Souk Haddadine
You hear Souk Haddadine before you see it. The blacksmiths' hammering rings down the alley. Openwork iron lanterns, grilles, sconces, mirrors and decorative ironwork come out of the workshops one after another. Less pretty than the fabric souks, closer to the trade. Here things are made, and this is one of the last fire trades in the medina.
History & context
Souk Haddadine is the blacksmiths’ souk. You hear it before you see it, at the hammering of iron down the alley. In the workshops open onto the passage, metal is heated, beaten and bent by hand to become openwork lanterns, grilles, sconces, mirrors and decorative ironwork.
It is one of the last fire trades in the medina, and one of the most alive souks to watch at work. Less photogenic than the fabric alleys, more openly turned to the making. Here things are made before they are sold.
Right next door, Souk el-Attarine extends the metal district, on the copper and brass side.
You catch it by ear: the blacksmiths’ hammering, one of the last fires in the medina.
What to see - the highlights
The iron lanterns
Lanterns and tea-lights in openwork iron and coloured glass, hung in clusters at the workshop doors.
The blacksmiths at work
Metal heated, hammered and bent by hand: grilles, sconces, mirrors and decorative ironwork.
The sound of the trade
The steady hammering that gives the souk away from far off. One of the last fire trades in the medina.
When to go
The forges are running. That is the whole point.
Many workshops have closed and the souk loses its rhythm.
Covered, sheltered souk.
Visitor tips
In the morning, when the forges are working.
Looking for quiet. The hammering is part of the place.
- For a lantern, check the welds and the glass. Compare several workshops before buying.
- Bespoke pieces (grilles, mirrors) can be ordered. Reckon on a lead time and shipping.
- Right next to Souk el-Attarine (brass). Combine to compare iron and copper.
Location & access
In the north of the souks, towards the Ben Youssef district, near Souk el-Attarine. On foot only. Follow the sound of the metal, or ask for 'Haddadine'.
