To the south of the Atlas Mountains, in the heart of the Draa Valley, lies Ksar Tamnougalt, a surprising fortress that some of our tours visit. In the following lines, we’ll tell you why it’s worth stopping along the way in this remote place, which combines the best and most traditional of Berber architecture.
A Small Ait Ben Haddou in the Draa
Saving the distances, the ksar of Tamnougalt can well be considered a small Ait Ben Haddou, in this case in the heart of the Draa Valley. It is a fortified village, whose important standing remains allow us to understand what life was like in this Berber enclave: houses, small meeting places, alleys, madrasas, hammam, mosques… In addition, you can still trace the traces of the Jews who lived in their corresponding neighborhood and who abandoned the place in the mid-twentieth century, after the proclamation of the state of Israel. All this protected by walls that gave it an impregnable character.
In addition, all this is built with the usual technique of the Berbers (Amazigh) of southern Morocco: structure of adobe bricks covered with mud plaster and vegetable fibers, on which incisions are often made to create drawings and effects of light and shadow, especially in the upper part of the walls, where the incidence of sunlight is greater.
The Masterpiece of the Mezguita Tribe
The ksar of Tamnougalt was an authentic demonstration of power and prestige of the Mezguita tribe, in a strategic point: in the middle of the caravan trade route, which explains its fortified character, from where a wide radius of land in the Draa valley is also dominated.
This tribe, by the way, was at odds with the other powerful clan in the region, the Glaoui, who had their strongholds further north (in the Ouarzazate and Telouet area). Its patriarch, Caíd Si Ali, in the times of the French Protectorate, managed to bring down the influential Thami el Glaoui. However, that did not prevent the progressive decline of Tamnougalt, due to the fall of the trade routes that passed through here.
What is there Today in Tamnougalt
As we said, dedicating time to visiting the ksar of Tamnougalt is a surprising discovery, despite the fact that the historical constructions have been abandoned and the oldest enclosure is mixed with the modern town. In any case, in recent times the site is being adapted for tourist visits, as demonstrated by the humble museum gallery that is exhibited in one of the kasbahs, where you can see ancient tools, for example for making mud bricks.
Another indisputable attraction of Tamnougalt is the huge palm grove that surrounds it. It should be remembered that the Draa Valley is the largest oasis in all of North Africa, so that on both banks of this river extends a huge green mass, composed mainly of date palms.
In addition, the inhabitants of this small town organize every year the moussem “el lama”, where citizens from other neighboring towns meet to deploy a cultural and religious program that honors the name of Tamnougalt, because in Amazigh it means “meeting place”.
For all these reasons, passing through Tamnougalt will be a wise decision, especially for travelers most interested in getting to know the deep Morocco, where the Amazigh continue to preserve their culture and traditions, without giving up a greater openness to share their historical-artistic heritage with tourists. If that is your case, you can buy your travel package ( 12-day Circuit) or contact us for more information.
