To the south of the Atlas, where these mountains shake hands with the vast territory of the Sahara desert, lies the small city of Tinghir or Tinerhir (in Morocco it is pronounced in this second way, but in this article, we will use both forms interchangeably). In fact, its name means “the city of the mountain” in Tamazight, the native language of the place, a variant of Amazigh or Berber. And it surprises everyone who visits it due to its peculiar location and various places of interest. For this reason, in this post, we tell you what you should visit if you pass through here. And we remind you that many of our circuits that lead to the desert pass precisely through Tinghir, in the ‘deep Morocco’, within what is usually known as the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs.
Gorgeous Palm Grove of Tinghir
The great attraction is the Tinghir Palm Grove. In Morocco it is very famous, and also among many foreign travelers, who do not hesitate to cross it on the road trip that takes them from the Atlas to the dunes of the Merzouga desert, or vice versa. It is striking that in an environment as arid as that of the Draa-Tafilalet region such an extensive and fertile palm grove can arise, watered by the Todra river, although it is more of a wadi (a river that loses its flow for much of the year ). Of course, it is used with countless orchards, but it also offers many possibilities for walking or even biking, something that is attracting more and more travelers. In addition, it is advisable to go to the palm grove viewpoint, located about 2 km in the direction of the gorges: from here the extension and magnitude of this green spot emerged almost as if by magic, is well understood.
Adorable Kasbah of Tinghir
In Morocco, and especially in this area south of the Atlas, there are many kasbahs, so in this town, one could not be missing. Actually, there are two: an old one and a new one, both ordered to be built by Thami El Glaoui, the Lord of the Atlas, who had so many possessions in this region at the beginning of the 20th century. The old one is in a dilapidated state and the new one is better preserved. It must be said that they are not the most spectacular, but they serve to learn about its history and offer another interesting view of the city’s surroundings, a peculiar mixture of mountains, desert, and oasis.
Jewish quarter or Mellah of Tinerhir
In Morocco, there are also many cities with Jewish neighborhoods or Mellah, but they are not as numerous south of the Atlas. However, Tinghir is one of those that can proudly say that it hosted one, called Ait El Haj Ali. It is a small neighborhood of adobe houses and alleys, which today is no longer populated by Jewish people. However, it maintains its charm, especially because it retains many humble shops where handicrafts are sold in many cases, especially jewelry and clothing.
These three (palm grove, kasbah, and mellah) are the main attractions of Tinghir. And in Morocco, it is also known for being the prelude to the Todra Gorges, as we tell you in this post. Therefore, you will not be short of reasons to stop your route and visit this charming little town.
