourists, if you want to visit the museum and temple in Bizerte on your own (for example, by rented car), keep in mind that these attractions are constantly closed. Write to me and I will give you the contacts of the museum caretaker, who will be waiting for you, show you everything and tell you everything.