It is a city founded around the year 670 by an Arab general as a strategic location for a military post, which later became the largest Islamic cultural center in the Maghreb. Kairouan is a holy city for many Muslims, and is considered by Sunni Muslims to be the 4th holiest city in Islam and the holiest city in the Maghreb, it is said that 7 trips to Kairouan are equivalent to one visit to Mecca. The buildings of this city reflect the clear and unmistakable lines of Islamic architecture. Its walls date back to the year 1052. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, due to its rich cultural heritage.