Within the complex is the residence of the Swiss ambassador, a building ceded by Bourguiba after an attempted coup in 1962, as well as the archaeological site called "fountain with a thousand amphorae".

The Bourguiba collection of numerous works to the glory of the leader is found in the basement of the palace and shown on Tunisian television after the 2011 revolution.

The palace was built by the Franco-Tunisian architect Olivier-Clément Cacoub, in three sections over a period spread from 1960 to 1969, in Arab-Andalusian architectural style.

On 15 January 2011, one day after Ben Ali's flight during the revolution, the army stormed the palace which houses members of the presidential security who remained loyal to the ousted president.

Fouad Mebazaa, interim President of the Republic, following the flight of Ben Ali, decided to occupy the presidential offices of Carthage and announced his intention to settle there, as part of his duties.

The palace features rooms which take the name of Tunisian personalities who played a role in the history of the country such as Habib Bourguiba, Abdelaziz Thâalbi, Aboul-Qacem Echebbi and Dido.