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Bizerte ) is a town as well as a state (governorate) in Tunisia. It has a population of 114,371 (2004 census}.

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Bizerte is known as the oldest and most European city in Tunisia. It was founded around 1000 B.C.E by Phoenicians from Tyre. It is also known as the last town to remain under French control after the rest of the country won its independence from France.

Initially a small Phoenician harbour, the city became under the influence of Carthago after the defeat of Agathocles during the Punic Wars. The city was then occupied by the Romans, under the name of Hippo-Diarrytus or Zarrytus, was dismantled and moved to Utic.

Bizerte was successively conquered by the Arabs, who gave its current name to the city, by the troops of Charles V in 1535, and by the Turks in 1574. The city then became a corsair harbour and struggled against the Frenchs and the Venetians.

During the Treaty of Berlin, in 1878, France obtained the control of the city and started the construction of a big military harbor in Bizerte.

Due to its strategic location on the Mediterranean, France wanted to keep control of its Naval Base in Bizerte. In turn, the Tunisian government wanted France out and the base closed. Undaunted, the French would stay in control of the city for several years after the rest of the country was handed over in 1956. In 1961 the Tunisian Navy blocked the base. The resulting military clashes would lead to more than 1,000 Tunisians killed. The French finally abandoned Bizerte on 10th October 1963, seven years after Tunisia had declared its independence.

Bizerte is located on the north coast of Tunisia, 66 km north of Tunis and 15 km away from Cap Blanc, the northernmost point in Africa. The city is on the Mediterranean coast and is close to both Sardinia and Sicily.

Bizerte's economy is very diversified. There are all types of military bases and year round tourism, but not comparable to the eastern coast of Tunisia. There is manufacturing(textile, auto parts, cookware), fishing, fruits and vegetables, and wheat.

Bizerte is especially well known for the quality of its grapes and the wine made from them.