tourism☆marocain

"Timbuktu 52 days camel" means any mythology and fascination of the desert on this famous road sign ... he signed the former vocation of Zagora, the last stage of the road caravan before the immense loneliness of hamadas. Today, the city is often the term most southern of a trip to Morocco. For those who dream about the great adventure Saharan Africa, around Zagora can make some short trips and departure, however.

Administrative Centre and major village near the Oued Dra, the existing palm of Ternata and Ferzouata, Zagora offers no particular character, but is nonetheless very lively (souk on Wednesday and Thursday). Its main street, shopping, ends before the famous panel.

Jebel Zagora. To reach the site of this fortress of the Almoravids, at the foot of a rocky peak, turn left in front of the barracks at the end of the main street.

After crossing to Dra, borrow left the track Tamgrout 3 km further, turn right.

The track is very narrow and winding, leading to the summit where discovers a magnificent panorama of the river, palm groves, the surrounding desert, with the far, the mass stripped of Djebel Saghro.

The trip is much more interesting when seen upon waking or at sunset, from this viewpoint that dominates the whole region. From the fortress built in the XI, it would remain in place only a few walls in ruins.

Amazrou is the goal of a beautiful promenade, to be carried out preferably in late afternoon and accompanied by a child who will guide you to the first dunes of the desert.

Maybe you'll have the opportunity to be invited to take a mint tea in one of these wonderful gardens closed, nearby dunes. The children also lead you to the casbahs of the Jews, souvenir of a large community here that established a tradition of jewellery and work money (but beware the false ...) pursued by Berbers. The palm full of beautiful orchards hidden behind high walls because of strong winds that blow sometimes.

Surroundings of Zagora.

1 - Tamgrout. (18 Km south-east). Tamgrout owes its fame to an important zaouïa whose influence was exercised over the entire valley Dra, on the Dades, the Assistant and even the Anti-Atlas.

The library of the zaouïa XVII was created by Abu Abdallah Mohammed Bou Naceur, founder of the Koranic school, which brought books of all Arab countries. It can be seen among the 4000 manuscripts, illuminated Korans whose oldest dated XI. It is possible, led by a guide, visit the tomb of the benefactor of the university who always welcomes students. In the inner courtyard of the mausoleum stay patients who hope to receive a miraculous recovery. See also, pottery workshops, located in the open air, outside the precincts of the village.

In return, 1.5 km before Zagoura, you can borrow a track left and went to Amazrou.

2 - Mhamid (88 Km count for one-day round trip). The route takes the left bank of Dra. After passing Tamgrout, she runs through a landscape of broad dunes, and then crosses the wadi, beyond Anagam, reverts to reach Tagounit important oasis of a dozen Ksour lying in the district of Klaoua (souk Sunday and Thursday).

From Tagounit part to the north-east track towards the oasis of Nesrate, at the foot of Jebel Tadrart; beautiful dunes.

3 km farther to the left just before the collar of Tizi beni Selmane, a track leading to the necropolis of Foum Rjam, which overlooks the elbow of Dra.

This necropolis, unique in Morocco, is composed of several hundred conical burial mounds, some of whom have several metres high. At the center of each of them, an opening indicates the whereabouts of the dead. Excavations have been able to establish that the necropolis dating back 800 years BC Farther south, we saw the old Jewish village Tidri.

It then crosses the collar of Tizi Beni Selmane to 747 m above sea level in the chain of the same name. The road descends to a large extent sandy before crossing a beautiful palm grove, the centre of which stands the Ksar Oulad Driss. Further extends the palm of Mhamid (73 Km)

Mhamid (88 Km) is the last administrative centre of Dra means. The town is located near the elbow which is the wadi in s'infléchissant sharply to the west toward the Atlantic Ocean that will never so to speak. The weekly souk Monday, traditionally frequented by men, blue, camel nomads of the desert, saw its activity reduced as a result of problems encountered by Morocco on these confines border.

In the oasis, a Ksar ruined, known as Kesbt el Allouj, the height of the Legion European demonstrates yet of the activity of this region of Dra means the end of XVI, the Saadian time, a when trade with Sudan was very important. The name of this ksar recalls an expeditionary corps, made up largely of Christians. manages to capture Timbuktu during the reign of Ahmed el Mansour (1578-1602).

See also the small mausoleum of Sidi Allal bin Jbira. According to local tradition, it would have happened one day during a flood of the Dra, floating in its waters.

Features still in the region.

The Valley Dra