The mid-19th century witnessed reforms in Tunisia brought on by challenges emanating from increasing competition between France and Britain in the Mediterranean Sea. That sea had long facilitated the Ottomans' extension of its empire, even to its territories with considerable autonomy, such as the Beylik of Tunisia. Tunisia’s rulers embarked on a series of reforms in an effort to stave off succumbing to either increased Ottoman rule, or worse, European rule over the beylik. The reorganization of the military and the creation of a police force, the announcement of the “fundamental pact” (1857) and the promulgation of a new constitution (1861)—all initiated by Tunisian reformers during the middle years of the 19th century—were not enough to prevent the eventual arrival by France in the country in 1881 and its assumption of the reins of power in increasing degrees over the next several decades, including in the realms of urban spatial organization and urban heritage. This paper examines urban development and heritage under colonial conditions by analyzing the French Protectorate’s efforts to repair and restore monuments in the sacred Tunisian city of Qayrawan in the first half of the 20th century under varying circumstances of degradation and destruction. Prior to World War I, the French in Tunisia issued decrees on urbanism, historic monuments, and public space in the country. Such decrees allowed the French to classify historic sites and to engage in restoration projects, as documented in correspondence between French officials in Qayrawan and Tunis. The Second World War brought significant destruction to the holy city of Qayrawan and a post-war decree issued in France, with regard to destruction and repair of historic sites, came to serve French officials in Tunisia. The correspondence and decrees examined in this paper show French officials calling for the restoration of Qayrawan’s sites destroyed by the Germans during the war and turning to French legal means to rebuild Tunisia’s religious and historic heritage. By examining previously unseen documents from the French Protectorate period, found at the Association for the Safeguarding of the Medina of Qayrawan, this paper will examine French colonial policy toward urbanism and urban heritage through a case study on Qayrawan. These documents will expand our knowledge of the relationship between empire and colony; colony and city; city and sites, and elucidate our understanding of the colonial and national identification with sacred and historic urban heritage.