Kairouan (variations include Kairwan, Kayrawan, Al Qayrawan is a city in Tunisia, about 160 kilometres south of Tunis. In 2003 the city had about 150,000 inhabitants. Founded in about the year 670, the original name was derived from Arabic kairuwân, from Persian Kâravân, meaning "camp", "caravan", or "resting place" . It is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate.