Page 294 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

292  MOROC C O REGION B Y REGION

dominates the palm grove.
This was the location for the
film Ali Baba and the Forty
Thieves, made by Jacques
Becker in 1954.
A restaurant adjacent to the
kasbah rather spoils the site.
On the banks of Wadi Souss,
which attracts migratory birds,
stands the older Freija kasbah,
now uninhabited.
Between Taroudannt and
Ouarzazate, the road (N10)
passes through a landscape of
The imposing ramparts of Taroudannt wild beauty. Plains covered with
argan trees give way to the
2 Taroudannt an alliance with Ahmed Ibn volcanic massif of Jbel Siroua,
Mahrez, the dissident nephew which bristles with peaks and
80 km (50 miles) east of Agadir.
* 36,000. @ from Casablanca, of Moulay Ismaïl. The latter where soft geol ogical folds
Agadir, Marrakech & Ouarzazate, or regained control of the region alternate with rocky plateaux.
grands taxis; Thu & Sun. ( Berber by massacring the inhabitants. Taliouine, a town between
souk daily. _ Moussem (Aug). Taroudannt is a generally two mountain chains at an
peaceful town, except during altitude of 1,180 m (3,873 ft),
Enclosed within red-ochre the annual olive harvest when it has a stately kasbah once owned
ramparts and encircled by is enlivened by itinerant pickers. by the Glaoui (see p61). Though
orchards, orange groves and On its two main squares, Place dilapidated, it is still inhabited.
olive trees, Taroudannt has all Assarag and Place Talmoklate, The town is the centre of the
the appeal of an old Moroccan horse-drawn carriages can be world’s biggest saffron-growing
fortified town. It was occupied hired for a tour of the ramparts, area. In Tazenakht, 85 km
by the Almoravids in 1056 and which are 7 km (4 miles) (53 miles) east of Taliouine,
in the 16th century became long. Set with bastions and beneath Jbel Siroua, carpets
the capital of the Saadians, who pierced by five gates, they are with an orange weft are woven
used it as a base from which in a remarkably good state of by the Ouaouzguite tribe.
to attack the Portuguese in preservation, a part of them
Agadir. Although the Saadians dating from the 18th century.
eventually chose Marrakech The souks, between the two
as their capital, they made squares, are the town’s main
Taroudannt wealthy through attraction. The daily Berber
the riches of the Souss plain, market sells spices, vegetables,
which included sugarcane, clothing, household goods,
cotton, rice and indigo. pottery and other items. In the
Under the Alaouites, the town Arab souk the emphasis is on
resisted royal control, forming handicrafts: terracotta, wrought
iron, brass and copper, pottery,
leather goods, carpets and
Berber jewellery of a type once
made by Jews can be seen.
Carvings in chalky white stone Hot and arid desert landscape in the
are a speciality of Taroudannt. Anti-Atlas
Outside the ramparts is a
small tannery, which is open 3 Igherm to Tata
to visitors. Its shop sells goatskin Road N10 east from Taroudannt, then
and camel-hide sandals, lambskin road R109 to Tata. @ Taroudannt,
rugs, soft leather bags, belts Tiznit, Agadir & Bouizarkane. ( Souk
and slippers. Wed in Igherm, Thu in Tata.
Environs A relatively new road (built in
The peaks of the western High 1988), the N10 crosses the
Atlas – particularly Jbel Aoulime, Anti-Atlas, passing through
at a height of 3,555 m (11,667 ft) some remarkable landscapes.
– can be reached via road 7020, Between Taroudannt and
north of the town. About 37 km Igherm, argan fields alternate
The daily Berber market in the town (23 miles) southeast of Taroudannt, with dry-stone villages over-
of Taroudannt the imposing Tioute Kasbah looking terraced plantations.
For hotels and restaurants see p313 and pp330–31

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