South of the medina is the Ville Nouvelle, a fairly compact and walkable area where the majority of the restaurants, shops and hotels are located. It's a mix of sophisticated clothing boutiques, apartment buildings and government buildings that close fairly early in the evening.
The focal point is the place de la République, which is fronted by a number of superb French-era buildings at the junction of ave Hedi Chaker and ave Habib Bourguiba. The grand building on the southern side of the square is the town hall. As well as housing the city's bureaucrats, it's also the home of the archaeological museum. Other architectural highlights in the area include the fine French consulate (13 ave Habib Bourguiba), and the police station (11 ave Habib Bourguiba) - no photos are permitted at either place, though.
